Determine Your Beliefs; Let Your Vote Show Where You Stand
Most people don't give two hoots about politics - except when something goes wrong that affects them. When rating various professions, vocations and occupations, most people rank politicians near the bottom of the list, just above used-car salesmen. Voter turnout is abysmal, with only half the eligible citizens participating in large national elections, and far fewer in smaller less publicized local contests.
There's an old joke about a pollster asking a prospective voter whether he thinks today's citizens are more ignorant and more apathetic than they were years ago. "I don't know and I don't care" was the response.
As one who has played various roles within the political process over the past quarter-century, I find such detachment amazing. At a minimum, politics is a good spectator sport -- far more interesting than the ballgames filling our nation's airwaves. At its best, politics provides high drama, pitting good against evil (Luke Skywalker vs. Darth Vader) and favorite against underdog (the Yankees vs. anyone else).
I believe the reason most people "don't know and don't care" is that they've never taken the time to develop a cogent political philosophy. Since they don't know what they stand for, they can't work to create a vision for America that matches those beliefs. Since they don't know what they'd like to see done, they bounce back and forth between the two parties, supporting incumbents when times are good and drumming them out when times turn bad.
Amazingly, many people relish their lack of commitment; they bask in the glow of their ignorance. They buy in to the idealistic but misguided philosophy of independence. Their mantra is "vote the person, not the party." Sorry folks, but that lack of realism just doesn't wash in the real world. In politics, independence is highly overrated. Politics is the ultimate team endeavor. You can't get anything done alone. Your candidate may have the best idea the nation has ever seen, but if he doesn't get a majority of votes in both houses of Congress and then the President's signature of support, his proposal is not going to become law.
Here in Minnesota, we're experiencing what it's like to have not just an independent, but an amateur independent, atop state government. Our four-year accidental experiment with celebrity governance worked fine when the state was flush with cash, and the biggest problem was determining the size of tax rebates (known as "Jesse checks"). But now that the pendulum has swung back and more difficult times are again upon us, the governor's poll numbers are dropping like the temperature in January.
People are starting to figure out that there's nothing wrong with experience and professionalism, and that if you wouldn't seek treatment from an amateur doctor, you probably shouldn't entrust your government to amateurs. Jesse Ventura's election was the direct result of people without a coherent philosophy taking their ignorance to the polls. A third of his support came from first-time voters who were attracted by his bombastic persona and celebrity status; much of the rest came from disaffected Republicans and Democrats trying to send a message to their respective parties and candidates. They didn't stop to calculate that their protest vote might actually count in a tight three-way race. Surprise!
Like it or not (and I happen to like it), the U.S. has a strong two-party system. And contrary to what some may say, there is a huge difference between them. I believe the only responsible way to exercise your franchise to vote is to study the competing philosophies offered by the Republicans and Democrats and determine which of those philosophies best fits your belief structure. Once you've determined how you believe government should best be run, participate in our nation's governance by consistently applying that philosophy. Participate in the candidate-selection process. Give a portion of your time and financial resources to help the party and candidates of your choice. Finally, proudly cast your ballot for the candidate representing the party of your philosophy, knowing that win or lose, your participation helps keep America strong.
In essence, the basic tenets and underlying philosophies of the two parties can be summed up in two phrases:
Either you believe there should be a fairly large, centralized government that provides many services and taxes whatever is necessary;
Or you believe there should be a fairly small, decentralized government that provides only essential services and taxes as little as possible.
I subscribe to the latter of the two philosophies.After 20 years in elective and appointive office at both the local and state levels, I've come to understand that government cannot give something to one person until it first takes something away from another person. As one who believes in individual responsibility, self-determination and personal accountability, I become dismayed when I see government expanding its scope of influence. Every new law that is passed and every new program that is enacted nibbles away at our liberties. The more government mandates, the less freedom we have. Not to mention that every new program is funded on the backs of taxpaying men and women.
In the end, most people vote their pocketbooks, and most people can be divided into one of two camps: they are either "net getters" (they collect more in government benefits than they pay in taxes) or "net givers" (they pay more in taxes than they receive in benefits). "Net getters" are usually lower income and lower educated, who rely on government assistance and vote for politicians who promise to maintain and expand their current benefits, while "net givers" are higher income and better educated, who resent government's excessive generosity at their expense. Of course, there are always exceptions that prove the rule: low income working poor conservatives who don't believe in handouts, and high income do-gooder liberals, who feel guilty that others are suffering while they are so comfortable.
My advice is to join a team. Determine who you are and what you stand for. Don't lament the fact that the two parties aren't offering good choices; get involved in the candidate-selection process, or run for office yourself. Develop a rooting interest in one of the "teams" and some of the "players." Get worked up about the outcome, because in the end, it's your life and lifestyle that's at stake.
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About the Author;
Vic Ellison, Apple Valley, Minnesota, is the father of three and the grandfather of two, and has been married for 25 years. Vic is an independent businessman with extensive backgrounds in politics and writing. He can be reached at Vic@boomerjournals.com.
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