Navigating Politics: Your Values are your compass
All social economic systems are created by human beings not GOD! Politics, in simple terms, is the ostensible non violent means by which people navigate through the intersections of personal needs and wants. Ostensibly, governance is a systemic platform created by people to navigate the intersection of personal, community, organizational and cooperate needs and wants. How these needs and wants are treated i.e use of violence and force, discrimination, equality or other means is determined by collective values.
The important question is what do you value? Do you value your own humanity? Do your value others humanity? Do you value one race over another or one gender over another? Social policy is what sets in motion forms of governance which can in fact oppress, suppress and violate human beings, animals, and the earth, when something other than humanity becomes a greater priority. Starvation for example is in large part a result of social policy. And, starvation, has been suggest by many authorities on the subject of hunger and war, lay at the root several wars.As with natural disasters, once a region is in a state of emergency, getting needed resources into the area can be extremely daunting. And, to make matters worse, “The world’s poorest countries are disproportionately likely to be at war. Studies suggest that poverty and economic stagnation cause conflicts, and conflicts, of course, aggravate poverty…”6” The Economist Navigating the needs and wants of so many is indeed challenging to think about much less implement. What will ultimately be reflected in social policy will be what we collectively value. This post is not to instruct readers on what politics they should embrace, rather to ask does your politics support what you truly value. Deep self examination of ones own values and heart is the only way to be authentic in ones politics. The good news is that politics can evolve as the individual evolves. Indeed this aspect of our lives is a complex area for all! And it is the area where compassion and understanding is most needed.
Finally, engaging in deep self examination is both courageous and essential to how we will live or not live together, in peace or war. Remember all socio economic systems are created by you and me. So, Imagine what we can create if we were motivated by the love of mankind with a value on the potential for great good!!
