RIVERSIDE REFLECTIONS: my other love
My grandfather always told me that I'd either be a pastor or a politician. Perhaps he saw something in me, or perhaps I heard that and it became a self-fulfilling prophecy. Chances are it is not an either/or proposition, but a both/and (there's a novel idea...). Anyway, please allow me to venture off the path of religion and into the woods of politics for a brief moment.
In this election season we have grow so caloused to the political negativism in the media. Everything is Democrat vs. Republican. Has it ever dawned on anyone that it might not be an either/or proposition, but a both/and? Nearly everything in life is found between the poles of extremism and yet our system idolizes extremism. If you are in the middle you have no good choices. Seriously, when was the last time you ever felt great about casting your vote for the person you did? It is always a choice between the lesser of evils.
But why? Perhaps Nancy Pelosi summed it up best. Recently (I think on 60 Minutes) she was asked about possibly becoming the first female Speaker of the House. Her response was that it would be great for people to see that women can weild power too. That is precisely the problem. Politics has devolved into a fight for power, not for people. When did politicians stop being public SERVANTS and start being the weilders of POWER? (see my sermon below)
I contend the system makes it that way. Our system of parties makes the priority on which party is in power. Issues don't matter, people don't matter, the party matters. The party's preservation is far more important than the people's or even the nation's. The party system makes it that way.
The Democrats are saying that this election is a referendum on Pres. Bush. This election should be a referendum on the party system. Politicians will remain party power weilders as long as we let them. The solution is simple: DO NOT VOTE FOR ANYONE IN A PARTY. It is quite easy: VOTE ONLY FOR INDEPENDENTS.
Until people start running the country instead of parties, there will be no good choices. As long as you continue to play party-politics you are as bad as they are. Don't be part of the problem...be part of the solution (could it be that this is an either/or?): VOTE INDEPENDENT!
In this election season we have grow so caloused to the political negativism in the media. Everything is Democrat vs. Republican. Has it ever dawned on anyone that it might not be an either/or proposition, but a both/and? Nearly everything in life is found between the poles of extremism and yet our system idolizes extremism. If you are in the middle you have no good choices. Seriously, when was the last time you ever felt great about casting your vote for the person you did? It is always a choice between the lesser of evils.
But why? Perhaps Nancy Pelosi summed it up best. Recently (I think on 60 Minutes) she was asked about possibly becoming the first female Speaker of the House. Her response was that it would be great for people to see that women can weild power too. That is precisely the problem. Politics has devolved into a fight for power, not for people. When did politicians stop being public SERVANTS and start being the weilders of POWER? (see my sermon below)
I contend the system makes it that way. Our system of parties makes the priority on which party is in power. Issues don't matter, people don't matter, the party matters. The party's preservation is far more important than the people's or even the nation's. The party system makes it that way.
The Democrats are saying that this election is a referendum on Pres. Bush. This election should be a referendum on the party system. Politicians will remain party power weilders as long as we let them. The solution is simple: DO NOT VOTE FOR ANYONE IN A PARTY. It is quite easy: VOTE ONLY FOR INDEPENDENTS.
Until people start running the country instead of parties, there will be no good choices. As long as you continue to play party-politics you are as bad as they are. Don't be part of the problem...be part of the solution (could it be that this is an either/or?): VOTE INDEPENDENT!
posted by EF + at 11:22 AM
3 Comments:
Hey.you won't believe it. I placed in second in debate this weekend.
Awesome!!!
Another thing is, how can you have the same view as your party in everything? How can you be Republican about everything. There's no way! There's always a gray area. So let's say with Gay Marriage, a recent topic of policital Debate, is brought up. And even though you have your opinion set up about it, your party contradicts your opinion. Your a registered member of this party. Are you going to switch sides, or just endorse your partys view. It gets to the point to where your opinion doesn't matter and your only voting for your party. And that is ignorance. Maybe not vote independent, but research and vote for the canidate that you think will best fit your ideals. Not your party. I think we do what George Washington wanted, and have no partys.
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