Of Politics, Political Parties, & Partisianship

Let me preface this as saying that my two passions in life are history, and politics. For me I love learning about our past, because more often than not history repeats itself. I love politics because it gives people such an opportunity to help other people.

But I feel that a lot of people don't get in to politics to help other people. There seems to be so much corruption now a days that its a little disheartening. I know that a lot of people get in to politics, do so for the entirely wrong reasons. Some dream of kickbacks from lobbiest, and how they can use their newfound position of power to meet their own needs.

But despite all of that I still have to believe that a lot of people still get in to politics for good reason, and that is to be able to help other people, to do some good, and to do what they think is right.

Now I need to have some full disclosure here. I am not ashamed to say that I am a pretty liberal person, bordering on being a socialist. However I am not one to condemn someone for having opposing polar opposite views on what I think is important.

You see, I realize people have different opinions about things. And while I may feel strongly that what I believe is a better option, I still recognize that everyone else has as much of a right to voice their opinions. I don't think that just because someone is a conservative, that they are automatically bad. (And lets face it, a lot of people make the republican=bad connection automatically)

I don't know why it is that people can't sit down and realize that most people are just trying to do what they think is right. Even if you disagree with someone on a stance with an issue, it doesn't mean at the end of the day you need to be that persons bitter enemy. That's why I don't get why there is such polarization in today's politics.

It seems that if you are liberal you automatically need to hate anyone who is a conservative, and if you are a conservative, it seems that you automatically need to hate anyone who is a liberal. So may people get caught up in towing the party line, and condemning anyone different from them, that I think a lot of us lose sight that we are Americans first, members of political parties second.

Maybe I am just naive, or maybe I am to young to be hyper-critical and cynical about things. But I still believe that we can all join together, conservative, liberal, and everyone in between, and we can do great things with our country.

One of my favorite movies, which opitizimies how I feel everyone who has the distinguished honor of holding elected office for this country, should feel about their position. The movie is Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. I leave you know with a wonderful quote, from an absolutely wonderful movie.

"Just get up off the ground, that's all I ask. Get up there with that lady that's up on top of this Capitol dome, that lady that stands for liberty. Take a look at this country through her eyes if you really want to see something. And you won't just see scenery; you'll see the whole parade of what Man's carved out for himself, after centuries of fighting. Fighting for something better than just jungle law, fighting so's he can stand on his own two feet, free and decent, like he was created, no matter what his race, color, or creed. That's what you'd see. There's no place out there for graft, or greed, or lies, or compromise with human liberties. And, uh, if that's what the grownups have done with this world that was given to them, then we'd better get those boys' camps started fast and see what the kids can do. And it's not too late, because this country is bigger than the Taylors, or you, or me, or anything else. Great principles don't get lost once they come to light. They're right here; you just have to see them again!"