smokin' hot politics
i am becoming increasingly disillusioned with democracy.
“It has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried.”
-Winston Churchill
it seems as if the lines between parties are becoming increasingly blurry, as the ones you expect to be honorable are among the most dishonorable, and vice versa. yesterday, George Bush signed a bill that will triple the amount of funds the USA will give to fighting AIDS around the world, primarily in Africa. i think that is a beautiful and wonderful thing for him and his republican party to do. i have been on the opposite end of the spectrum for the rest of his presidency, ever since he stole it in 2000. but i cannot put down this move. it is beautiful and noble, and i am willing to say that George Bush did the right thing, no matter how often i have despised his moves in the past. another member of his party who is currently the republican nominee, John Mccain, is someone who i previously had much respect for. he is a hero of America. he wasn't content to just be a republican. in fact, he was despised by most other republicans and conservatives because he often stood against their immoral stances on things such as torture and unjust wars. but now, in the midst of political fever, he is slinging mud at the man who is putting a new and noble face on politics, Barack Obama. he is resorting to scare tactics (which aren't working by the way) and things that are beneath his previous noble stature. the problem is, the lines have become so blurry. let's move closer to home. the liberals were my party of choice for a long time because of their stances on social justice and making Canada a more multicultural and accepting, open place. but now, all i see is a liberal leader worried about staying in his place of power, which isn't much power at all, considering he is leader of the opposition. at several points over the last year and a half he could have voted against conservative bills he disagreed with, but chose not to do so, because to go to an election would mean he would lose, and in turn would not have a chance at the power of running the country. let's go even closer to home. saskatchewan. the home of...well...the rider's is about the best we got. for a long time, the NDP had been in power. the thing about being in power is that the longer you are there, the more people start to see your mistakes. and the provincial NDP government made many. come election time last september, they resorted to mud slinging and negative advertising because to scare people was the only chance they had at staying in power. and that didn't work. and i have lost my respect. i have lost my respect for politicians who are more concerned with saving their own jobs than with fighting for justice and doing what is right for our countries and the world at large. i am disillusioned.
my friend dave had the opportunity to see George Bush yesterday as his African Children's Choir were guests and entertainers at the event. and as much as i have spoken out against all the things he has done over the years, i am proud of George Bush for doing this. i will put down my defensive barrier and honor him for trying to help the world. the problem is we hide behind our party lines, and it seems like we are afraid to admit when the other side is right. democracy has become polluted to the point where it's all about image and saving face. whatever happened to the will of the people? when did it get to the point where one man or party has all the power and we are okay with that? just because 50.5% voted for this person, the other 49.5% have no say? how is that the best form of government we can come up with? and who are we to impose that on the rest of the world (ie. iraq, afghansitan, etc...)
"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience."
-C.S. Lewis
and whatever happened to the will of the people being honorable, noble and desiring to serve the least of these. when did we lose that? where was i when this happened? maybe we never had it. maybe it was just a dream i had.
"The two greatest obstacles to democracy in the United States are, first, the widespread delusion among the poor that we have a democracy, and second, the chronic terror among the rich, lest we get it."
-Edward Dowling
but our politicians need to change. the will of the people have to change. otherwise, we have no chance. we have no chance of being members of a greater, noble kingdom. is there any chance of this in the current political climate? right now it seems hopeless. but i am still willing to hope for something better.
"When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love has always won. There have been tyrants and murderers and for a time they seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall -- think of it, ALWAYS."
-Mohondas K. Ghandi
“It has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried.”
