Henry Adams observed, “politics as a practice, whatever its professions, has always been a systematic organization of hatreds.” Maybe marshalling hatreds isn’t everything there is to politics but it is a part of the game. Distraction too seems to be a component part of politics. In that, politics is much like a magic show.
Reality in politics?
The overriding reality of political life is that the state is constantly screwing over the rest of us. This is true regardless which party is in control. Parties which are more in favor of bigger government want to take more from us faster. That’s the major difference between the parties. There are two parties in politics: Those who use the power of the state to bully and live at the expense of others… and the rest of us.
Have you noticed that politics mostly involves life and death issues? Have you noticed the life and death issues mostly aren’t? The game is creation of sense of urgency. Once we are supportive of action, money can change hands. Profit and opportunity for exercise of power come available.
Party principles?
The parties’ principles have never passed the hypocrisy test. The claimant which is the most hypocritical is usually the one most wrong, most out of line, with its hand deepest in your pocket. Isn’t it amusing that ordinary Donkeys and Elephants harbor intense mutual hatreds? Yet, at the same time party leaders in the District of Columbia rub shoulder amiably. Why is that?
It used to be the job of the opposition to stand by ready to make a deal. Today that is breaking down some. The advent of increasing ideological purity is bringing more anger, strife and division. Often it is difficult to tell if it is interpersonal or just business. Either way deal making has declined. This is symptomatic of the approach of an ideological shift.
The Question:
Are you mystified as to why so many people are taken in by the phony claims? Why is so much obscurant party rhetoric tolerated? Do you ever feel like you are floating above the wasted emotion, exhausted, disgusted and sad? Why can’t we simply agree on the facts, identify the issues, propose alternatives, make a decision about which makes the most sense, implement it and move on? Well, that would end politics wouldn’t it?