"I preface the following with the admittance that I am not a mind reader, nor do I have any special insight into the human heart that is by some means unattainable. Regarding those in power, I wonder at times of the disconnect and how far it has removed them from the perspective of those of us who put them in power. This is regardless of their political leaning. Rare is the unicorn, even rarer is the honest politician. Though this over generalization is meant more out of satire than truth, I have found a sad wisdom in it. It has become, if not always has been, that lies; subterfuge, exchanges of power and support all have become currency amongst our elected officials. We often find promises made are rarely fulfilled, “if you elect me..” has become synonymous with receiving an email from a south African prince regarding a financial agreement, or the now popular “..final courtesy call regarding your cars extended warranty”. We offer control of our governance to individuals who no better understand our daily lives than a king a peasant’s. Though one might find this comparison jarring, or perhaps too farfetched, I’d ask you to think of a single effectively influential person in office who has shared with you a similar life experience to date. Though I know it, it may be possible, were not done yet. Now show me who amongst them has made great improvements on the negative aspects within our society that affected them, as it does us, to build us all up as a whole. I ask this, not to challenge you, but more as a thought experiment. If it is simple for you to think of a politician. I would congratulate you, you have representation within our government. However, if you cannot, it is possible that you do not have such representation, though it is possible one is simply unaware of who that individual is, I would wager that most people fall into the former category. As such, we have perhaps reached a point where we no longer are a nation “.. of the people, by the people..” as Lincoln so described this notion of democracy. This being said, we must equally explore the notion that perhaps our democracy is also and sadly no longer “..for the people.”
So how do we get it back? How do we find within ourselves the best parts of who we were and bring them along with who we are now? We discuss it, we debate it openly, and without prejudice. We as a people, we are the body of our society, and if all we do is quarrel in disagreement with one another the body becomes ill and will die. Are there in truth an obvious level of individuals within the body that do not have the ability or desire to debate these issues with respect and grace, absolutely, and may they grow to find an enlightenment that allows for them the peace to do so one day. This is not a challenge we can afford to decline, nor is it one that should be seen as insurmountable. For a people to be governed effectively they must first be informed enough to debate the issues that we face, for it the only true way to deliberate amongst ourselves a best course of action to move forward. The reason the onus is on us, is because we all share the bourdons or relief those decisions represent, and to offer up those outcomes unabashedly to whomsoever is wearing the appropriate logo for our team is, to me at least, the definition of insanity. Time and again we have done this, time and again we have seen the same result.