Should a spiritual person practice Politics or should they distance
themselves.A tough question to ask. Most of my belief system
is based on the Old Testament, the Gospels of Mark and Thomas and pieces
of the remaining Canonical Gospels of Matthew, Luke and John.
Let me start by reminding the reader that I refer to Prophets quite
frequently. I have found that somewhere along the way, we forgot
that these men and women were not gods, but the messengers of the Creator.
Many of the greatest prophets were poor men with nothing. However,
I refer the Politics question to two men. The first would be Joseph,
from destitute man he rose to become the second most powerful person
in Egypt. Did he avoid politics? Quite the contrary, he
used politics as a means to protect the nation. Consider David
then. Again, he started as nothing, and rose to become the King
of Israel.
Two men, both starting with poverty rising through the Creator to
become very powerful men. Did their politics however interfere
with any freedoms given by the Creator? Never, everyone knows
that the Creator separates himself from secular matters of taste.
As long as they do not interfere with any laws he has himself given,
the bottom line for the Creator is free will.
Consider this a case of anything not explicitly forbidden is allowed.
So today in politics around the world, where do you stand? Do
you allow yourself to be told what to do? Do you allow your leaders
to make your decisions for you? Do you get involved with these
sometimes life-altering laws that are made for you by men and women
you may have shaken the hand of once, or seen in person once?
Where do you suppose Israel would have ended up if Joseph had said,
"No thanks, I think I prefer to interpret the dreams. That's a pretty
good occupation for me." The pharaoh might have simply let Joseph
do that and hired his second choice. Worse yet, the pharaoh may
have had Joseph executed for insulting him.
I personally am effected by American politics. Where do I stand?
Am I Democrat or Republican my friends may ask. A wise friend
many years ago told me that the perfect political party is the one you
yourself start. Well, I am not blessed with wealth, so I have
chosen to be a Libertarian, the closest thing to my ideals of the parties
currently operating in America.
I don't mind temporary Socialist programs. But even Joseph
knew that his would only run for seven years. The people would
then be expected to back to earning their own livings. How about
an expiration date for these? Instead of having programs designed
to create dependence on the State, create programs to encourage independence
of the State.
As a disabled American, I am thankful for the Disability program
of Social Security. However, if the same amount I contributed
during my working years had been put into the highest yielding simple
interest Certificates and rolled over at expiration, I'd be drawing
my amount with no more input from my fellow countrymen. If I had
been given seven years of help as I do now from the program; before
my first personal withdrawal, I may have been able to draw fifty percent
more. Alas, our American government does not consist of people
looking to genuinely help people. It consists of people looking
to make the public beholden to them.
In summary, the answer would be yes, get involved if you wish.
Just be careful who you vote for if you are not the candidate, you may
get exactly what you deserve.
- Matthew Gerrior, 10/2/2005