The thing about politics is that it is intrinsic to all of our lives, like it or not. At the end of the day, politics is simply…people. Politics is the interaction between each of us, and between us and society. Between societies, regions, countries. Perhaps one day, between planets.
People feel strongly about politics because politics is, quite literally, life. Broad categorisations like ‘right’ and ‘left’ serve to increase a tragic ‘Us and Them’ mentality that is endemic in today’s society.
Humanity is humanity, every one of us valuable. The sooner more people realise that — if they ever do — we can start to move forward as a species. Think of what we could do, if we’d stop blowing each other up for a second. We’d quite literally reach for the stars.
That said, if I had to label it, I suppose I’d be left leaning centrist. But then again on some thing’s I’m undeniably and outspokenly radical.
Libertarian ideas about individual autonomy within the context of one’s own life are attractive to me. But so are traditionally socialist ideas about a societal safety net and communal good. Equally, the usually conservative proposition of a lean, anti-bureaucratic government is something I strongly support. An eclectic mix of different views, somewhat ‘cherry-picking’ of policy. But based on fundamental and unifying principles of logic and compassion. Dogma and tradition for its own sake have no place in my world view.
Then are my more extreme views, as aforementioned. I often entertain the idea of a technocracy — a government wherein the experts of each field don’t just advise, but govern. It’d be impossible to implement, particularly with today’s rise in anti-intellectualism, but it’s a nice thought.
More radical still are my transhumanist tendencies. I feel we have a duty, as a species, to use all in our power, all the technology we have created, to improve ourselves and our surroundings. Particularly, the eradication of disease, the utmost of these being (physical) aging and death. A view I am quite aware is strongly controversial.
This loops back to what I said earlier — labeling politics is just like labeling people. Outmoded, and not fit for purpose.
As I said in a recent post, and will reiterate now, it’s also crucial to keep re-evaluating your own views. Listen to the ‘other side’ and what they have to say. Respect them despite their differences.
Unless they’re a literal Nazi! Most things are relative, circumstantial. A handful of things are absolute wrongs. Genocide being one of them. I cannot in wildest imagination conceive a scenario where someone might deny that. Can you?
That got quite long, longer than I was intending. That’s politics for you.
Stay critical, stay civil!
Thought for the day: Pericles — ”Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn’t mean politics won’t take an interest in you.”