Politics vs Thought

In a nutshell, I’m just fed up with the knee-Jerks in all of our political arenas who have decided that pandering is a better course of action than actually thinking.

In a nutshell, I’m just fed up with the knee-Jerks in all of our political arenas who have decided that pandering is a better course of action than actually thinking.  Perhaps it irks me more because I’m a non-aligned moderate.  Time was I might have called myself an independent, but now that term has been politicized as well.

I think now that we have started on the grand circus that we like to call electing a president, perhaps it’s easier to see my point.  Basically, within their own political groups, the candidates are difficult to differentiate based on message.  That didn’t used to be the case.  You were allowed, within reason, to have your own point of view without being essentially abandoned by the party.  Now, not so much. In fact, as of late, I think the Republicans are having a harder time with this as they are more closely associated with the Christian right-wing movement (though the Dems are hardly immune)…and thus, in order not to alienate this very loud constituency, just about every candidate toes the theocratic line.

But it’s not the element of religion per se that I mind.  I mind how it’s being thoughtlessly applied.  I had a very devout evangelic Christian friend of mine tell me once that I used too much time and energy thinking through issues on a one-by-one basis.  It was much easier for her because the answers were already there through her faith…she didn’t have to think [her conclusion, not mine].  Of course, now you get into the problem of who is actually doing the thinking and interpreting.  I’d rather it be our elected officials, who have had to be vetted by the public before entering their position.  I don’t know if the religious interpreter these officials listen to are scholarly, well-informed people, who genuinely want to do right by God; or some fornicating bastard who simply enjoys power and the sound of his own voice.

Then there’s the money.  We don’t get simple folk running for high office any more.  We get millionaires.  We get lawyers.  We get power-lovers.  Why?  Because getting elected, and more to the point…getting re-elected, takes a lot of money.  So you accept "contributions" from the insurance industry, from the gun lobby, from unions, and whatever group wants to shove cash your way.  Then comes the hypocrisy: the lie is that this money is just a contribution without strings (because strings means it’s a bribe), but the result is "increased access" for the contributor.  It’s great for the politician, because they know going in that this is a bribe for their votes…now they don’t have to think.  You get enough of these contributors, and you’ll never have to make a decision again.

If there is any wiggle room for free-thought left, let’s leave it up to the parties to fill in the blanks.  It’s easy.  If you are a Dem, you’re liberal-to-moderate; you support gun control, socialized medicine, pro-choice on abortion, diplomacy over deployment, regulation over commerce, and taxing.  If you are a Republican, you’re conservative to not-quite-so-conservative, you believe in the 2nd Amendment, you want medicine to be for-profit, you are anti-abortion, you favor gunboat/"big stick" diplomacy, believe free markets always work in the end, and tax-cuts.  Haven’t had your mind made up by your pastor or your "constituency"?  Then just check the party manual.  No need for thought.

Well, guess what?  We NEED some thought.  We need politicians who are more concerned about the job they are being asked to do instead of keeping the job they have (or want).  Just about every mirror image policy I listed in the preceding paragraph, when black-and-whited like that, is usually wrong.  The fact is, free market anarchy doesn’t really work, but neither does oppressive government meddling.  Taxing is a necessary evil of government, but it shouldn’t be a catch-all.  I’m all for tax cuts when they can be afforded.  And on and on….  If we had thinking politicians, then maybe we’d get to have the illusion that our government works.

The bigger problem is that this filters into society as a whole.  It polarizes us into thinking that if you don’t think like I think, then you’re wrong.  Well, you might be, but it’s just as likely I’m not 100% right, either.  I want you to try to change my mind.  No, it’s not always comfortable, but it’s what leads us toward a common understanding.  We need honest debate, not pre-packaged talking points.  More…we need political leaders who think…. who think more about the country than themselves or those giving them "advice".