Curmudgeon's Corner

Politics...

Posted by Al Campbell on Jan. 25, 2010

Political, Quality of Life, U.S., Wisconsin, Germantown

Politics has been defined as social relations involving intrigue to gain authority or power.

That seems a bit cynical and yet there is so much truth to that simple sentence as to be impossible to ignore.

We are in the high political season as the State of the State message is delivered in Madison on Tuesday, and as the State of the State message is delivered in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday.  Is there a reason that we need to hear these pontifications?  Is this simply not another opportunity for the political leadership to lay claim to all that is right and good?

Intrigue to gain authority and power is not confined to the state and national levels.  It can be found at the lowest level of organization, political and otherwise.  This lust for power to enable our views to dominate seems a human condition.  It is as much a part of many of us as is breathing. 

When does the change from normal person to politician occur?  Is that point achieved when one decides to run for public office?  Does it occur after being sworn in to that office?  Has it occurred prior to even emerging in public to espouse one’s positions?  Are all politicians in it for authority and power?  I don’t know the answers to those questions; I don’t know if anyone does.

Certainly there are altruists who have genuine concern for the welfare of others without thinking of personal power or gain.  I know many whom I believe fall into that ‘category’.  I have known many of them for a sufficient length of time and through trials and tribulations to be certain that they are who they profess to be.

Possibly among the more dangerous people with whom we interact are those who pose as altruists but who are really pursuing their personal goals of power and fortune.  Have any of us not had our hopes dashed as someone we thought was one thing turned out to be another?

That is, unfortunately, what many people believe about all politicians, whether rightly or not.  Does that perception lead to only those who lust for authority or power running for office?  I don’t think that is the case, and yet I am still disappointed in myself on occasion when one whom I thought was one thing turned out to be another.

I believe that it makes sense for us to observe people in relatively innocuous positions in order to gather the insight into their persona that is ultimately necessary to draw conclusions as to how they might govern in higher office. 

It is true that even this test is not foolproof, but it makes more sense than does placing high levels of trust in a person who has done little or nothing upon which we could base that level of faith.

Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me!

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The Curmudgeon Blog today is titled "Air America Gone".