All Politics Is Personal

It is not my intention for this to become Yet Another Political Blog. If anything, I’m trying to use this space to get a grasp on how I feel about a number of issues. Politics is just one of these subjects. It is easy to claim membership to a particular party or adopt an entire ideology. It is much harder to form a consistent set of political beliefs on your own. I believe this search for consistency has caused my views to change over time and question how well my elected representatives actually represent me.

Of The People, For The People, By The People

The last line of Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address has influenced my thinking about what good government should be. If our government is not of the people, but of a select, privileged few, how can those few hope to represent all of us? If government is not for the people, then who is it for? If government is not by the people, who will guide it’s hand?

Government As a Mirror

Our government should be a mirror that reflects the character of the governed. If we are charitable, merciful, and respectful, should we expect anything less from our government? If we as Christians are called to care for those around us, shouldn’t a government of, by, and for us do the same? Is it possible that we have allowed the spirit of independence that birthed our nation to poison us as a people?

More Questions Than Answers

I don’t know the answers to all of these questions. I can see the wisdom in keeping government as small as is necessary to perform it’s function. My doubts lie in what that function should be. If I truly want a government that reflects me, I may have to give ground on some of my politics and let morality and ethics be my guide. It is not simple, nor is it easy, but it is right. I don’t know where the line is between “socialism” and “doing what’s right for my neighbor”, but that is a bridge that I feel can be crossed when we all get there.