-Winston Churchill
it seems as if the lines between parties are becoming increasingly blurry, as the ones you expect to be honorable are among the most dishonorable, and vice versa. yesterday, George Bush signed a bill that will triple the amount of funds the USA will give to fighting AIDS around the world, primarily in Africa. i think that is a beautiful and wonderful thing for him and his republican party to do. i have been on the opposite end of the spectrum for the rest of his presidency, ever since he stole it in 2000. but i cannot put down this move. it is beautiful and noble, and i am willing to say that George Bush did the right thing, no matter how often i have despised his moves in the past. another member of his party who is currently the republican nominee, John Mccain, is someone who i previously had much respect for. he is a hero of America. he wasn't content to just be a republican. in fact, he was despised by most other republicans and conservatives because he often stood against their immoral stances on things such as torture and unjust wars. but now, in the midst of political fever, he is slinging mud at the man who is putting a new and noble face on politics, Barack Obama. he is resorting to scare tactics (which aren't working by the way) and things that are beneath his previous noble stature. the problem is, the lines have become so blurry. let's move closer to home. the liberals were my party of choice for a long time because of their stances on social justice and making Canada a more multicultural and accepting, open place. but now, all i see is a liberal leader worried about staying in his place of power, which isn't much power at all, considering he is leader of the opposition. at several points over the last year and a half he could have voted against conservative bills he disagreed with, but chose not to do so, because to go to an election would mean he would lose, and in turn would not have a chance at the power of running the country. let's go even closer to home. saskatchewan. the home of...well...the rider's is about the best we got. for a long time, the NDP had been in power. the thing about being in power is that the longer you are there, the more people start to see your mistakes. and the provincial NDP government made many. come election time last september, they resorted to mud slinging and negative advertising because to scare people was the only chance they had at staying in power. and that didn't work. and i have lost my respect. i have lost my respect for politicians who are more concerned with saving their own jobs than with fighting for justice and doing what is right for our countries and the world at large. i am disillusioned.
my friend dave had the opportunity to see George Bush yesterday as his African Children's Choir were guests and entertainers at the event. and as much as i have spoken out against all the things he has done over the years, i am proud of George Bush for doing this. i will put down my defensive barrier and honor him for trying to help the world. the problem is we hide behind our party lines, and it seems like we are afraid to admit when the other side is right. democracy has become polluted to the point where it's all about image and saving face. whatever happened to the will of the people? when did it get to the point where one man or party has all the power and we are okay with that? just because 50.5% voted for this person, the other 49.5% have no say? how is that the best form of government we can come up with? and who are we to impose that on the rest of the world (ie. iraq, afghansitan, etc...)
"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience."
-C.S. Lewis
and whatever happened to the will of the people being honorable, noble and desiring to serve the least of these. when did we lose that? where was i when this happened? maybe we never had it. maybe it was just a dream i had.
"The two greatest obstacles to democracy in the United States are, first, the widespread delusion among the poor that we have a democracy, and second, the chronic terror among the rich, lest we get it."
-Edward Dowling
but our politicians need to change. the will of the people have to change. otherwise, we have no chance. we have no chance of being members of a greater, noble kingdom. is there any chance of this in the current political climate? right now it seems hopeless. but i am still willing to hope for something better.
"When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love has always won. There have been tyrants and murderers and for a time they seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall -- think of it, ALWAYS."
-Mohondas K. Ghandi
posted by xblairx @ 11:21 AM
3 Comments:
At 12:25 PM ,
Anonymous said...
great, honest post! some astute observations. that's why i vote and follow politics to an extent, but avoid getting my shorts in a knot about it too much. in my opinion, jesus showed us that there are much better ways to change the world than by political means. the halls of power are too convoluted with selfishness and ulterior motives, because those representing both sides of the hall are...well, human. your boy obama is a new, fresh face that many are smitten with right now, and in the end, he will do some good things...and some bad things. just like everyone else who has passed through that and other offices. he is human. (shocking, i know!) it's a question of where our hope for the world lies. it distresses me to see both conservative and liberal christians get so riled up about politics. can God use the political system of a country to do his work in the world? he has and does. but maybe it's not quite as high on his priority list as some - liberal and conservative alike - think. maybe there's a better path to justice and peace reigning around the world. maybe jesus was trying to show us that his kingdom rarely comes from the top down.
for what it's worth, that's where i'm coming from.
At 1:07 PM ,
xblairx said...
yeah for sure. i mostly agree with you, although i am one of those who gets a little too riled up about politics! it is true though, that the biggest changes for the better in our world have started in the minority as subversive movements that slowly work through the lives of individuals to make changes on a massive scale. what does that say about democracy? hmmm...thanks for commenting.
At 10:46 PM ,
dave said...
if blair doesn't drink any tim horton's for the next 4 months, obama will win in time to save morgan freeman and all his penguin friends in antarctica.
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