The word 'Politics' has recently gotten a bad reputation. Once upon a time, it was a tool for idealistic leaders whose hearts were focused on the betterment of the masses. But now in this day and age of bigger than life leadership, it has become a tool for vocal and aggressive people. So much so, that reading the headlines nowadays is like looking into somebody else's skeleton closet. Sex, gangstersism, drugs, and of course dirty money. A woman scorned has less spite than an opponent rallying for votes in the streets.
Yet the blame is not solely on the politician because they are only responding to our votes. In other words, it happens because we allow it. How could it be possible that the more rational we become, the more irrational we expect our leaders to be? Instead of appreciating the fact that differences are caused by dissimilar values and beliefs, the rule of right and wrong is now dictated by who shouts the loudest, and by who can garner the most support for their cause.
I find this condition very interesting because we are by far not only an extremely educated generation but we also have ready information for any topic at all imaginable. Yet when it comes to a subject that will affect our life the most, instead of relying on logic we use our emotion to cast our vote. For example, we logically know that we've eaten a nutritious dinner but we still crave for that piece of chocolate cake left in the fridge. This has nothing to do with the chocolate cake itself, but with the emotions that we have attached to it. For the same reason, the rhetoric of an opponent will never make sense because her ideals do not grab you emotionally.
Then again, does everyone even remember how democracy works? The whole idea is to keep as many people as possible happy, it does not promise happiness to everyone. It is a bit like sports: the winner treats his opponents with respect and the losers bow out gracefully. Hence in a true democratic society, politicians have learned to submit to the people's choice. This is one reason why democracy cannot work in a society that is not familiar with this concept of being a ‘good loser’.
However, politics has been turned into an argument of extremes and listening to the candidates argue is like listening to a school debate competition. Neither side will concede to good sense if it is brought up by the other first. For that reason, we need non-politicians to speak out. Yet because of their oftentimes aggressive tactics and unpredictable alliances, activists are usually shunned.
So the next time you turn up at a political rally or gathering, don't allow your emotions to be swept by the crowd, noise, banners and fist-thrusting speaker. Professional politicians know that you can be made to vote irrationally by appealing to your emotions. That is the reason why they use defamation to bring down their opponents. Step back for a moment, and look at the list of issues the candidate brings up, and make your decision based on that. Sometimes you’ll be surprised by how little he is promising to do for you.
