The Old and New Politics

Something quite dramatic is happening in thethat throw away our kids, but are so clever and
political arena - a new vision nothing like the oldcunning when it comes to money and power for
politics of greed, hatred, and spin. Accustomed asthemselves.
we are to division, bickering, and animosity, thisWhen a leader operates from insecurity and
will take some getting used to - and may notweakness, this fosters greed, hatred and selfish
happen in this cycle - but it is coming.thinking, which is quite different from leaders who
Voicing principles without tearing down anotheroperate through confidence that fosters
comes from confidence. On the other hand,generosity, compassion, and clear thinking. Imagine
politicians and pundits that tear down those whoa family that lives from greed, hatred, and
don't agree with them act from insecurity. In themuddled thinking. That family will have troubles
same manner, not lashing out or striking backupon troubles. The family members will learn to
when someone disparages us comes fromnot trust each other and only look out for
understanding, maturity, and strength, while thethemselves, and soon the family will split apart. A
old eye for an eye mentality comes from hatred,nation is no different. When we look out for only
smallness, and weakness.our own selfish interests and viciously compete
I think that we, as an electorate, are finallywith each other rather than coming together for
beginning to get it; we must live with those wea common purpose, fear is always injected into
vote for . . . for a long time. If we vote forthe equation.
insecure, weak people, we live with the resultingIf we broaden this selfish, negative approach and
poor decision making for many years, becauselook upon the rest of the world as our
insecure leaders will create elaborate conspiracyadversaries as well, both in our trade practices
theories in an attempt to keep us as insecure,and militarily, we will bring to fruition a self-fulfilling
fearful, and weak as they are, because when weprophecy of an adversarial and dangerous world
are fearful, we can easily be deceived.that is in constant warfare with us. We will be at
Maybe we are finally coming around to the facteach other's throats endlessly, always afraid and
that we, the electorate, really are not weak andalways arming ourselves to the teeth. This buildup,
insecure, that we have enough courage to facealthough proclaimed defensive, can't help but lead
whatever may come our way without huddling into war.
fear with a bunker mentality. Maybe this time weIt all begins with you and me. Can we find
will see through the rhetoric and false bravado ofcompassion inside of ourselves? We can't criticize
those who want to deceive us. Of those thatothers if we operate from greed, hatred, fear,
think bravery is sitting in air-conditioned officesweakness and muddled thinking ourselves. We
while recklessly and thoughtlessly sending ouralways have a choice between weakness and
youth to fight private revenge wars and for bigfear, and courage and compassion. One seems
business interests against a mythical army oflike courage but is cowardice, and the other
terrorists conjured up from a handful ofseems like cowardice but is courageous. If we can
desperate men with box cutters.figure out which politician has legitimate courage,
This mythical army, this same rag-tag looselyby carefully assessing how they treat their
organized group of criminals called terrorists, is theadversaries, it is a good bet that they will keep
masterful delusion that has in fact terrorizedour country out of serious trouble, and maybe
Americans for years now, has cost our countryeven bring our country and the world together
500 billion dollars, and has been instrumental infor a change. Nobody can survive a nuclear war.
reelecting the reckless and the thoughtless leaders