The Politics Of Humanitarianism

I haven't posted much lately concerning politics. What a vile and nasty enterprise it is. It tends to make hypocrites of us all (too willing to believe without thorough investigation the "attacks" against one's political "enemies."). It tends to divide us. A great opportunity to serve fellow humans is generally prostituted into the service of one's own greed and lust for power.

 

I'm a bleeding heart liberal, I suppose, because basically I'm a bleeding heart. I love humanity. I believe that if we all were to row together we would get to shore together and quicker. Thus, political stances geared towards protecting the rich and powerful in the hopes that this will eventually create more favorable conditions for the poor and powerless (that is, the overwhelming majority of us) are repulsive to my way of thinking. Also, just because candidate A is preferable in this regard to candidate B does not mean candidate A is a worthy candidate.

 

The biggest political hypocrisy of all: politicians pretending to care about YOU, taking action on behalf of YOU, making impassioned and long-winded speeches espousing positions favorable for YOU because doing all this will help THEM get elected or reelected.

 

I love to think I'm the type of man who would have enough character that if I were a politician I would always stand for what I believe in, for what I believe is the right thing, even if it cost me election or reelection. Some battles are worth fighting and losing. I love to fancy myself as a man who would rather go down in defeat with my principles intact than win by having compromised them. I want to believe that my values aren't for sale to the highest bidder.

 

But just in case the foregoing is an overestimation of myself, I've chosen to keep myself unspotted and not be a politician nor a political hack on the sidelines. 

 

I'm not a big believer in and flag waver for patriotism. How can you love your country and not love and want what's best for all the people who make up your country? If I must choose between being a "patriot" and being a humanitarian, I will opt for being a humanitarian.   

 

Now I know I've painted with a very wide brush here. I know it's more complex than just choosing between the "right" thing and the "wrong" thing. There's room for disagreement over how to best do what needs to be done.

 

However, I think our general attitude as a people towards the weak, the less competent, the less fortunate is the true compass. Do these people have worth by virtue of being fellow humans, or shall we espouse - either implicitly or explicitly - a form of Social Darwinism that would just as soon view these souls as expendable?

 

The politics of humanitarianism is the only real interest I have in this subject.