Power

From "oxymoronica"

The greatest power available to man is not to use it.

Meister Eckhart

Paradoxically, those who serve others are the most powerful. They build 'political capital'. Political capital is not power, however. Those that lead from their political capital and not by power earn the greatest will of the people.

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Contraries and politics

From "The Oxford Book of Aphorisms"

Without Contraries is no progression. Attraction and Repulsion, Reason and Energy, Love and Hate, are necessary to Human existence.

Blake, The Marriage of Heaven and Hell, 1790-3

Or, Human existence manifests contrariness? It has been experienced time and again the polarization of a population during political contests. I must admit I am puzzled by why and how this happens, except for a desire for a debate over the issues. The prevailing political system directs how many positions will be taken by the people, and how open the debate will be.

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Corrupt government

From the Facebook.com page of Daniel De Bonis:

"I see in the near future a crisis approaching that unnerves me and causes me to tremble for the safety of my country. . . . Corporations have been enthroned, an era of corruption in high places will follow, and the money-power of the country will endeavor to prolong its reign by working upon the prejudices of the people until the wealth is aggregated in a few hands and the Republic is destroyed."

Often attributed to Abraham Lincoln

Indeed, in the United States we have, since this quote was given, reached this critical democratic problem twice: once in the late 1800's- early 1900's, when this economic crisis was relieved during the administration of Theodore Roosevelt, and today, in the early 21st Century. The U.S. Constitution allows the people to take recourse if we believe our Republican form of government needs fundamental correction; the U.S. Bill of Rights asserts this right for all of its citizens. As happened 100 years ago, we in the U.S.A. may rightfully restore our democratic system from the corrupting hands of the monied few.

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Liberty

From "The Oxford Book of Aphorisms"

Liberty is the right to do whatever the law permits.

Montesquieu, De l'esprit des lois, 1748

Politically speaking, the rule of thumb is: the less laws one is under, the more liberty he has. To measure one's liberties, one has to consider the number and weight of the laws, rules and regulations his government has imposed on him. To increase or decrease one's liberties, one must advocate for the respective decrease or increase of such laws; this applies to all levels of government, from local to international.

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Government by Idea

From "The Oxford Book of Aphorisms"

Government by Idea tends to take in everything, to make the whole of society obedient to the idea. Spaces not so governed are unconquered, beyond the border, unconverted, unconvinced, a future danger.

Lord Acton, MSS notes, Cambridge, late 19th-C

Of course, the 20th Century is ripe with governments by Idea, some of which are still surviving. Even in the U.S.A., the political landscape has at times been thick with one type or another of mostly leftist or rightist social philosophy; these have had a profound influence on public office candidate preference. Individuality takes second stage- he is but a pariah outside the realm of political correctness. Socrates knew the wisdom of self reflection and contemplation:

I am the wisest man alive, for I know one thing, and that is that I know nothing.

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Musical campaigns

From "The Oxford Book of Aphorisms"

What matters most about political ideas is the underlying emotions, the music, to which ideas are a mere libretto, often of very inferior quality.

Sir Lewis Namier, Personalities and Powers, 1955

Emotions are the glue that hold people together. Campaigns, whether they be emotional or not, for office are serenades to the voters- for as no idea is perfect, one solution must be forwarded. People will want to follow, if the idea is "sweet music to the ear."

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Politics and happiness

From "The Oxford Book of Aphorisms"

Vain hope to make men happy by politics!

Carlyle, Journal, 1831

"Vain" is the key word here, as everyone is a politician. No two souls have the same politics, so how does one make another completely happy? Hence, the value of debate and negotiation in legislation. No form of government has been found to be perfect, but an open political process generates transparency and accountability.

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The people and government

From "The Oxford Book of Aphorisms"

There has never been a perfect government, because men have passions; and if they did not have passions, there would be no need for government.

Voltaire, Politique et legislation: Idees republicaines, 18th-C

We have a government of, by and for the people; because of this, there will always be a terse, yes, perhaps cynical, eye on government from the people. An open democracy in a republican form of government requires a dispassionate concern for the people by the government.

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Indignant attitude

From "The Oxford Book of Aphorisms"

An attitude of permanent indignation signifies great mental poverty. Politics compels its votaries to take that line and you can see their minds growing more and more impoverished every day, from one burst of righteous anger to the next.

Valery, Tel Quel, 1941-3

Blind anger dilutes the mind in favor of the object of their indignation. And as indignation grows, so does their contentment of themselves and their own unwillingness to improve. It's how you use that anger that determines your nobility.

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Ordinary selves

From "The Oxford Book of Aphorisms"

Everything in our political life tends to hide from us that there is anything wiser than our ordinary selves.

Matthew Arnold, Culture and Anarchy, 1869

The great danger is that our "ordinary selves" in politics is anything less than the highest ethics and morals. Noone gets past themselves in the legislative process without losing his integrity and thus his actions.

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Contempt

From "The Oxford Book of Aphorisms"

In politics nothing is contemptible.

Benjamin Disraeli, Vivian Grey, 1826-7

Thomas Mann said "Everything is politics." I believe Disraeli should have been cynical in mood when he said this, though he is correct. However, there is "good" politics and not so good; a good politician should always strive to hold high ethics and high morals.

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