Denial

Denial (also called abnegation) is a defense mechanism postulated by Sigmund Freud, in which a person is faced with a fact that is too uncomfortable to accept and rejects it instead, insisting that it is not true despite what may be overwhelming evidence. The subject may deny the reality of the unpleasant fact altogether (simple denial), admit the fact but deny its seriousness (minimisation) or admit both the fact and seriousness but deny responsibility (transference). The concept of denial is particularly important to the study of addiction. The theory of denial was first researched seriously by Anna Freud. She classified denial as a mechanism of the immature mind, because it conflicts with the ability to learn from and cope with reality. Where denial occurs in mature minds, it is most often associated with death, dying and rape. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross used denial as the first of five stages in the psychology of a dying patient.

The ING Diversified Yield and Regular Income Funds, which had some exposure to the US sub-prime mortgage market, were indefinitely frozen in March 2008 due to the effects of the credit crunch. That has left 8000 NZ investors unable to access a collective $521 million. ANZ, which half owns ING New Zealand, was a heavy seller of the funds through its financial advisory network. Many older, cashed up customers were targeted and told the investments were "as safe as the bank". It has never publicly conceded it erred in putting conservative, elderly investors into funds with exposure to the US sub-prime market. The funds remain suspended. Source.

When Barack Obama told a crowd at a campaign event, "You can put lipstick on a pig, but it's still a pig," the McCain campaign swiftly took offense, claiming the analogy was directed at vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin. The McCain campaign is in denial of its association and alignment with the policies of the Bush Administration, and worse, works very hard to hide the fact that the oil industry (BP in particular) has a huge interest in backing the McCain campaign, which has recently declared it was willing to go to war against Russia on behalf of Georgia. Click here.
This year, Big Oil companies have donated three times as much money to McCain's campaign as they have to Obama's. And as for the lipstick-glossed drill-'n-kill pitbull, no one is closer to the oil industry than Governor Palin.

The recent turmoil in the United States' financial markets is just one more indicator of a state of denial.

I am going through all five stages at once. First, I deny that any of these headlines really affect me personally. But it does (if I just open my eyes) and will for a long time to come. There is overwhelming evidence. Second, I am angry and I'm turning my inaction into action by examining what I can do to help make things better locally & globally, sustainably. I am bargaining with my consumer (consuptive?) power everyday (where to shop, what I purchase, and justify my reasons for doing so). I get depressed knowing this is a gargantuan mountain to climb in order to change global warming, save a polar bear, get this planet and its inhabitants healthy again -if it isn't too late. And that's where acceptance comes in. Change what I can and accept what I can't change.

So, lipstick on a very ugly pig is just denial.
Look where it's getting us.

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Thanks to Qu'este-ce que je fais? for your poignant comments on our society. Thank you Shades for reminding me where it all starts.