A PROFILE OF POLITICS

 

A PROFILE OF POLITICS

 

The headline of this article could easily be rephrased with ‘the fickle nature of politics’ or by inserting such words as unpredictable, fragile, thankless and limited in lifespan.  Personally I prefer democracy over any other attempt at governance, although the principle of a government of the people, by the people and for the people has come under fire for a long time.  Examples of governing excellence are becoming a rarity.

I am inserting some of my favorite phrases in italics.  Sometimes one good line can say it all!

A loss of civility is an indication of a lost society.

Politics around the world is starting to resemble the infamous shell game.  We don’t really know what we’re looking at, manipulated instead by deft moves and distracted by a carnival-like atmosphere.

Too many people, too many voices and nobody is listening.  Unfortunately that phrase is mirroring society today and it also mirrors the average human mind; easily confused and distracted and barely being able to articulate what it is we really want or need.

If you insist on running for office you have to take all of the above into consideration.  Most politicians are vague on policies as the bulk are generated by civil servants tasked with putting into practice the dreams and wishes of their elected bosses while keeping a close eye on costs, on who or what will be paying for what they are expected to deliver and whether it will include hiking taxes or cutting services.

We don’t hide behind lies, the lies do that for us.

Politicians don’t lack drive or vision but rather the ability to turn those visions into reality; hampered by all the usual obstacles and a true desire to see things through; easily frustrated by the predictable opposition parties coming out of the woodwork decrying that what is proposed must be highly suspect and flawed as it hails from the governing party. 

The opposition in a democracy plays an important role.  Proper checks and balances are needed to keep a sitting government on their toes, but it can turn effective governing into a nightmare when what they are trying to accomplish is constantly undermined by needless griping.  Consensus building . . . and heaven forbid cooperating . . . and moving the country forward in a positive direction is viewed by the opposition as defeatist.  Opposing has been turned into an art form.

In bad times we elect the worst and silence the best.

Negativity in politics is like rust.  Once corrosion sets in it becomes an unstoppable force, especially when all societies are undermined by a host of persistent problems that defy fixing.  Let’s face it, we would if we could!

Within this rather fragile environment you need a real masochistic streak to even dare running for office.

Only the truly delusional will throw their hats into a political circus ring that resembles a lion’s den.  Especially when truly proven and capable leaders announce that they will be leaving politics for good.  And they are doing so in droves.  When the good guys and gals are leaving, it is a sure sign that the lunatics are taking over.

The problem with politics, parties, policies and principles is the sad fact that there are too many of us, too many voices and nobody is listening.  We, the people, are harder to please than ever and we are all over the place due to a plethora of media platforms that only serve to disintegrate society into ever smaller segments.  Too many are focused on singular, personal issues, rather than showing a willingness to listen to others and respect their choices.

The world has always has its fair share of stupid people, it is just more noticeable with over 8 billion.

Negativity thrives amongst people who are disconnected and dissatisfied, even if they haven’t got a clue as to why or what they’re dissatisfied with.  We, the people, are the main reason why politics has been turned into a shell game and why the number of questionable characters involved is ballooning.

Big donors to political campaigns expect handsome gains in return, supporters expect to be rewarded.  Fraud and corruption run rampant in this environment.  This is not something new.  Throughout human history societies have behaved like wild swinging pendulums, from one extreme to the other. 

The defining moments are: how far will it go this time and will there be a moment of return?  A return to the common rule of law, of respect for institutions and nations moving forward with confidence and opportunity.

Politicians consider taking a public whipping the price one pays for being elected in the first place, even if it goes as far as being sacrificed on the altar of public humiliation. 

I have served and I consider public service as the greatest service and sacrifice a person can make, especially when we’re living in times when few people actually seem to give a damn, which in a roundabout way neatly explains why politicians are expandable and easily sacrificed on the altar of public opinion.

Once upon a time I had a fixation with serving the church—a fixation that fortunately didn’t last very long, but the alliteration to altar and sacrifice was too tempting to ignore.  Politicians out of favor do get skewered and slaughtered and when the knives are out there is not benevolent God to put a stop to their imminent demise.  So forgive me for getting a bit biblical.  I couldn’t resist.

I have purposely stayed away from naming names.  Feel free to do so.  This is my general take on politics, nothing definitive.  I don’t think there is such a thing.

My long list of favorite phrases are available upon request.

You can purchase Energy & Origin by W.M.A. Bes on Amazon.ca