The future of politics

It seems to many that the political climate in this country evokes in most citizens a feeling of discouragement, disdain or apathy. This is largely due to the fact that the issues that affect us all are derived from the stormy clash of incommensurable values. These values seem to be parted in the loose categories of liberal vs. conservative postures. It seems that liberals fear the erosion of civil liberties on one hand while the conservatives fear erosion of moral values on the other. The left moves to protect the permissive while the right pompously moves to protect the traditional.

As people move farther from common goals in the political arena, there seems to become a psychic contraction which moves the public away from important understated goals that benefit  all of society. Politics, like science in the modern world, is still caught up in deciding matters in that reductionist mathematical sense. Even cultural issues such as discrimination and affirmative action are being dismissed under the guise of so-called failed policies of the Great Society.

Where such matters are ordained by their presentation to become inflexible, they are usually dismissed because they fire the emotion. Prime examples are where gridlock takes place when politicians are so bound by various types of favoritism. This creates a terrible angularity of moral conflict. And when politicians are put on notice, they usually give a petulant response.

In our ever-growing technocratic society, the political process undoubtedly becomes clouded by secret resentments, twisted ego drives and mundane critical instruments. Each party seems to have the noblest aspirations, but neither seems to effectively be able to drive substantive legislation with fair-mindedness to their constituents.

Today, politicians are not even quite sure what their party represents. Instead of reforming issues within their own party, they jump ship. Instead of re-evaluating ideologies, self-evaluating their role and emphasizing the virtues of their political credo, they opt for the expedient. Neither do they regenerate nor revitalize the workable aspect of their political heritage but instead embrace the pretentious obscurantism of another political posture.  

Undeniably, we are all seduced by the mystification of winning and having special privilege. The political paradox of modern democracy is where self-cannibalizing becomes an imperative over the greater struggle for the pursuit of happiness within the realm of dignity, justice and, foremost, accountability. 

For effective government to take place, we must hold those individuals who represent us accountable for their actions. We must focus on programs that effect positive change at the most basic levels of economic, political and social organization. How can this be done? Presently, the majority of our leaders in government are from the top 20% of the economic elite. They have their self-interest and know ways to subtly redesign policies and manipulate revenue systems. In most cases, they wash their hands of corruption by vaguely laying the blame for a “misuse” on technicians, bureaucrats or the State itself.

With this in mind, it may be time that we abandon those questionable public officials and elect those who are concerned with the responsibility of statesmanship and have true compassion for their constituents and greater democratic ideals. For most of us, it is a real task to stretch the skin over our bones. Maybe it is time we are represented by those who master that daily task. Otherwise, we are at the hands of total authoritarianism.

– Burt Baldwin, Bayfield