Licking the Razor's Edge (2015)

So, erring on the side of seeing these folks as Good People who are simply being blindsided
by a powerful, subconscious ideological craving, I pause to wonder about the Why
of the matter … Why are these intelligent, caring people choosing to believe in political
rants that completely contradict their own intelligent, caring natures?
*Some sociologists believe that the compulsive interest in politics comes from an in-born
desire to advance our own interests. Of course, this explanation is thwarted by the
aforementioned Truth: that most folks these days fully comprehend that none of the
politicians involved actually do that advancing; that by far most of the campaign
promises being made are insincere lies at worst, and – due to multi-partisan squabbling
and filibustering, hollow & ineffective at best. So it can’t be solely individual selfinterest
at stake … Or can it?
*Other sociologists have mentioned the human tendency to strive for security in numbers
as an explanation for the rabid attachment to one political party or another; that
identifying with a potentially powerful “herd” is a compelling subconscious mechanism
designed to further one’s own survival. And this explanation makes a lot more sense.
After all, everyone likes to feel like they are a part of the “winning team” … and
everyone likes to feel safe and secure, surrounded by friends & associates who think and
talk and look like they do.
“We have this instinct that choosing our Leader is as important to our lives as it was
when we were a tribe of two dozen, and that we have similar influence over the result.
Following elections and participating in politics activates these vestigial tribal instincts
in much the same was as sports, with similarly futile results.” ~ Hal Finney
So maybe that is the answer … Fear.
We are simply so afraid of being powerless &/or alone that we identify with groups of
others who express values and interests that at least remotely reflect our own – values and
interests that most often enable us to in one way or another rationalize and forgive our
own self-centered desires.
We are, after all, only relatively intelligent “herd animals”, right?
We are, after all “only human”, right?
I think not …
I happen to believe in the innate nobility of Humanity. I have seen this scintillating
Goodness in the hearts of all those I have encountered over the past decade of my life as a
Peace Pilgrim. And I have seen it not only in teachers and children and community
volunteers, but also in criminals and drug-users and political “cheats”.
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