Two Kinds of Politics

There are two kinds of politics in the United States today:

One that is self-absorbed, self-protective, defensive and insecure/paranoid. This type of politics protects the status quo and those who already enjoy comfort and privileges.

The other type of politics is concerned with problem-solving in order to have a more equitable, fair and just society where we are all citizens with the same rights and we all strive to do the right things, take care of each other, and improve life for everyone, not just the privileged.

These are two sets of opposing politics. It’s not really possible to straddle the fence and/or be neutral or “centrist” with these two distinct types of politics. When people often talk about the two political parties or about the left or the right, liberal or conservative, they often say that there’s no difference, that “both parties do it.”

That is not true when it comes to the two types of politics I have described here. One is the politics of selfishness, indifference and heartlessness. The other is practical and believes in working for what is best for the most people. It’s utilitarian.

I’m not trying to be provocative. I’m just asking people to think about it for themselves. Don’t answer this question to anyone but yourself. Which of these two political ideologies best fits you?

I believe the type of politics that has had the bigger influence in United States for a long time has been the selfish type of politics that serves the status quo and the wealthy. As a result this country does not have justice for all or full equality of all citizens. But it does have a grotesquely skewed economy that favors the rich and punishes the middle and lower classes. The current politics have allowed for the dissolution of the separation of church and state and for the church(es) to insert themselves directly into politics and assert their agendas, which are not religious at all but serve as political dogma and tyranny which goes against what the authors of the Constitution intended and also go against the teachings of Jesus and Buddha and all the teachings of true religions.

So far, utilitarian politics, the politics that do the most to help the most people, have only had limited success in the democracy of the United States and have always been branded as being socialist or communist or other pejoratives, even if those labels are not correct and confuse people with emotion and distortion. But the thing that is true about utilitarian governance that cannot be gaslighted and will always remain true is that when the government works honestly and sincerely for the people to improve and lift up the lives of all citizens and to do what is best and right for the most people most of the time, it stands up to and is superior to all the gaslighting.

The United States is a young democracy. It is searching its soul and trying to figure out which type of politics it wants to accept and embrace. So far, it has built quite a campaign on the successful elements of good governance that it has been able to accomplish despite all of the forces that have always arrayed themselves against it doing so. But the serious question that remains unsettled is whether or not the United States will finally take steps to strengthen itself and create a more perfect union and correct the imperfections that keep it from doing so? Or not? That is what will be interesting to see; which direction the country will take.