Just Say No!...To Politics

by Bill Barnwell
by Bill Barnwell

Now that Labor Day has passed, the primary season for the Democratic Presidential candidates is going to go into high gear. That’s what the pundits tell you at least. The truth is the campaign has always been in high gear. In fact, it never ended. Politics today, especially on the national level, has become what I call the "Perpetual Campaign." Political races have no beginning and no end. They never stop, and the voters who think that any particular candidate is going to "change things" or "make a difference" are the true suckers in this game.

Here’s an example of the perpetual campaign. The day after Bob Dole lost the Presidential election to Bill Clinton in November 1996, various news reports already had the Republican establishment naming possible contenders for the 2000 election. The day after! One of the names mentioned was, of course, George W. Bush. Looking back, it was insightful for me to see that the establishment had already circled around Bush, who hadn’t yet been governor of Texas (a state where the powers of the governor are arguably weak) for two years at the time. None of that mattered. All that mattered was Bush had high name recognition and was governor of a big stage.

Before every Presidential and mid-term election both parties try to obtain a majority in the Congress. Voters of their respective parties are promised a plethora of goodies and accomplishments if they get their guys in office. Republicans promise an end to legalized abortion, the Department of Education, high taxes, big government, etc., etc., if they capture the government. Democrats promise free health care, prescription drugs, more social services, equality, etc, etc, if they are elected. Before each election, voters receive hysterical fund-raising letters from their party chairmen. Democrats warn of Pat Robertson taking over the government and Republicans warn of Hillary Clinton kidnapping our children if each side doesn’t contribute their money and turn out their votes. And if they win, then by golly, they are going to make all things anew. Paradise on earth will be ushered in by the new Congress or administration.

The day after the election, the next election begins. Candidates start forming their committees, party bosses begin their strategic planning, pundits start their predictions, and the list goes on. What happened to all those other promises from the old campaigns? They are left on the backburner and the candidates and party bosses plan their next fund-raisers or come up with their new redistricting schemes. Indeed, the state of modern American politics is nothing more than a gluttonous duopoly, with both parties engaged in an unending pillow fight of seeing who can elect more guys and capture the majority. Whichever party elects more guys can loot more taxpayers. That’s it, that’s what it all comes down to.

Forget all this naïveté about making the world a better place or doing things on principle. If you ever want to do an interesting study go back and take a look at campaign literature or debates from past elections. A few years ago I was doing a study on the Presidential election of 1972. Aside from busing and the Vietnam War, I was shocked to see that candidates were blabbing on about a lot of the same issues that are being debated today. Not long ago, C-SPAN was rebroadcasting debates from the 1992 election. Here were Bush, Clinton and Perot debating budget deficits, tax cuts, campaign finance reform, affirmative action, school choice and various other issues that our current candidates are still making promises about. The only new issue added to the fray these days is the current "War on Terrorism" and which candidate wants to blow up the most countries.

It would be interesting to keep every piece of voter mail that is sent to you and do a little follow-up when each candidate comes up for re-election. See how many of their "promises" they have fulfilled. See how many of the "issues" they raised were addressed. Of course, it’s unfair to ask how many of these things they resolved, since they are just one of many in a legislative body. Yet my bet is most never lifted a finger to even try and solve the problems that they were so "concerned" about. None of these things become important till they want your vote again.

Back when I was in the university, many of us had that much discussed "idealism" that young people possess. I was convinced that some of us could "change the world." I still believe we can, only not through the beast of government.

It’s quite interesting to note that so many people believe that meaningful change can occur only through the coerced power of the government. Unhappy with the income disparity in this nation? No problem, just get into office and compel people into paying more taxes that you can throw around. Sick of moral degeneration in our society? Hey, no big worry, nothing a few new federal laws can’t fix. Think the world is a dangerous place? It’s OK; the US government will fix it after it invades offending nations and imposes democracy.

People believe that true change will occur only when they storm and capture their local, state and federal governments. Then they can use the raw force of governmental power to bully people into behaving certain ways (or giving up more of their income). All while the people in power continue to play their perpetual little numbers and money game in their respective party. Don’t you voters understand? The elected office or appointed position is primarily a way to obtain a paycheck and garner power and influence. All you are is the means in which they accomplish their end (your money and vote gets them elected).

Are there people out there in politics who truly want to make a difference? Sure. And 99% of the time they don’t win. The name of the game is money and name recognition, and most of these good-hearted idealists don’t have either (but if you are rich and have a famous last name, you might get asked to run for President!). Very occasionally someone gets into office who actually does want to do some good. They are either corrupted or they are isolated onto a legislative island (like Rep. Ron Paul).

Other than looting taxpayers and throwing money around, politicians have done little to influence the direction of the culture. MTV has had a greater impact on setting cultural trends than have politicians. Indeed, politics is nothing more than a real-life soap opera to me. It first caught my attention when I was a little boy when I watched the circus of the Iran-Contra hearings on TV. Today it holds little more than entertainment value for me as I’ve been inside the belly of the beast by knowing enough politicians and being involved on enough campaigns (I almost ran myself) to know what the charade is really all about (hint: it’s not about you).

I am not the eternal pessimist however. I do believe each of us can make a true difference in this world. I have found a calling in life where I can make a true difference. Not all of you have been called to be pastors, but each of you can contribute in some way. I believe the real war we should be focusing on right now is not the war on the legislative floor; it’s the war of ideas. True lovers of liberty can contribute much to this war by influencing their families, their co-workers, their schools, etc. Get involved in scholarship. Distribute a few essays. Learn more. Grow more.

To better improve the well-being of your fellow man, don’t wait on the government and don’t rely on the welfare checks. Be industrious. Create jobs. Give generously to the least among you. Follow Christ’s golden rule. Live a life of good moral character. Be a good husband, wife or parent. Homeschool your child. Mentor and teach others. Show people love. This is where true change is going to be found. This is how society will improve.

Each of you can realistically play your part in whatever community you live in. With the power of the Internet, ideas can be spread at an unprecedented rate. Stop wasting your time and money with frustrating, dead-end fantasies that government and politics is going to cure all social ills and make the world a safer place. If anything, our politicians have only made the world a more dangerous place and government schools are nothing more than violent war zones polluting young minds with left-wing lies.

The change starts with you. You can hold onto your false hopes, waste your money, and spend all day on the Internet complaining on political chat rooms and message boards, or you can invest yourself into things of eternal importance. What’s it going to be?

September 3, 2003

Bill Barnwell [send him mail] is a pastor in Swartz Creek, Michigan and a Master’s of ministry student at Bethel College.

Copyright © 2003 LewRockwell.com

Bill Barnwell Archives