A Difficult Dance

I have always been very intrigued by politics, and I enjoy following the ins and outs of what is happening in Congress.  Although I must admit, I have no desire to enter into this realm.

Because it feels like whatever you do or don’t do, you will be critiqued rather harshly from one party or the other.  You will never be able to satisfy 100% of your constituents and unfortunately it feels like there will always be some group left out in the cold.

The One Big Beautiful Bill recently passed Congress this week and I am unsure of what to think of it.  It does have a lot of provisions that helps certain groups of people, like tax cuts on corporations and certain high-income people.  It also increases spending on military services and border protection, which are typical talking points of the current party in leadership.  Unfortunately, it also cuts services to those who are on Medicaid and food stamps in a bid to save some money. 

Politics feels like it is loaded with tons of bureaucracy, and you have to make things work with tons of people just to pass a bill thru the House and the Senate.  All the while you are hearing jeers and critiques from the other side about how you are taking from the poor and giving to the rich.  It’s rather tiring because both sides play the other as the bad one.  And when you read the news enough, you get confused and don’t know which side is exactly in the right.  Or if there is any right to begin with.

Sometimes, I must admit, I don’t even know why people like to go into politics.  Is it truly to make a positive difference in the world?  Or is it for the power and the money?  Honestly, I don’t think the power is worth it from my perspective.  I personally enjoy the relative obscurity of a normal person living a normal life.  I don’t need extraordinary fame to be content or happy.

I will say that politics is inevitable in that it affects the well-being of everyday people.  The policies that the politicians create in Washington can eventually trickle down and affect people’s lives for better or worse. 

It’s a very big job to behold and you have to have a thick skin to weather the inevitable insults that come your way.  It’s not for the faint hearted.  And for myself, I wouldn’t be able to thrive in that type of world. 

For me, I would rather prefer a supportive environment like Toastmasters, where any critique comes in a constructive manner that builds you up rather than tears you down.  So, for me, I will stay in my lane of surrounding myself with supportive people.  I realize that I don’t thrive in confrontation and would rather seek to build consensus where people can view things in a positive sum manner.

Of course, I realize that real life isn’t like that and often times there will be winners and losers, especially in a game as cutthroat as politics.

I am also rather concerned about the debt load that the US is taking on over the next couple of decades and whether that would affect some of the social services that it has in place right now, like Medicare and Social Security. 

I don’t envy the position that these politicians are in, and in some ways, I respect them for being in the arena day in and day out and doing what they believe to be right for their constituents.  It’s a tiring game to play and it’s not something that I even want to dip my toes into.

But regardless of whether we are interested in it or not, politics is a necessity for the USA, and it is what keeps the US a vibrant democracy with checks and balances.  In a way, it is good that there are people with different visions fighting for what entails to be a successful and vibrant USA.  It’s good that people are still competing on what they think is good for the American people.

A healthy democracy needs people on both sides vying for their constituents, and I respect that the politicians there are able to put on a brave face and weather the critical storm of the other side. 

In the long run, the concern is that politics become more divisive, and both sides have a harder time of reaching across the aisle to get things done.  I think it’s important to continue to look for positive-sum games in this world.  And yes, good communication skills are key towards spinning your policies as a win for your supporters. 

I know it’s easier said than done, but there needs to be some form of way to encourage deal making across the aisle between both parties.  Otherwise, the divisiveness can continue to corrode, and we are left with extremes on both sides with little room for negotiation or concessions. 

It’s a difficult dance to do and I am in no position to tell these seasoned politicians what they should or shouldn’t do.  But I hope that people can continue to expand the economic pie, so that everyone gets a sliver of the American dream and all parties can benefit in a holistic manner.