Manipulating the Polarities of our Political Process

Politics is a dirty business. The interests of the people routinely take a back seat to party and personal concerns, not to mention the demands of those who pull their strings.

Those involved will never admit it, though. They always profess to serve the highest good.

In practice, though, it rarely works that way.

Their moves are usually carefully crafted to enable them to get or keep power. Then again, it doesn't hurt that they have stacked the deck to increase the odds, gerrymandering districts and vesting incumbents with large staffs and the ability to stock their war chests by selling their votes to the highest bidder.

Despite all of this, their ability to continue on this way rests with their continued favor by us, the people who vote them in. Too often we know what they're doing, but turn a blind eye to their abuses so long as they "bring home the bacon" for us. In short, we want our share of the pie, and as long as they get it for us, we may complain about how they do their jobs, but we'll let them keep them.

But it doesn't stop there.

They push our hot buttons through carefully-contrived sound bites designed to dangle the carrot of those benefits before us, or to strike us with the whip of our fears. And to make sure we play along, they trot out legions of talking heads who spew their sides' form of venom against the other.

Reasoned debate quickly devolves into vitriolic attacks. Then again, it isn't like we demand intelligent discussion of the issues or the ramification of the alternatives. Instead, they simply give us what we want, a cage match of the highest order that's beamed into our homes night after night.

If we are to hope to move beyond the polarized battles of our current political process and begin creating a more peaceful environment in which to conduct our common affairs, then it is up to us -- we, the people -- to see through their manipulation and release the hold of the emotional triggers they use so well to play their games.

It may not be easy, but no one ever says change comes easy. Old habits are hard to break, and we're deeply entrenched in this pattern of political conflict that has prevailed as we've zig-zagged our way through history.

But if we truly want a world of peace, we must reject the efforts of those who would benefit from more of the same. We must hold them to a higher standard.

That standard, though, must not be simply applied to them. We must apply it to ourselves as well. For if we continue to nurture the seeds of conflict within us, the chances of getting anything better may be slim.

That means loosening our hold upon the beliefs that pit us against each other. And perhaps just as importantly, our aversion to the pain our fears are meant to protect us from, and addiction to the promise of our desires. For so long as they live within us, those seeking power will continue to use them to get their way.

Peace is possible, but we can't expect others to create it for us. If we really want it for ourselves, our country and our world, we must take it upon ourselves to make it happen.

It starts with you, and how you relate to their efforts to manipulate you in their battles for power. You have the power to stop it. But first you must address those things in you that allow them to keep on keepin' on.

Will you?