Political Perspectives ™

The Winter of Our Disbelief

2012-01-08T16:13:00.003-05:00

We’ve talked of politics and systems – we’ve begun to realize that systems are tangible mechanisms. A system is not a theory, not a philosophy – not merely a set of hollow clichés designed to distract and confuse those gullible enough to listen. A system is what makes the everyday functions of society real – it’s what makes things work on our behalf. This Winter we are witnessing a profound aspect of our current system – the inability to recognize the nature of its own health.

This failure is not limited to any political party or single politician – it has spread to every sector of our society. We are collectively burying our heads in the sand as the Arctic melts. We are ignoring the facts and figures mounting daily about the ever-increasing amounts of CO2 in our atmosphere – and the synergistic effect of massive amounts of Methane being released as the tundra defrosts and burns. We are at the greatest crossroads in all of recorded history, yet remarkably most of America refuses to believe it is happening.

This is the year that Winter began to disappear. It’s not an isolated incident. Each year we are breaking records for the hottest season on record. Soon there will be no more Arctic ice and large chunks of ice in Greenland and the Antarctic will be gone. The world’s great glaciers are disappearing rapidly – soon all of them will be gone. The world is suffering through more intense and extreme weather and this trend will accelerate. Yet on the evening news – when the anchor asks the meteorologist why this is happening the weatherman sidesteps the question – afraid to provide the obvious true answer for fear of repercussions.

The most dangerous signal that a system is dysfunctional is when it is not only self-destructive but blind to that self destruction. Despite overwhelming evidence that we are racing ever faster towards the biggest crisis we’ve ever faced – we as a people and a system are choosing to disregard this threat. Somehow – people have become convinced that science has become a political theory. The absurdity of this situation has been lost on most of us – how many would take seriously the notion of Liberal vs. Conservative disagreement on whether the Earth revolved around the Sun? The certainty of global warming is just as valid as the reality of physics and planetary motion.

But please recall some centuries ago – there were those who did make acknowledgment of planetary motion a political controversy. They called it a lie, a heresy – they disputed the truth because it didn’t suit their political interests. That same thinking had led to centuries of ignorance and stagnation – a dark ages where no real political systems functioned. It wasn’t until that very disregard of truth was challenged and defeated that we passed into the modern age.

We as a society are doomed if we cannot even acknowledge that from one season to next – it keeps getting hotter and that our Winters seem to be vanishing. This problem is much, much deeper than we are giving credit for. When a system fails not only to fix problems but also refuses to acknowledge them – it is not likely to survive them.

Copyright 2012, Political Perspectives™

What is Politics Anyway?

2012-01-04T19:28:00.004-05:00

The news tonight was abuzz with stories of the close outcome in the Republican race in the Iowa caucus. One candidate bested another by 8 votes. In all the recaps, spinning and expert analysis there was little to no discussion on what the results meant, what the candidates really stood for and what the real issues were in this election so far.

Instead we heard about election strategy, statistics, the impact of negative ads and when any actual issues were introduced, it was only in the context of shallow labels and cliches. It's as if after someone lobs a well-placed buzz-word we are all automatically expected to reference an internal political encyclopedia that somehow reaffirms their statement with our mindless concurrence. Politics has become the ultimate insider's game; it has become so introverted in fact that it seems as though the thought leaders in the field no longer care whether anyone else actually understands what they're referencing.

Or perhaps it's worse. Perhaps we've gotten to the point where there is in fact nothing being referenced. Our politics have been stripped of ideas with only a skeleton smattering of buzzwords remaining to remind us that there once was actual debate in this country.

This is a good point to ask the obvious question - what is Politics?

This is not an academic question - we what mean to ask is this: What is the reality of American politics for most ordinary Americans today? We don't care about the textbook definition of the 3 branches of government or how a bill becomes a law under ideal conditions - we want to know how things are working in the real world and what our relationship with that is.

We could present you some pronouncements - but the only truth is your own reality - so here's some questions that you can ask yourself (and answer them honestly):

Is politics the same as Government (and if so, why or if not why)?
Is politics (or government, or both) a positive force in your life or a negative one. Why do you think that?
Do you feel that politics empowers you or disregards you?
Do you think that politics is corrupt by nature or honest by nature?
Do you think that public service is a noble profession or a path only for the ambitious?
If this system isn't working, what system would?
Do you think politics causes problems or solves them?
Do you think politics ever truly addresses the real issues?

Granted, this was a list of loaded questions. But the list was derived directly from rhetoric spread across the political spectrum; from the Occupy Movement to the Tea Party and everyone in between. The common thread in all of this is a sense of distrust and dysfunction - a general lack of confidence.

What is surprising in this growing vote of no confidence is the fact that politics is something we ourselves participate in and potentially control. The rejection of politics is then to some extent a rejection of ourselves or at least of our own potential. This rejection also represents an abdication of power - something all the more ironic given that much of the displeasure stems directly from a perceived lack of empowerment.

So, how do we answer the question? What is politics?

The simple answer is this - politics is a system. It's a system that is meant to serve as a vehicle for the popular will and a problem solving mechanism. It is a system that depends on the goodwill and confidence of its participants and perhaps most importantly it is a system that becomes stronger as more participate - and infinitely weaker when only a few control it.

This is our starting point. To understand politics we must view actions, issues and personalities in the context of that system and that's what we're going to do...

Copyright 2012, Political Perspectives™

Political Perspectives – Relaunch

2012-01-02T14:51:00.001-05:00

Jan. 2, 2012

It’s a new year and this is a new Political Perspectives.

This blog has been active since 2008 and was a follow-on to a long running public affairs cable program of the same name (during the 1990’s). While our name remains the same, our mission is changing once more.

We’ve decided to take a different look at politics during the 2012 political season. We’re not concerned with the horserace of this year’s presidential election or the relative positioning of one party or movement versus another. This year we are going to examine some of the deeper questions and issues associated with American and to some extend World Politics.

So, why are we doing this?

The past two years have signaled that the world political arena has entered a new transformative phase. It’s not entirely clear what this phase is, what it means and what it will lead to. One thing is for certain though – it is changing people’s perceptions of what politics is and what their role as agents of change may become. We will take this opportunity to be more introspective – to challenge assumptions from all parts of the political spectrum.

This needs to be done and will be done in the context of current real-world contemporary events. The immediate issues present us with segues to the larger questions. We will preface the entire year with this preliminary comment: “there is no one right answer, although there may be a reasonable path.”

In the coming weeks we will begin to dissect the theories, rhetoric and strategies of contemporary politics, on all sides. We do this because politics should not be based upon dogma or blind emotion – but rather needs to built atop critical thought and careful analysis.

Copyright 2012, Political Perspectives™