I remember getting on a roller coaster as a kid for the first time. It was exciting while in line, but then I got in the cart. A queasy feeling in my gut blossomed as the roller coaster slowly ascended that first hill. We all know the feeling.
My mind raced. Why did I do this? How the hell can I get off this thing? Then the inevitableness of no escape set in, so I had to sit back and accept my fate on that damn machine of death.
I feel the same impending doom with the approaching Midterm 2022 elections. I want off this roller coaster, but there is no escape-November is coming.
Many geriatric dinosaurs in their 70s and 80s, plus a new batch of wild-eyed young ideologues freshly groomed by their respective parties, canned talking points in hand, are ready to go to war to win the battle against the evil other side.
I cringe at the thought. It is going to be ugly.
If only…
I swear I wasn’t on a drug-induced high hallucinating about change. No ketamine or psilocybin was taken during the drafting of this article, I promise.
However, I was reading from Laozi the other day, and I thought to myself, my God, I wish I could resurrect this guy to tutor all American politicians for about six months before the elections in November.
I know, I know, it isn’t reality. Of course, the cartoon caricatures known as Democrats or Republicans wouldn’t listen to such a sage master anyway.
They are all so cocksure they have it all figured out. Still, this dead Chinese philosopher could teach our politicians a thing or two about leadership, ruling effectively, and serving the people of a nation.
One straightforward lesson, just one, could dramatically change this nation’s dialogue, shaping of legislation, and engagement in all aspects of life.
That one thing is humility.
The sage holds on to the one thing-humility and manifests it to all the world. Since he does not cling to his ideas, he can see clearly. Since he does not claim to be right, he can distinguish right from wrong. Since he does not boast, his merit is acknowledged. Since he does not consider himself superior, he acquires superiority. It is because he does not compete that no one in the world can compete with him. Because he yields, he shall be preserved intact.
~Laozi
Laugh if you will. I can see every political ideologue and politician chuckle at the wisdom of Laozi. Humility in modern American politics? Pleeeeaaaase.
I sort of laugh too. I think our deeply conditioned western values show how far we have fallen. Controlling the narrative, attacking, and pretending to have all the answers is a prerequisite for success in American politics.
Humility is not considered a viable character trait by a politician. In fact, being humble almost seems ridiculous, or at minimum, it is a sign of weakness.
Let’s face it. We live in an ego-driven world. The silly self-assuredness of politicians is everywhere. Both sides believe they are obviously right and the other side is so obviously wrong.
Politicians have effectively passed this cocksure mentality to the masses who align with either party. The average party-voter is now sure they are 100% right, and the other side is a bunch of raving lunatics.
Our deeply ingrained biases are an embarrassment to free-thinking people. Unfortunately, there will be consequences for all of us for this hubris, eventually.
The difficulty in governing the people arises from their having too much cleverness and craftiness. Therefore he who tries to govern a state by his cleverness and craftiness is a scourge, while he who does not try to do so is a blessing.
~Laozi
What I wouldn’t give for a series of dull, polite debates this midterm election cycle marked by each side focused on a set of issues. Each side giving and receiving respect while articulately explaining their position.
Instead, I know what I will get. I’m not naïve. I will get mouthing-off, mocking, ugly name-calling, and uber-aggressiveness. Nobody will get anything from the debates as participants yell over each other.
It makes me sick.
Then, of course, each politician will end their debate with a dire warning that the world just might literally end if the other side is elected. Yeah, I’ve heard that one for twenty-plus years or so.
The politicians will lie with a perfectly straight face, aiming to win and take power at all costs. Nothing will be out of bounds. No slandering is off-limits.
They will surely sprinkle in some racism, sexism, and misogyny claims, along with a few Nazi or Socialist references for good measure. This will be the election cycle.
You know it. So do I.
There is nothing in the world more soft and weak than water, yet for overcoming things that are firm and strong there is nothing that can take precedence over it. Everyone in the world knows that the soft overcomes the hard, and the weak the strong, but no one can carry it out in practice. It is the apparently paradoxical that is true.
~Laozi
What can we do about the disgusting state of political discourse?
Sadly, not much. My faith in either party or any politician has been shattered for quite some time now. Yet, I still have to live, work, interact, and survive in this crazy world.
Curling up in a corner and sucking my thumb isn’t an option.
The modern American politician will spew blustery silliness and lies, but that doesn’t mean I have to participate in the madness. I don’t have to jump into the pigsty.
One of the most outstanding moral teachers the world has known taught us the key to success, peace, and happiness. It is humility.
You and I won’t solve the political turmoil alone. Yet, each of us can do much to end the divisiveness swirling around us in our sphere of influence.
We do control our thoughts. We can control our anger. We can treat each other with kindness and respect even when we disagree. We can be humble and not raving political zealots.
So yes, we can change our world for the better, not by electing this politician or that politician but by being better than the diseased and corrupt minds ready to assault us with their cancerous rhetoric in the midterm elections.
My goal in this election cycle is to ignore it and focus on what I do control.
The words of a politician from either party won’t touch me. Ideologues ranting, raving, pleading, and warning that this is the election of a generation will roll off me. I will probably even laugh at it a bit.
We have huge problems in our society today — inflation, war, and a plethora of economic issues, but I have zero faith that either party or any politician is going to save me or the country.
Recent history demonstrates our current political class is incompetent to solve big problems.
So I am determined to not let their BS impact my mental state, and I will do my best in my little world to be calm and humble, even as the rhetoric and hyperbole build to a fevered pitch over the coming months.
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