Countering Disillusionment From the Political Process
My disillusionment with the political process started back in ‘05 shortly after the ‘04 Presidential election cycle. It was cemented during the ‘06 cycle and cynicism has set in since the ‘08 Presidential election cycle.
I attended the Tea Party Protests back last spring (videos on my youtube channel linked in the tool bar below) and those were cool and inspiring. They were nothing like what you typically see (if they actually cover it) on CNN or disparaged by liberals. As you will seen in the two videos I made, they were normal people doing their best to make a difference we felt is best for the country. At the same time, I have a good number of friends who consider themselves liberals and they don’t act at all like the liberal elitists in power.
Well, unless I mention the name Sarah Palin. They get all bonky in the head over her. 
I didn’t want Obama to win but I “hope”d he would bring a different more transparent style to Washington. Turns out that what he brought was more secretive , more partisan and more destructive/divisive than anything I could have possibly imagined.
The Republicans are better, in my humble opinion, but not by much over the past four to six years. My disillusionment began over how badly some openly Christian candidates were attacked behind the scenes by so called “moderates” in the Republican party and in a few cases vice versa. That’s one of the reasons I am a bit distrusting of “building bridges” metaphors.
Just be who you are, get what you think out on the table and don’t agree to disagree… just respectfully disagree and work from there… if you can. If you can’t, find something else to talk about or continue the current conversation with humility and a listening ear.
Perhaps the new generation represented by Brown, Rubio and Palin (among others) will change things for the better. And no, right now, I am not fully comfortable with the idea of Palin as President. Regardless of what she does in the future, she *is* a powerful influence and I hope continually for good. I like her.
It would seem that “politics” has become a sort of idol in that people look to the political process, figures, proposed legislation and court battles as the answer to all their problems. It’s so easy to get caught up in that hype. It’s so easy to lose the proper perspective that Christians have lived in and accomplished the Lord’s will in every type of government from murderous despots to the greatest democracy the world has ever known here in the United States.
Yeah, I am biased. I love the United States.
We, US Citizens, live in a country that calls on us (not just an option) to engage the system. Every time I remember that seeking to love God with all my being and love my neighbor as myself is my first priority, my disillusionment is put in proper perspective and the anxiousness in my heart diminishes. That then energizes me for the specific events instead of having the specific events drain my will to continue to engage the process.
Countering Disillusionment From the Political Process http://tinyurl.com/yal8v52
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
Just be who you are, get what you think out on the table and don’t agree to disagree… just respectfully disagree and work from there… if you can. If you can’t, find something else to talk about or continue the current conversation with humility and a listening ear.
While I understand how this can be done in our personal relationships—and indeed, it must be done in order to actually have a relationship that isn’t completely made up of arguments—how does it work in the political process? When I’m talking to a friend and we begin to debate religion, sexuality, or politics, I won’t compromise my position, and I won’t expect them to. We’ll simply disagree and then go out for coffee and talk about movies or something.
But that is because no one is relying on my friend and me to take action about anything. We’re simply talking. Politicians, however, have to eventually reach some kind of compromise if action is going to be taken, right? Otherwise we would be left with political stalemates all the time.
I don’t know Jay. I think if people were more honest and civil about it more pragmatic answers would arise.
What is often called compromise is nothing of the sort. It’s incremental manipulation. I think we have more stalemates now in the name of “finding common ground” than honest accomplishments.
Oh, sorry. I had meant to block-quote the first paragraph, which came from the post.