People want change. Political change.
We always do after a while.
Though like a real life version of the phrase, “out of the frying pan into the fire”, we sometimes want change so bad that we don’t even factor in how the alternatives aren’t much better, and possibly worse.
This is because life thrives on novelty, change usually begets progress and, most importantly, we humans are stupid.
Like… really dumb.
All of us.
I was briefly enrolled in Early Childhood Education training. It was explained to me at that time that young children will knock food and drink off of a table not because they don’t know it’s probably going to cause a big mess, but rather because maybe it won’t this time.
It is now evident to me that we never grow out of this stage.
I understand this and I’ve been trying to make my peace with it.
I despise politics. I do not find it entertaining.
I find it disheartening.
There are two games at play in politics:
Winning
Actually doing things
The former is seemingly where most effort is expended.
It should be noted that this is not entirely the fault of the politicians.
They need a dance partner and we’re all limbered up.
Though, I tire of politicians who constantly shift from one attack issue to another with, it seems, no actually commitment to the issue itself and no desire to pursue solutions.
They just want to… “win”.
As Douglas Adams once wrote, “it is a well-known fact that those people who must want to rule people are, ipso facto, those least suited to do it.”
This is accurate. Painfully, painfully accurate.
In this new(ish) social media world, everything is driven by metrics.
Engagement.
Clicks.
It’s never been easier to concretely tell if you have the attention of the people.
Just check the analytics, mannn.
And as we all know, getting people angry is the easiest way to win that game.
We’re absolute suckers for it.
Many politicians are like the boy who cried wolf.
They seem earnest.
They seem concerned.
They seem human.
Except tomorrow they’ll cry fox.
Then bear.
Then sasquatch.
Then… anything that will get you riled up.
They become the boy who cried anything.
This is bad.
This means that actual issues are never addressed but merely used as a ‘hey, look at me. I’m the answer to whatever problems you happen to have or I’ve told you you have… today.”
But here’s the thing… we may actually have a sasquatch problem, but fixing problems doesn’t win the game.
Getting you angry, riled up, and scared does.
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I have a book coming out in September.
You can buy it here: Stupidpocalypse.com
My wife, Shannon, runs our merch shop.
You can buy stuff from it here: PeaceLoveCanada.ca
OK, Stewart. Your best 'Really Great' to date. I believe that almost all of us despair at the state of today's politics. Maybe all could be solved by a special rapporteur? Are you up for the job?
And this is why totalitarian governments (ieChina) are able to make progress . They have a long term plan and they stick to the agenda. Want to lower population? One child rule. Done. Want to build infrastructure? Build the roads,railways etc etc and be done with it . If you dissent,- off with your head. I’m not advocating totalitarian rule but a little non partisan agreement and forward planning on major issues would be helpful.