Party Politics: Engage in Ways that Serve You Best
Image: Jacob Botter
The world has come a long way from the days of autocratic ruling – whether it be royal or militaristic – to a republic where two or more political parties represent ideologies from which citizens choose their alliance. It gives us a sense of choice, in ways that the former does not.
But doesn’t the very idea of Party Politics make us uncomfortable? After we learn that the basic meaning is “politics that relate to political parties rather than to the good of the general public”. There is a profound distinction in this meaning. One that I find reveals a coldness after the construction of its image – to think that the general public is not the matter that is most paramount – but rather, mostly about where the political party chooses to lead us. Don’t you feel bamboozled now? Or doesn’t our continued and complete allegiance, even after being aware, reveal some sense of our political powerlessness in society?
And how can we remain unmoved by this, when our social and economic conditions continue to take a hit, regardless of the ruling party? Party Politics seemed to have spoilt along the way, that is if it ever was sincere, true and pure since its beginning. It seems the only ones that continue to benefit are the wealthy. The only ones that continue to escape pain, uncertainty and discomfort are the privileged. And it does not matter where they lean.
Everything is political now, even when they are not politicized. Perhaps it is time that we reflect on who we are politically, as an individual, as a party member and as a country, irrespective of the democratic, republic or any other political affiliations we play a role in.
So perhaps we need to revisit and define our political principles by understanding that political parties do not always satisfy our expectations, especially if you have the interest of the general public at heart, which probably includes eighty percent of us.
I am not making a case to abandon our political obligations or boycott political parties. That may not be practical. I am urging us to reconsider how we oblige them and to politically engage in ways that serve us best. It may take a little work. It may require learning about the political players in our communities, their political history and political views. And be just as prudent and thorough at this task regardless of which color the party flies, enabling our findings determine what candidate we choose. Whether they are in our offices now or intend to enter in the future.
The political lines are blurred so we need to do more to clear this distortion. I completely agree that local politics affect our lives the most. It is why federal governments, all around the world, sometimes uphold the rights of states to make their own laws through legislation, and for cities to form their own ordinances. It is all about ethics. Do not get it twisted for one second that politics is not about ethics.
I find beauty in expressing thought through various forms, where one form better captures a thought or a point of view with the right frequency to the tune in others. The poem below is one I was moved to write after I started on this article on party politics. I decided to name it exactly that because it suits the poem in the most succinct of ways. It is a mix of…ah well, make of it what you may.
PARTY POLITICS
Party politics is never completely revealed
Yet we eat it all up like it’s a delightful meal
It’s all or nothing – that’s the way that they deal
That’s right! Party politics, with its pleasant appeal.
The red or the blue. Pick your favored color
Or the green or the tea, when the others lose flavor
Since we are having a laugh, here’s a pack of Crayola
Its party politics – where there’s no place for candor
Partying with politics; Is that your kind of party?
Where voting down the line is exactly how to be?
Party politics. Do you really know what it means?
Isn’t it – when just ‘the people’ party without the WE?
Listen to your Congress. It’s for the general good they say.
The general good, my friends, has been kept well at bay
Pick your right or left, you see, they don’t have all day
It’s party politics, sorry, you all don’t have a say.
Jude Ehikwe is on Twitter: @jehiks08