Why Politics Matter

When it comes to politics, my fiancée beholds an opinion which I believe a great majority of Americans indeed hold themselves. “It smells boring” she’ll tell me. Yet, be that as it may, I should point out that despite her assertion on the subject, she nonetheless has strong opinions and beliefs about any number of political topics, as I’m quite certain do many of you. Now, while I have my own reservations about her assertions, she is without question correct in that watching Congressional members hash out another tax increase or a withdrawal of U.S. military forces from Iraq on C-SPAN over say watching game seven of a World Series, does quite matter of factly smell boring. But, if we were to forego an almost certain Yankee victory in favor of Congressional boredom for that one evening, we’d learn a thing or two about the heart of American politics and politics as a whole. Though, because I doubt very much that I’ll convince our readers to partake in the latter suggestion, I feel compelled to hold my nose to the scent of boredom and the stench rising from both our local and national legislative latrine while at the same time exploiting it for the sole purpose of providing a teachable moment on the importance of politics.

Politics is, in its most simplistic form, nothing more than a battle over ideas. Take for example that while one individual may prefer a sausage and mushroom pizza, another might prefer steak and potatoes, while yet another might dismiss it altogether in favor of tofu and sprouts. Now, while we may have our own personal opinions about what these individuals choose to eat, collectively, it’s safe to say that we don’t much care as their choice is theirs to make. It has no bearing on what it is that we so desire to eat. However, let us take this one step further and now consider that these three individuals are making a choice as to what you and I will be eating. If that were suddenly the case, I’m inclined to believe that a great many of you would be taking a keen interest in one individual’s selection over another. Now, granted it sounds completely ridiculous to consider a legislative process that might determine the specifics of what will graze our dinner plates on any given evening. Or does it? Let us not forget the growing trend in banning trans-fat. Nonetheless, the beat goes on…

Now, if it’s not banning trans-fat, it might be raising taxes to divert money towards federal funding for embryonic stem-cell research, or banning smoking in private establishments as we’ve previously discussed. We’ve seen the legislature mandate that you have to wear your seatbelt, we’ve seen government’s reach take private property through eminent domain and wetland protection. At present, certain Minnesota legislators are seeking to create a new top tier tax bracket for the sole sake of redistributing that money in the form of property tax relief to other individuals they deem worthy. Another proposal from Minnesota law makers would mandate that a private business owner has to allow any individual, afflicted with irritable bowel syndrome or the like, the use of their bathroom even if that bathroom had previously been reserved strictly for the business owner’s working staff. Yet another one would prohibit glass bottles (i.e. ketchup or pickle) on your own boat or on a beach. Out east, one New York state senator proposed a bill which would prohibit the use of a cell phone, mp3 player, blackberry, or any electronic device while crossing the street in New York City or in Buffalo. In Michigan, there was a legislative proposal to provide every kid with an iPod (such a wise use of tax dollars isn’t it?). And, so you see my friends, so long as we fail to heed the importance of politics in our lives, this cycle will never end. Before you know it, you’ll have Al Gore and his minions turning off your lights at 5:00pm, setting your thermostat at 60 degrees in mid January, charging you for exceeding your fifty mile a month driving limit, and so on and so on and so on. Little by little, day by day the erosion of your freedoms and your liberties will unfold until it’s too late and you’re left utterly dumbfounded as to how it all occurred. This of course assuming you’re even free to think for yourself.

I will tell you, I’m a firm believer in such freewill, which explains why every political compass has pegged me as a Libertarian. I don’t believe for a moment that the role of the United States government was ever to dictate to such degree the way Americans choose to live. Because I’ll tell you, just as I don’t think it necessary to engage in a legislative process to determine whether to have pizza, steak, or tofu for dinner, similarly I don’t see the need for a legislative process banning trans-fat because it’s bad for me, or prohibiting that I listen to my mp3 player while crossing the street in an effort to save me from getting hit by a car. I believe that such choices are clearly ones we are all capable of making ourselves. Unfortunately far too many legislators and their constituents see otherwise. Though, because they so choose to see otherwise in promoting and encouraging the expanse of a government which now includes public policy proposals of such a ridiculous and invasive degree as those I’ve mentioned, your sense of smell ought to pick up on the absolute importance of politics in your everyday life. And, while I doubt I’ll ever be ready to cede the point that politics “smells boring”, looking at some of the legislative proposals coming from St. Paul and abroad, I think we can all agree that some of it indeed stinks.