Annoying Autobiographical Pause – Politics Edition
Barry left a comment. It’s a good example of how people feel about politics right now.
Here’s a snippet.
Why is politics so attractive to people who aren’t politicians? What’s the allure? It’s all so immature and pointless… Who cares who’s the head of the Tennessee DMC? or the RMC? I truly don’t understand.
I can’t answer for anyone else but I thought I’d take an annoying autobiographical pause to explain why I pay attention.
I grew up in a very active political family on my mother’s side. My grandfather was the head of the GOP party here in Hoots for many years. He was a WWII veteran and became active politically after he returned home. My mother’s political allegiance was more left-leaning after Kennedy was elected to office. My great-grandfather served as an alderman here in the late 40s and early 50s as did my great uncle.
Being politically aware in my family was taught to us at a very young age. It was, and is, as natural as breathing. My grandfather insisted I watch Watergate. He died in 1980, and during the last few months of his life (he died from adrenal cancer) I would sit with him and watched the hostage situation in Iran. I was 14 years old during that time, Carter was president and politics was discussed around our house nonstop.
During the McWherter years (including the speaker/governor years) and while working as a reporter, politics was a hot topic in this area. Mainly because McWherter had a lot going on in our part of the woods. There was always something happening and Ned Ray, as we call him here, was very accessible so we got to see politics in motion.
And, on a personal note as I have sat in countless board meetings on my beat, I saw first hand how political decisions impact the day to day lives of all of us.
With that said, last night I was talking to the head of the Republican party in my neck of the woods. He is a really nice man and we get along fabulously. The headquarters is right down from the newspaper and I love talking to him. We were speaking to each other at a mix and mingle event at our newly opened art gallery here.
Another one of our friends smiled and moved on during our conversation. He could care less about politics.
I realize having civil and invigorating conversations about our state is probably happening everywhere but, apparently, Nashville.
So the gist of my explanation here is simple. For some of us, it’s just what we are. It may seem pointless to a lot of people but it is thrilling and invigorating for some of us as well.
There are those of us who are involved and there are those of us who aren’t. That’s what makes us different people, I’m guessing.
With that said, I wish the folks in Nashville will read your comment because they need to know that you aren’t alone in your sentiments.
And, because we are different and the same in certain ways, I can’t wait for Lost.
I think we probably have different opinions and definitions on just what “politics” is. To me “politics” is the dubiously named art form for dividing up into two (or more) teams, choosing sides, choosing platforms and beliefs, and stubbornly trying to lead the people while furthering your one’s own selfish goals.
I have no political background whatsoever. Nobody I am related to nor know personally (although one person at my church is a former County Commissioner) ever ran for office or had even informal ties to a local, state or national political party. So politics as something to be revered or admired means nothing to me personally.
When you say, “I saw first hand how political decisions impact the day to day lives of the rest of us,” I don’t see that as a positive thing. I don’t see that as honest problem-solving or actual governing, I see that as gamesmanship and deal-making. Not that it’s necessarily shady or illegal but it’s not what people are elected for.
To me “politics” and “governing” are and should be two very different things. If you want to lead your people, solve problems, get things done that are right and true and just and fair then govern. If you want to blindly follow leaders who blindly follow other leaders based on a jumble of unrelated issues that loosely join together to form something called “liberalism” or “conservatism”, attach names to those like “Democrat” or “Republican”, then treat the other side like a UT/Florida rivalry where the other guys are the bad guys – wrong, stupid (do you know how many times I hear one side call the other “stupid”? Do you know how much I hate hearing an opinion I happen to hold, “stupid” for no other reason than the political party whose beliefs on that issue I happen to agree with are opposite theirs?), misguided, immoral, even treasonous?
If you can show me an example of politics and gamesmanship that you find honorable and just, I’d like to see it.
Namaste!
Oh, I’m not in the mindset at this point to do that.
However, I think my point is just what you said. Your definition and mine are two different, yet very valid, definitions.
Now, back to day to day. I see this as reality. It is what it is. (Much of this came from covering meetings in my job.) Now, with that said, seeing local (and I’m talking city politics) work at fixing power lines and roads, making sure funding gets to schools, that sort of thing, I do find admirable because it’s necessary.
As for the games going on in Nashville right now, I say “Feh.”
So, it’s a matter of definition. It’s necessary to have different opinions.
But, there are some of us that watch it, some of us that don’t.
But we know one thing ….
Desmond is important.