We spent last weekend on a cruise, which is hardly unusual for our vacationing endeavors. It's so completely different from everyday life, in no small part because there are people taking care of you in every way. They're making your bed, cleaning up after you and bringing you food. Oh, and taking care of your kid. While all this is going on, you meet people from all over the world in bars, during activities or just sitting around. Coming back to land, it's clear that humanity at its best is people serving people, sharing their experiences and connecting. Sure, in that environment, that's literally the crew's job, but it doesn't mean that it isn't genuine. It takes a certain commitment to work like that, and for guests it takes empathy and kindness to show your appreciation for the crew.
This happens in everyday life, too. Civil servants at all levels of government do their jobs not for the money, but because they believe in the mission of government. Volunteers in every capacity further their causes. People give money, often to the same causes. Again, this is humanity doing its best.
Would you not prefer that the people you elect also work like this? Elected officials are by definition supposed to be serving their constituencies. They must exercise wisdom to decide how best to make government work for all of the people it serves. It doesn't mean that they don't have to make difficult decisions, and it doesn't mean that they have to satisfy everyone. But they must approach the job with the seriousness and care that matches the impact they will have on people's lives.
Instead, we have a bizarre cult of personality that people treat like a sports team loyalty. Outside of working for a political party, I can't see any world where anyone would ordinarily be anything other than cautiously skeptical of anyone in office. It's not that you should expect the worst, but people who seek power are generally the ones who are least qualified to wield it. The power is used to hurt people and marginalize others. The cult turns a blind eye to the blatant self-interest that is antithetical to public service. And for what? To stick it to all of the communities that you fear because they're not like you? No wonder we are where we are.
I got my professional start working for a municipality. I did it full-time for three years, and part-time for the six years prior. It sure as hell wasn't for the money, but I stuck with it as long as I did because I found it deeply fulfilling to be doing things that benefited the community. What I did mattered to people. At no time would I have ever considered using my position to tear anyone down or cause harm to people.
I don't expect Trump and his sycophants to change. What is most disappointing is the regular people who are fine with the destructive outcomes. One can be for, against, or indifferent, but make no mistake, that indifference has the same outcomes as being for it. Is that the legacy that you want to leave?
No comments yet.