Breaking up with Politics

I’m very sorry to admit it, but I’m starting to get really disheartened and disillusioned by politics.  It’s not that I ever thought it was a business of deep integrity and solid values.  But despite its obvious weaknesses, I did see it as an institution of tremendous value and importance.

I wasn’t always interested in politics.  In high school, I obviously knew who Bill Clinton was, and I was well aware of his indiscretions with Ms Lewinski, but I’m sure I didn’t know his party affiliation or where he stood on probably any issue.  I just never saw politics as something important or really relevant to my life.  In our mock high school presidential election, I voted for Ross Perot because I thought he was at least interesting to listen to.

I actually voted for George W Bush in 2000.  Not because I knew anything about him but because I bought into the party line that they were the party of values.  That and the only issue I knew anything about was abortion, and so I voted along those lines.

But then 9/11 happened, and what I perceived to be an unjust and immoral war was launched.  I became more interested in politics and in the world in general, and I started to hear the messages that the parties were dishing out.  And I took sides really fast.  And it wasn’t the side of George W.

It was during that time that I first got really invested in politics.  I was well aware of what my values were, and I was well aware that they were aligned with one party much more than the other.  At that time, I started considering myself a moderate Democrat.  But I don’t think that was exactly accurate.  It was more like I was a far left Democrat who happened to also be pro-life.  (Not a contradiction in my mind.)

What I most heard and read was people affiliated with or in support of the neocon movement bashing the “Hollywood values” of those on the left.  And I took it very personally.  I started being quite vocal about my beliefs, and as vocal as I was, I was that much more passionate.  I lived and breathed political radio and news.  I was fired up about it.

And I think it was important that I was so passionate about it.  We need people to be passionate about politics because our politicians are the representatives of the very powerful voices we have as Americans.  Through taxes, our money is used and our power is exerted.  Who we vote for not only effects us but people across the country and around the world.  Whether or not we vote, someone will be speaking for us.  It’s up to us whether we want to have a say in the message that voice projects.

And that’s how I’ve felt for years.  Until relatively recently.

This weekend, we were in the lobby of our vacation rental, and we were having breakfast with CNN on in the background.  TJ and I tried not to pay attention to it, but the room was quiet and the television was loud.  What we heard was an interview with the Republican chairman about the postponing of the convention for a day.  We heard the news reporter asking vapid questions and Priebus responding with the party line he helped create.  There was nothing to be learned or gained from the interview except the knowledge that all of the speakers would be accommodated in the shortened schedule.

Then there was the whole scandal with Akin last week and his comments about “legitimate rape.”  On top of that, we had the mini-controversy this week over (what I perceive to be completely harmless) comments from Paul Ryan about what constitutes human conception.

And I’m starting to realize that it’s all stupid.  Yes, there are very important issues and the candidates have very different viewpoints on how to handle those issues.  And our voice matters and the choices our leaders make matter.

And yet all politicians and the news media can talk about are birth certificates and ignorant comments made by ignorant people.

And I can’t help but feel disheartened by it all.  As it stands, our leaders gain votes by appealing to that part of all of us that seeks out controversy and scandal.  They speak to the basest parts of human nature.  And they have to if they are to get elected.  There is no place for high mindedness or a campaign of integrity in our political landscape.

And so where does that leave us as a society?  If who we vote for matters and yet all those politicians can talk about is smut and scandal, then are we doomed to live in that mud hole every four years?  Is there hope for a more civilized and productive discourse?  One that is aimed at uniting people to find common answers rather than aimed at dividing people to gain votes?

Do we have any hope that dissent will be used to come up with new, better solutions?  Will we ever reach a point where admirable men and women with real power will use that power to come together and solve problems rather than stir up anger to excite their base?

I’m not sure I have any real belief that this will ever happen, but I will continue to keep hope.  But until then, I need to separate myself from the coverage and the mudslinging.  I’ll still carry my responsibility to be informed and exercise my voice, but I won’t be dragged into battles where neither party is really concerned with understanding.

No debate will ever be productive if the parties are not dedicated to having open minds in the interest of developing better ideas.  And I have better things to do with my time than listen to or be a party of debates with people who are solely concerned with the next witty comeback.