Democrats v. Republicans

Posted by: Abel Collins

Some of my writings here at the Satyagraha are going to be dedicated to discussing politics, both at the foundational level of political theory and also the more visible level of current political events. In the interest of disclosure, I offer this blog.

The state of politics in our country is generally agreed to be shameful. The caricature of the politician is a pig-like humanoid, grubbing in the dirt at the feet of the wealthy. He is greedy and power hungry, pinstripes and silk linings hiding his corpulence.

Sadly, the cartoon satire is a better portrait of the truth than the rest of what I read in the paper. Nobody really believes that either political party cares about the welfare of the common man, and there should be little surprise. For over three decades, the United States of America has overseen a global economy that has grown immensely. Sums of wealth never imagined have been created through industrial ingenuity and the exportation of free market capitalism. In that same period of time, average Americans have seen their real wages and the quality of their lives decline.

Needless to say, the people have become disenchanted with the representatives they have elected to provide themselves with a government of liberty, equality, and justice. For over three decades, it has not mattered one wit whether it was the Democrats or Republicans in office. The wealth has gone to the top. Both parties have conspired to create the current system that has come to primarily represent corporate interests.

The whole political society is dying from atrophy, because there is no real choice. Sure, I vote, and I usually vote for the Democrat, because Democrats tend to be a little more humane in their policy. I vote for third party candidates whenever I can, and I spend a lot of time empathizing with the fifty percent of people who are so discouraged that they refuse to participate.

The silver lining to the glooming cloud of politics is that when the people finally go back to the drawing board, they will find that they still live in a democratic republic, and they do, in fact, have the power. Sooner or later (sooner at this rate), Americans will reach their breaking point and good representative leaders will step forward or be found; honest leaders who realize that public office is a civil service and a civic duty. Americans will find and elect the citizens who are willing to suborn their personal interests and be instruments for the betterment of the society.

I, for one, cannot wait for the coming age of civic rebirth. Already, it is gestating. People are rebuilding the idea of community, preparing for a society of cooperation to replace this current culture of antagonism. I, for one, am going to be a catalyst in the growth of this movement, a radical so to speak. Already, I am, and here we are talking about it.

Let’s start something: A friendship, a community, a political party, a better way? It’s all possible.