America the Hebephrenic. I Was Reading Frank Rich's Analysis....

of yet more corruption in the Bush administration which has been uncovered (at Bernard Welt's blog; see my blogroll). Apparently, Ponzi schemes don't only flourish online at questionable websites. Some of them graft themselves right into the executive and legislative branches of government.

Rich marvels at the state of political torpor we're in--that a story this major could generate only tiny ripples of commentary, a somnolent response from the media and the intelligentsia. And when you look at the monetary hit taxpayers took on this one, it's hard to understand the lack of adequate response.

I think we're all Shocked and Awed at this point. That was really a domestic policy: Shock and Awe. Who do they think they're fooling?

I think we're all just hoping the new regime will begin the process of grounding. Headchecking. And maybe it will cut off some of those hydra heads we grew, and cauterize them as it slices away.

I was searching for a single word which I thought described America under the Bush administration, that described the America he left us as he vacated office.

I think I found it.

It's not a word you hear often, because I don't believe it's a common diagnosis. But, unfortunately, it seems to apply to our outgoing leadership and the culture they have created. That word is hebephrenia.

Here's a quick definition of it:

hebephrenia [hee-buh-free-nee-uh]

Origin:
1880–85; < Gk hēbē- (see hebetic ) + -phrenia

–noun. Psychiatry. a type of schizophrenia characterized by emotionless, incongruous, or silly behavior, intellectual deterioration, and hallucinations, frequently beginning insidiously during adolescence.

And here are the ICD-10 Criteria. See how well this describes America under the Bush administration and Bush himself. Note particularly how well the last line describes Mr. Bush.

ICD-10 Criteria for Hebephrenic Schizophrenia
The following information is reproduced verbatim from the ICD-10 Classification of Mental and Behavioural Disorders, World Health Organization, Geneva, 1992.

F20.1 Hebephrenic Schizophrenia
A form of schizophrenia in which affective changes are prominent, delusions and hallucinations fleeting and fragmentary, behaviour irresponsible and unpredictable, and mannerisms common. The mood is shallow and inappropirate and often accompanied by giggling or self-satisfied, self-absorbed smiling, or by a lofty manner, grimaces, mannerisms, pranks, hypochondriacal complaints, and reiterated phrases. Thought is disorganized and speech rambling and incoherent. There is a tendency to remain solitary, and behaviour seems empty of purpose and feeling. This form of schizphrenia usually starts between the ages of 15 and 25 years and tends to have a poor prognosis because of the rapid development of "negative" symptoms, particularly flattening of affect and loss of volition.

In addition, disturbances of affect and volition, and thought disorder are usually prominent. Hallucinations and delusions may be present but are not usually prominent. Drive and determination are lost and goals abandoned, so that the patient's behaviour becomes characteristically aimless and empty of purpose. A superficial and manneristic preoccupation with religion, philosophy, and other abstract themes may add to the listener's difficulty in following the train of thought.

It makes me wonder. America is still, relatively speaking, a young nation.

Is this our adolescence?

Maybe the new National Anthem should be "When I Grow Up" by the Pussycat Dolls.

Wouldn't it be awesome if they played that as the President walked down the aisles of Congress to take the podium?

"CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR, OR YOU JUST MIGHT GET IT, YEAH YOU JUST MIGHT GET IT, YEAH YOU JUST MIGHT GET IT...."