Of Elections, Politicians, and Voting:
Yesterday was Election Day. Yes, I voted. I started not to vote, since I wasn't particularly enthusiastic about any of the candidates; but I did vote. After all, as we always say, if you don't vote, you don't have any complaint coming if things don't go your way--or something like that! And actually, most of my candidates won here in Alabama and in my local races.
I'm not cynical about politics. I've heard people say that they don't vote because it doesn't make any difference, anyway, or because "they're all bums." Well, they're not all bums. And it does make a difference--even though sometimes, it seems very insignificant. And I figure there are about the same percentage of bums involved in politics as in any other line of work--even including preachers. If you took all the car salesmen and all the professional sports stars, and all the doctors and lawyers, you'd have about the same percentage of good and bad in all of them, I believe. Human nature doesn't change just because of your occupation.
No, I've always enjoyed politics; and I'd love to run for office some day--at some level. (It'll probably be only after I retire from active ministry, though' so don't worry if you think this pastor is going to embroil some church in politics.) If you look at the political campaigns of good candidates who lose, you can usually figure out plausible reasons for the loss without becoming cynical about the process in general.
As a result of yesterday's election, for example, the Democrats will now control the United States House of Representatives and, most probably, the U.S. Senate. That didn't happen because of the virtues and vices of the electorate, or because one party is virtuous and the other party is a bunch of non-Christian thugs. Rather, it happened for some very plausible and interesting reasons. It'll be the first time the Democrats have controlled the House of Representatives since 1994; and rankly, I think the next two years will be very interesting to watch.
posted by Daniel Berry @ 11/08/2006 05:55:00 PM
3 Comments:
At 11/09/2006 03:31:00 AM ,
Anonymous said...
A person who would allow a baby to be partialy born then killed Is not fit to hold office. The same is true of a politician that allows a husband to legally kill his disabled wife. I vote my faith first. That often means I vote for the Republicans. Biggmann
At 11/10/2006 09:47:00 PM ,
Bobby Cohoon said...
It's kind of funny; I live in North Carolina very near the Virginia state line. I know more about Virginia politics than I do those in my own state!
At 11/11/2006 11:32:00 AM ,
sweetmagnolia said...
If you run for public office, it would be wise to start at the local level. You should consider running for city council, then you could work your way up if you decide that the political arena is your cup of tea. There is a man in my home town who is a minister and a member of the city council. However, there will be those who insist that members of clergy should not hold political office since some people consider that a conflict of interest. If you do run for office, you had better become thick skinned. You will suffer "the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune" from time to time. You will be fair game for lots of criticism, fair and unfair. Such is the fate of all politicians.
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