Politics
For many Americans the thought of an election year means one thing; the invasion of politics into our lives. Many of us are sick of it. One party wants one thing, while the other party wants just the opposite. If one looks beyond all of the muckraking, and the backbiting what they really want is to get elected. One may assume that these people have such a strong sense of community that, for them, there is no other job. One may also assume that the sky is green. At the federal level, elected officials get paid very well. Then there is the expense account. They want for nothing. If that's not enough there are also lobbyists catering to their every whim. Who wouldn't want and fight to keep a job like that? At my job I have to get up early every morning; not just during a session. I go to work and get my instructions from my boss. I do my job like I'm told. Then I get to go home. Does that sound anything like the life of a career politician?
Merriam Websters online* defines politics as: "activities that relate to influencing the actions and policies of a government or getting and keeping power in a government". Reread that definition. The second part is what bothers me the most about politicians. The very definition of a politician is someone whose function is to get and keep power in government. That is were the fighting comes into play. They fight to the bitter end. They will say or do anything to keep their power. Do you wonder why the office of President is subject to a term limit while members of congress have none? It's simple. They pass the laws and they won't pass a law which will remove them from power.
We buy into it
Many of us buy right into this political nonsense. We join a political party when we register to vote. That decision is usually influenced by our parents and friends. For whatever the reason, we make our choice and become part of the team. Our team leaders tell us what the team believes and we follow along. We copy their catch phrases and slogans and accept them as facts. We think, why would they lie to me? We're on the same side. Once one has "buy in" to a set of political beliefs they rarely change teams. Our need to belong to something keeps us where we are comfortable. The problem with this thinking is that they are not on the same team.
Being a member of a party, in may states, entitles us to vote in the respective primary elections. There are reasons why this is both good and bad. One could argue that a certain party only should have access to the decision making process of that party. Furthermore, allowing members of a different party to vote in a primary could allow the latter party to stack the deck in favor of their own candidate. These are legitimate reasons. But, one could also argue that having the Constitutional right to vote means they should have the ability to vote in any election if that election is being run by government officials; which our primaries are. We are supposed to have equal access to our government. One argument is that the government shouldn't be spending our money and only one political party receives the benefit of that expenditure. All of these arguments are correct. That's why the states get to decide. One must simply move to another state if they don't like the election laws of their state.
Don't Join them
It is said "if you can't beat them, join them." I don't subscribe to this line of thinking. I say not joining them is the only way to beat them. I would like to see a country where the only people joining political parties are those who wish to run for office. Why should we be limiting ourselves to being either Democrat or Republican? If recent history is any indication we will see more of the same political wrangling going on despite the fact that one party will take the majority in both houses of congress. Some people don't know that they can register to vote with no party affiliation. I dropped my party years ago and I haven't looked back. The experience is eye opening.
I see two groups so set against each other they are willing to say anything so long as it is in opposition to the other side. It is laughable how party members will align themselves with a particular side of an argument just for solidarity's sake. When the left takes a stand the right finds any and all possible explanations to the opposite. Having watched this crazy dance for many years, I have seen the following happen more than once. That is, one party takes one side of an argument to fight. Years later, when a similar issue comes up they are on the other side of the argument fighting just as hard as they had the first time around. What I have discovered is that they don't really care about the issues. They only care about what the party says at the time of the issue. If it makes them appear good to take one position they take it. Right and wrong don't factor into the equation at all. You can see a mad dash to the media to be the first side to come out for or against an issue. Whichever side gets there first ultimately decides what the other side will think. They rarely agree on much anymore. As an American I say Don't tell me what to think!
I say don't join either party. Why would anyone want to be a party to any of that foolishness? Our latest election turned out heavily in favor of one party. Time will tell if there will be any real change in the way the government is run. The age of the Statesman is long gone. If it is true that history repeats itself, I hope I live long enough to see it come back again.
* http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/politics
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