Politics

I was young and more naive than most when I entered government/politics. I learned a great deal from many bright people, learned arcane matter on a vast number of subjects and furthered my writing and analytical skills. The one thing I shied away from was politics. I didn’t understand it. Then I started working on campaigns and understanding it a little, but thought I was a “policy person.”

It took many years of head-butting (when I got confident enough to do that and call my council member to make my voice heard) but I’m learning. I always thought it was about idealism, the right stance, the right cause, and truth and justice will prevail!

In a dream, perhaps. In reality, no. I still maintain staunch positions on many issues, positions that have evolved over the years but only in slight increments. I can’t really fight about food. Chef A’s cherry clafoutis is better than Chef B’s? All I can do is review restaurants in areas where there are no clear guidelines for visitors to choose a good place or a bad one.

Now issues come into play. I worked on one issue very closely, was in the key five organizers for six years. I thought that rational arguments, statistics, demographics, and prior cases would help. It didn’t. Perhaps the opposition gave $50 to one candidate and won. What we learned is that the politicians don’t make policy, the bureaucrats do and manipulate the process to frustrate everyone.

What does this have to do with today? The idealist who does not want to compromise on the epitome of issues-based politics, just advised someone involved for years in this same issue: “This is politics. No-one cares about truth or virtue, they care about perception and what people think of them. They’re not thinking of you at all, just how to get their butts out of this mess and move on.” And that’s just to help them through a public hearing.

Can you spell cynic? It’s not spelled D-e-e. Volunteers involved in a cause tend to be too emotional (I was) and don’t see the big picture. I want them to see the big picture. I still care about truth and virtue, and I can do so because my Prince Charming showed up in his silver Honda and took me away… to heat and humidity!

No, it wasn’t a white steed or castle. But this is the real world and sometimes I need to tell fellow volunteers the paths in which I’ve tread, succeeded and failed. To a better tomorrow, Dee