Perspective in Politics; Abstract Overview

Erie has long been marked by poor representation at the local level.  Individuals within our local government have weaved themselves into a birds nest of conflicting interests, wholly disconnected from the average person and the challenges we face.  Only by increased awareness and involvement of average citizens, can we truly identify and begin to rectify this.  Perspective is best attained through experience, and experience is best garnered  through involvement.  For too long we have looked for credentials of prospective candidates which are not rooted in the areas most people reside.  Candidates tout their involvement in non profits, development boards, or previous public "service".  Never considering that the frame in which they view the world, and potential solutions was molded and inherently limited by that same involvement.  This is not unique to Erie, it is a systemic byproduct of subsidized industry as well as political elections process throughout our country.

This provides an avenue from which most professional politicians develop.  In lockstep with those of similar ideologies, incapable of validating, let alone, understanding outside viewpoints and new solutions.  Reactionary in nature, the professional politician employs a defense mechanism originating in self preservation. Validation or adoption of a policy not originating of their own party would harm their "side" and is thusly unacceptable and must be resisted, even if public sentiment requires a parsed lip-service to save face.  This breeds the excluded middle fallacy of argument; rampant throughout local, state and federal political rhetoric. In which, the most extreme voices on both sides of a specific argument place an "all or nothing", "us vs them" mentality, denying that any room exists for a position to be taken in between.  This inherently prohibits reasoned alternatives from being put forth by the vast majority of folks, whom see elements of reason in both sides and seek to satisfy the legitimate concerns raised by different points of view, while staying focused on the ultimate goals of the effort. 

There seems to be an enormity of people out there that have adopted this mentality of political segregation because those voices speak the loudest.  We have all seen it before. Everyone who has a "D" at the end of there name is a socialist, everyone with an "R" is a fascist. Neither of which is even remotely true. I'm here to say that if you vote straight party, you are doing yourself and your community a grave disservice as neither major party wholly represents any individual.  Examination of the individual is much more important to assessing how they will impact the office they seek.  What is their perspective? Is it representative of your own?  Or, perhaps more relevant in todays climate; does their perspective even allow room for yours to exist?

This attack on the individual is what inspires me to write today, as I believe in fighting for the right of another to freely speak his or her mind, regardless of whether I agree.  An astute reader would immediately identify this as a tenant of classic liberalism and also, a tenant of conservative constitutionalism.  In modern day politic these two terms are not synonymous, as the conversation over the decades has eroded and altered the definition of these terms. Instead, tying them directly to a respective party as a divisor, a identifying title.  Contrary to this notion, I would remain that the vast majority of self identifying Republicans and Democrats support these principles. Furthermore, I'd be so bold as to claim that the majority of Americans would agree on ninety percent of relevant debatable issues, were the arguments stripped down to one of the individual.

We must remember that government is simply a means, an instrument, through which individuals and their compatriots can impart change in our society.  Also, that centralization and concentration of power is a threat to individual freedom, especially when the powers at hand are of "your" party, as its only a matter of time before popular sentiment sways the other way.  Sound familiar?  It should.  Only a balanced approach will solve the issues we face in a comprehensive and effective manner.  For too long we have been led from a perspective not conducive with that of the individuals whom make up the vast majority of Erie county.  We must stave off the urge to be apathetic toward local politics, it is apathy that has allowed the system to degrade to this point.  Also, we must resist the urge to begin a argument with a conclusion already made that satisfies our own predisposition. Its the only way forward.

Increased involvement. Balanced debate. Perspective in Politics. 


Thank you for reading