Political Inaction

I've been chewing on SJD's thoughtful reflections to yesterday's post, where she wonders if all of us observers of the political scene need to get off our butts and get more involved (she put it much more gently). I can see her point. It's that old "If you're not part of the solution you're part of the problem," scenario. I can see that, yet my bottom line is that I don't wanna.

Part of it stems from living with vocal conservatives for much of my upbringing. I have long since learned the futility of trying to disabuse people of long-held, strongly-held convictions, especially when those convictions have been elevated to the status of holy writ. My picture of getting more involved politically involves having to talk to those kinds of people in an effort to persuade them to relinquish their cherished beliefs.

It is my conviction that there is a fundamental world view difference between Dems and Pubs, based on values and life experiences, such that talking about our favorite candidate and why s/he's better won't change any minds. It'd be like trying to persuade someone why your religion (or lack thereof) is so much better than their belief system. I think that's why emotionally charged negative campaigns are so effective with the hoi polloi; the messages of fear and hate sink into the subconscious and burrow into the fertile ground of values and emotions that has already taken up residence.

Here's an example of what I mean. Right now Congress is hearing testimony about the great Wall Street bailout and how it's critical or our entire financial infrastructure will collapse. We're told that if this bailout doesn't happen we will be visited by the four horseman of the Apocalypse : rampant inflation, more foreclosures, increased unemployment, increased bankruptcies.

None of want that, of course. That sounds very scary. Yet I have no idea if that forecast is true. Neither do most people. There are dissenting voices, who say the government shouldn't get involved. How am I to know who or what to believe?

I think most people will believe what already fits their worldview. Is the world a safe place where most things work out, or is the world teetering on the brink of disaster so we should do all we can to shore up the barricades?

Of course, this is a very simplistic response, and I know there are readers who are way better informed than I am, but on this subject--economics--I am way out of my depth. So, I have to react with my gut, which is what I think most people do when faced with issues beyond their scope.

National and international governance is similarly beyond my scope. So, I want to vote for leaders I can trust whose basic worldview and opinion on issues is similar to mine. That's as much attention as I want to give it. I have other interests, other focuses in my life. The way I see it, the world is filled with causes worth dedicating one's time and interest--animal rights, women's rights, civil rights, the environment, peace and justice, etc. etc. etc. They're all good, all equally valuable and important in helping create a better world. So, I'm not going to step up my political involvement, leaving it to those for whom it's a passion.

That's my view today. We'll see what the morrow brings.