I listened to a political discussion between journalists this morning and I was struck by the amount of times the language of war was used.
Words like attack dog, front line, opponent, the front foot, heavy hitters, have the numbers, got their measure, take her on, land a blow, superior skills, resolute, winning strategies, ambush, etc, were used frequently. Of course if anyone watches the Australian Parliament at Question Time, you could be excused for thinking a war was in progress. It often surprises me that the opposing members don’t actually engage in fisticuffs as they do in Japan.
It’s amazing how the conflict paradigm is so entrenched in most societies and certainly in politics. Whether it’s the Republicans and Democrats in America or the Labor and Liberal camps in both Britain and Australia, the idea of confrontation is the basis of the political system. The idea that there are two radically different camps who must forever be at war with each other is almost universal.
Of course, even in law the confrontational model is alive and kicking. And the ridiculous reality of endless war between nations has been with us for ten thousand years and, given that it is a profitable business, it shows no sign of abating.
But it needn’t be this way! The original idea of democracy in Ancient Greece was to have selected Senators (and, to a lesser degree, elected officials) who were independent, who voted for each issue on its merits. Senators weren’t pushed into belonging to two political tribes who swore to fight each other to the death and did so century after century. No way!
No, the confrontational two-party political system (which evolved in Britain) is alive and well. It seems that we are now stuck with it forever. It pits workers against entrepreneurs, the rich against the poor, the privileged against the peasants, the socialists against greedy free-enterprise proponents. It is class based and is divisive and counterproductive.
Surely it’s time for us to move on or, more correctly to move backwards to the original concept of democracy and leave the failed paradigm of two or three bitterly conflicted political groups behind us.
In a sense, yes it is.
A scale with two ends is of course, hardly accurate. It means we have difficulty with even such a simple concept as where to put National Socialism.
In much the same way, I have seen certain commentators try to suggest that there is no such thing as a left libertarian. I disagree.
The left right spectrum forces people into uneasy alliances based on the need to control voters through monolithic blocks, basically.
Generally, we are forced into choosing Freedom OR Equality.
Safety OR Justice.
It suggests that amongst 6 billion people there are really only two possible ways to do it, with gradations between the two, rather than a wealth of ideas and a myriad possible combinations.
Possibly a hangover from dualistic religious thought.
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Your final sentence is an interesting one, Crushed. Thanks for your input!
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as someone who is disenchanted with the american political realm as a whole, yes, it is absolutely counterproductive. however, being someone who has very rarely hated anyone with any intensity, it was a bit disconcerting to read rightwing diatribes against liberals and to realize that these so called ‘people’ wouldn’t shed a tear if i was dead. in fact, it was so bad in some blogs- i had to quit reading them. as one by one the rightwing bloggers slipped out of the google reader, it became abundantly apparent that the rightwing circles wanted the leftwing circles to disappear- permanently. the left used to be associated with inclusiveness and kumbaya and loving all of our brothers and sisters- but hey, after getting repeatedly beaten to a pulp- you either have to grow a set and beat back or you are destroyed.
so, having said that- i will say this… it is indeed counterproductive but there are times in ones’ life and in history where folks have to fight against tyranny- against the fascist greed that jackboots entire populations into holding camps and prison cells. america has not really lived through any of this before. our time is now here.
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Hey, Betmo, your comments are worrying. If the left disappears so does any hope of peace.
Perhaps that’s what the right-wing crazies want, no peace just endless war and mega-profits for a small groups of the wealthy elite.
Of course, we of liberal persuasion, are not into violence. Perhaps, increasingly, there’s no place for us in this world anymore!
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It could be interesting, very possibly enlightening, to have a week’s exercise in Greek Democracy. Then to compare that experience to this modern day political machine known “democracy.” It might force the American govt to admit it is not democracy it is trying to spread around and make the world safe for.
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I hope the left and right don’t call it a day and settle our differences. We won’t have anyone to rage against. We will always have different poitical views, even those of us to the left disagree on things, we just have to make sure that we continue making the right look and sound silly.
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David,
EGO is the source of all evil. Money is a manifestation of ego – a way to weigh yourself against others.
The EGO comes out when both sides begin arguing. They use words that not only define themselves, but in their minds, make them right so they can call the others wrong.
By the way, violence is not restricted to the right or neutral…
Q
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Grace, it would be an interesting experiment but one our politicians would not be keen to see brought to reality.
Lucy, from birth we are taught that divisions of some sort (political, religious, racial, class, etc) is how things should be. The idea that, basically, we are all the same is never programmed into us.
Q, the human ego is a dangerous thing. Allowed free reign it diminishes us, destroys us. Ego prevents us from seeing what we really are.
Until we can see and accept what we really are then behavioral change is impossible.
Cheers.
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I so wish you weren’t correct about the fact that the conflict paradigm is so entrenched in most societies and in politics. When my term as a county official ends, on December 31, 2008, I intend to leave politics and leave as a hermit. Thanks.
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Conflict means that there will be winners and losers. And the winners usually ensure the deck is stacked!
Cheers.
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“Divide and rule”. From Cesar
I think the true rulers have become the big corporations and they own most news papers TV channels and most other media outlets or at least control them. The illusion of choice for the people makes it much easier to control them.
I think referendums would be better. Give amble time for discussion and then time to vote.
In ancient Athens the citizens met every 9 days to discuss and decide.
Plus a few check and balances to avoid nepotism or the rich buying votes or some people getting to powerful. The Athenians were the government.
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