I am increasingly frustrated with the intolerance and moral relativism being espoused by both Republicans and Democrats lately. There is no point in reading blogs about national politics, no point in reading the news concerning it either. Everyone seems interested in spreading rumors and passing judgment in the most hypocritical manner on issues of no importance.
While caught up in all this drama, there are issues needing to be dealt with here in Hartford, in other towns and cities in America, around the world. Instead, the political game is watched like a soap opera or the Olympics.
I like what Henry David Thoreau writes in Resistance to Civil Government:
All voting is a sort of gaming, like chequers or backgammon, with a slight moral tinge to it, a playing with right and wrong, with moral questions; and betting naturally accompanies it. The character of the voters is not staked. I cast my vote, perchance, as I think right; but I am not vitally concerned that right should prevail. I am willing to leave it to the majority. Its obligation, therefore, never exceeds that of expediency. Even voting for the right is doing nothing for it. It is only expressing to men feebly your desire that it should prevail. A wise man will not leave the right to the mercy of chance, nor wish it to prevail through the power of the majority. There is but little virtue in the action of masses of men.
While passing judgment on politicians and their families, we as voters are failing if all we plan to do is pull a lever (or fill in a bubble) come election day. I’d like to see more of these pundits actually do; I’d like to see more direct and thoughtful action.
