Take The Credit - Take The Blame

Politics is an exciting business and when you are on the outside looking in it is amusing business as well. Having being involved directly and indirectly in politics at all three level over nearly half a century gives me a good perspective on the workings of our good but imperfect system. I have the greatest respect for people who put their names out there to be judged by the public and either elected or rejected.

We all have our preferences in ideology and it shows through when policy issues emerge. For some people it is hard to separate the issues from the personality and therefore having a objective discussion becomes nearly impossible. This being said it is reasonable to see how party politics take on a personality or character that entrenches it's members to a particular stand which makes it impossible for them to be completely objective on nearly every issue.

This gravitation of people to an issue comes to a head at voting time. There is a winner and a loser on nearly every issue. During the course of a term of office all members differ on some issues so at the end of their term they have pleased some of the people and annoyed others. It is reasonable to say this is the main reason leaders become worn out with the electorate.

Personally I found that you can be on the right side of an issue but if it is one that causes an emotional response you cannot be a winner. This is specially true if the vote is close.Most of my friends are political to some degree and we make up a patchwork of beliefs and ideals. We don't talk politics much as topics of a political nature divide us and emotional responses get hot and sometimes heavy. I love to see people get concerned enough to make a powerful statement and to defend it. I am a target as people mostly know of my liberal thinking and socialist bent. My Conservative friends have a different view and I respect it.I once worked for and voted for a Conservative and felt good about it. It was the man and the issue that brought me there.

Nearly every young person starts out being a socialist as it so simple to see the fairness of that ideal. Later we become more concerned about our own welfare and think more conservative. This makes sense as well as charity begins at home and why should I work for those welfare bums etc.The poor will always be with us it is true, what about the children who are going to be the citizen standing with you in the future. Without sharing the wealth to include the poor, the handicapped, the sick,the aboriginal and the new comers our country will be creating problems for the future.

Within each of us there is a voice that tell us how far we can go in our political views. I call it a comfort zone. At this time in the USA there is a raging issue of health care and if you examine the views expressed by the leaders it is impossible to expect a consensus on this issue. The health issue is now a battle of ideologies and the lines are drawn. The statements made are as far apart as I have ever seen and are as nonobjective as to be almost comic were it not for the importance of the issue.

The right wing conservatives led by their talk show hosts are fanning the fires and the more liberal Obama people are faltering because of the miss-information. It is a dangerous situation and it should be settled quickly before more damage is done.

We in Canada have a similar situation with Right Conservatives and liberal-socialist ideologies facing each other. The verbiage is different and the manner in which the battle is taking place is more respectful and there will be a decision according to democratic practise. Our country will be the better because of the clearing of the air.

Our politicians are ready to take the credit when something goes well and only too ready to blame when things go wrong. I wish they would share the credit and share the responsibility for the problems.