What Are We Voting For?

Obama it seems, has secured a second term. A lot of people are crying tears of joy, while many others are just crying. I’m not sure what all the drama is about. Liberals have spent the past four years complaining that Obama has been too conservative, and conservatives are bemoaning all the destruction that Obama is causing to our society, when in reality he’s only managed to pass one major piece of liberal legislation. (Remember I forecast the conservative Obama shortly after his first election.)

People often say that politics is all theater, but the reality is that it’s a sporting event. Everyone is wrapped up in whether their side wins or loses, with the politicians themselves openly talking about how the number one priority is gaining or maintaining office. And here I was raised to think that the point of politics is to make the world a better place.

I’ve written before about the danger of ideology, but never is it more clear than during election season. We pontificate about wanting less government or more government, as if its the ideology itself that matters. I can tell you what we should all be working for: the right amount of government.

Libertarians will probably say that any amount of government is too much. Tea Partiers alternate between calling Obama a communist and a Nazi, two labels that are on opposite sides of the political spectrum. Both Democrats and Republicans will protect any legislation that concerns their vested interests while spouting the same trite doctrines

I say to everyone, on this day after the election, “Stop fighting for your party and start fighting to make your city, your state, and your country a better place. Stop identifying yourself as blue or red and start fighting for the issues themselves.”

Check out Decater's new novel, available now at Amazon. Plus, don't forget his earlier books: Ahab's Adventures in Wonderland and Picasso Painted Dinosaurs.