The Problem With Politics

Like most people, I have my own personal view on politics. I take great pleasure in exercising my right to vote and have been know to become disappointed when things don't turn out like I had hoped. I am happy to live in a country where we have so many freedoms and the right to vote is protected by law. Still, for all those protections, politics in America is fundamentally flawed. I don't believe it is a problem with the code. I don't believe anyone could produce better laws without limiting some of the freedoms we enjoy today. The problem with politics lies in the hearts of the people.

At present, America does have a ruling elite. Yes, we have the "right" to elect our officials. Yes, two individual parties seem to promote different agendas. For all that, I see it as smoke and mirrors--an elaborate magic trick used to hide what really goes on behind the scenes. The powers that be--made up of those already in power and their financial supporters--are in a position to handpick our current and future leaders in an effort to retain their money and power. The changing power between the Democrats and Republicans is in place to make Americans believe there are different ideologies out there (and to give them a fight to focus on instead of the reality).

Look at our present circumstances. After eight years of "Republican" control of the White House (which was preceded by eight years of "Democrat" control), Barak Obama was swept easily into office. The thing is, I had a difficult time telling much of a difference in stand between Obama and McCain in the issues. Even more telling were their actions. Both Obama and McCain backed those massive bank bailouts and "stimulus" packages. This amounts to corporate welfare on a grand scale. The argument was, "We had to do this to keep the economy going." The reality was, big corporations were dying (and needed to in our evolutionary process). In an attempt to hang on to that money and power, those behind the scenes made sure their immediate needs were met.

Years of American apathy have allowed these circumstances to prevail. For the most part, life has been good in America. People had what they needed, and those with a little more ambition could increase their standard of living through hard work and good ideas. Now that the ecomony has bottomed out in the transition from industry to technology, people are beginning to wake up to the fact that all is not quite right in the world.

So what is the answer to this question of unbalanced power? We all need to think and act differently. Conventional wisdom tells us to listen to "both sides" and determine what sounds like the most workable idea. However, isn't this the same "wisdom" that got us into this mess in the first place? It's the wisdom society has taught us, and it carries all the flaws and biases inherent in that society.

The key is to find the wisdom of the heart. On a spiritual/energetic level, we are all connected. Have you ever been in a group and laughed at a shared joke or sung a moving song? Did you feel a part of a bigger collective? What about 9/11? Did you feel the world's collective pain during this catastrophic event? This is the sort of connection that exists within all things, and we have the ability to connect to it when we focus on doing so. This the shared wisdom that takes everyone into consideration and wants the best for all concerned. Such is the wisdom of the heart.

As a society--as a world--it is important to learn to make these internal connections to see the truth in all things. You may choose to call it God or global consciousness or energy--what you call it is unimportant. What is important is learning to access it. When you are connected, you begin to see what society is trying to hide. The truth will really set us free. When we have access to the truth, we can make better choices. We can make a better world. The problems in politics will be erased as we learn to make choices based on these internal connections--the connections of the heart.