Hi, my name is America, addict...

With numerous 12-step programs available to billions of people all over the world, I figure I should introduce America to the most applicable solution to most of its problems. As a not-so-anonymous member of Alcoholics Anonymous, I consider it my duty to carry the message of hope and recovery to the government of the United States, as well as many of it ailing denizens. 

The '12-step program' is currently available in many different forms and varieties, such as: Alcoholics Anonymous, Addicts Anonymous, Overeaters Anonymous, Gamblers Anonymous, Debtors Anonymous, Sex Addicts Anonymous, etc. There are many others, but I think you get the point. The 12-step solution available at these programs are all identical, with the exception of a few identifying words. For example, in Alcoholics Anonymous, 'Step One' is "We admitted we were powerless over alcohol; that our lives had become unmanageable." In Overeaters Anonymous, 'Step One' is "We admitted we were powerless over food; that our lives had become unmanageable." In Debtors Anonymous, 'Step One' is "We admitted we were powerless over debt; that our lives had become unmanageable." The remaining steps (two through twelve) are essentially the same, regardless of which 12-step subject matter is at issue.

The suggested instructions to these steps all derive from the original 12-step program, Alcoholics Anonymous, and it's basic literature, stemming from a book that was written in the 1930's by its founding members. Since the U.S. government currently has a few days off, I would recommend some of this literature as suggested reading during the 'shutdown' vacation. Many people in power are already members of various 12-step groups, so this may or may not apply to them, depending on their current states of relative 'sobriety.' The twelve steps have helped me many times over the past ten years, even though I've had multiple obstacles and stumbling blocks and failures (i.e., 'relapses') along the way. It's the most common form of therapy recommended by doctors, psychologists, judges and others for those afflicted with an addiction or two (or more).

So instead of chastizing or whining or yelling or complaining about America, the purpose of this little blog post is to suggest the 12-steps as a solution to its problems.  It can't hurt.  What has it got to lose?

-peace/love

jeremy