Politics Schmolitics

By R. Jacqueline D'Souza

Most recently, an acquaintance of mine mentioned that I should one day go into politics. My initial reaction was an adversarial one. Politics? Yuck!

However, upon careful consideration, I thought that perhaps one day it could be a career I may consider exploring. Politicians should be about making advancements, progressions, and developments in our society to positively impact the community. 

Far too often, these goals and purposes are overshadowed with cheap low blows that individuals make towards one another in the political arena. Far too often, with politicians, instead of making concerted efforts to improve the lives of tax payers that pay their salaries, their energies are directed towards airing the opposing side's "dirty laundry"; attempts to diminish the character of the opposing side or be critical of them instead of acknowledging their positive contributions or aspects.

Such conduct then begs the question, where is their true sense of community well-being or betterment? If those in politics were truly concerned about the advancement of our society, would it not seem more appropriate to channel their energies towards being the best politicians and servicing the community in the best possible manner? Instead of wasting time--time -- that is paid for by tax payers and making personal attacks on opponents, would it not be more admirable and efficient to use that time to work on community improvement? I would certainly imagine so.

Parents spend considerable time teaching their children values and educating them on personal conduct. In school, when little children pick on each other, it is not uncommon for a parent to tell their child to "play nice." We teach our children such values, yet in the political arena, politicians seem to forget these childhood lessons. Perhaps it is the politicians, the same public servants whose salaries we pay, that need to be educated on "playing nice" instead of our young children.

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