a working definition . . .

I posted this on another blog last week - but it seems a good way to begin my foray into political perspective posturing . . .

I have a simple way to define politics. You break the word down into its parts - poly, meaning many - ticks - meaning blood sucking creatures - and there you have it - many blood sucking creatures.

I know - that reeks of cynicism. But who among us isn't becoming increasingly cynical about politics. They say that politics is one of the big three that you aren't supposed to bring up at cocktail and dinner parties - but it is increasingly becoming a mainstay topic of conversation. The difference these days - people "check out" their potential conversation partners to see if its "safe" to enter into a biased political conversation. There is so much animosity - there is so much vehemence. And we live in a country divided. Actually, polarized would be a better term.

Not everything about politics is bad - heavens, nothing would ever get done if people didn't band together to accomplish things. Politics is a necessary evil. But I must borrow a term here from the religious world - we have become a country of "fundamentalist" politicians. By that, I mean that we those we listen to the most - and perhaps even ourselves (if we were honest) - practice a mentality that figures that everything they believe is truth, and everything the opposition believes is wrong, and therefore, the opposition must be destroyed in the process of accomplishing their own ends.

Tell me I'm wrong . . .

I think it takes a balance of perspectives.

And I'll say more about that next time.