from Verse One Hundred Thirty-ThreeThose who are skilled at governing nations do not change their customs or norms. Wrathfulness is perversity, weapons are instruments of ill omen, contention is social disorder. Secret plotting, perversity, and fondness for employing instruments of ill omen are dysfunctions of government, the epitome of perversity.~ Wen-tzu: Understanding the Mysteries ~
No matter how it's cut, politics is a dirty business. It doesn't matter the system -- democracy, monarchy, feudalism, authoritarianism. It doesn't matter if it's right, left or centrist. It doesn't even matter who the specific players are. Politics simply ain't pretty.The meat of politics is manipulation or, what we call today, spin. Every government official and every political party tries to spin information and fact to their advantage. This is done by leaving out what doesn't fit your position, speaking in half-truths or even lying your pants off. Even worse, at least here in the US, almost every political contest involves some measure of mudslinging.
In order for any government to be viewed as legitimate, you must convince the masses than you will lead them -- or some of them -- to the land of milk and honey. And so, what politics really boils down to is trying to convince enough people that you're looking out for their and the country's welfare.
Political contest become beauty pageants with each candidate and each political organization trying to draw the most oohs and aahs. Since the stakes are so high, almost all of the players are willing to stoop as low as ethically possible to try to win the day.
Every now and then, one of the players announces that he or she will take the high road. And you know what happens to most of these candidates? They either are trounced in the election or, in time, they abandon their high standards and get down in the mud with their opponents. I think it's rather safe to say that politics brings out the worst in people (me included)!
This post is part of a series. For an introduction, go here.
Well observed.
ReplyDeleteLeftists accuse me of being a right winger.
Rightists accuse me of being a left-winger.
Why?
Because I am balanced.
Neither side can manipulate me.
I am connected to the source.
Historically, Taoists eschew politics (although they might make awfully good advisors.) Personally, I have little interest in politics, in the same way I have NO interest in sports, American Idol or anything else that pits indistinguishable (in the end, really ) sides against one another. No matter what side you play on, left/right;Repub/Dem; singer/judge; team A/B, manager/managed; in the end, as soon as you're on a side, you're either winner/loser...and who knows which is really which?
ReplyDeleteClear and true.
ReplyDeletePick a side: your fate is to win or lose.
Pick no side and both good and bad, win and lose, become what they really are:
Of benefit.
Crow,
ReplyDeleteJust from reading the comments you leave on this blog, you've provided no evidence whatsoever to believe that you even understand what the term balance means.
Maybe you would be so kind as to explain it to me.
ReplyDeleteSorry, no dice. In the past, when you ask questions of me, I usually try to answer. Unfortunately, conversation with you is a one-way street as you steadfastly refuse to answer direct questions. So, I've decided to play be your rules.
ReplyDeleteGuess I'll just have to live with it :(
ReplyDelete