There isn’t much wrong with groups of politicians banding together to support common goals and common ideals. In fact, the formation of political parties really is a necessity when it comes to the operation of a representative government. Without people banding together to support particular causes, things won’t get accomplished. Ordinarily things not getting accomplished in government is a good thing, but removal of bad policy and law is also necessary.
The problem with political parties comes when people view them more as the end itself rather than a means to that end. People can get too caught up in defending members of their own team, regardless of what they say or do, simply because that person is on their team. Apparently, it’s all too tempting to blindly support all positions and all activities of a politician in order to support some commonalities. Common sense often seems to not be part of the equation.
All too often, politicians seem to get deified, assigned a status of perfection by supporters of their respective political parties. All too often, they can do no wrong in the eyes of their fellow party members. I’m not sure why people need to be reminded of this, but it is perfectly reasonable to support a politician where they are right and to oppose them where they are wrong. Or, if a politician does something worthy of criminal accusation, to support an investigation into whether criminal activity actually occurred. There is screeching at the thought of investigating Trump, screeching at the thought of investigating Clinton, screeching at the though of investigating Biden. And these are just a tiny handful of examples in the US alone.
It is true that politicians can often underhandedly try to use the justice system to fight their political opponents, but it’s not always the case. Blind support and deification of politicians never makes sense. In fact, it makes a lot more sense to assume most of them are guilty of all manner of unethical or criminal activities. While I am certain it would be wrong, it often seems like if every politician was locked up, you might nab the world’s most impactful criminals and not be wrong on very many of the individuals you had rounded up. But, of course, we can’t make such assumptions. Instead, we have to rely on information that is presented to us in the form of trial — either by opposing politicians presenting evidence in the trial of public opinion or by criminal investigations and formal trials.
When one lends his whole allegiance to a group of people with blind loyalty, he gives up his self thought. He no longer uses reason to guide his thinking, but instead relies on his thinking to be determined for him by some group of people who may even have opposing goals. It’s a sad thing to see rationality and reason be replaced by blind allegiance to someone who would never return it.
Politicians aren’t going to give you the same allegiance you offer them. They care about their own agenda and their own personal goals more than they care about yours. They are not deserving of your deification of them nor your blind loyalty. When someone on your team is wrong, don’t defend them just because they’re on your team.
Don’t throw away your personal convictions, integrity, and rational, independent thinking for a non-hero. Government seeks to grow its power and influence. Very few elected officials desire standing in the way of other than to direct that power and influence toward themselves. Political parties are not worth fighting for. Only truth and principles are worth the sort of loyalty so many give to politicians. When your guy does bad, be as angry about it as the opposition. When your guy does good, be grateful that there is at least a little hope. The loss of independent thinking is a terrible loss, and it is a great gain for evil.
Danny Chabino
Latest posts by Danny Chabino (see all)
- Are People Evil and Stupid? - December 9, 2020
- This Is What Happens When You Politicize an Illness - September 29, 2020
- Want to End Racism? Eliminate Systemic Collectivism - September 8, 2020
