We're Looking At Politics All Wrong!

This Presidential race has been a very eye-opening experience for me. Because of past experiences, I have chosen to not participate. I did not go to my primary. I am not going to vote in November. I do this because I am convinced it does not matter. The candidates are pre-selected to make us think we have a say.

That said, sitting back in observation mode has been an extremely eye-opening experience. I have to admit, the shake-up in the Republican party has given me a reason to hope. It isn't that I see Donald Trump as some big savior. I definitely believe he has a big role to play in this drama, but even if he ends up being elected to the highest office in the land he is not going to solve all our problems. Like everyone else Trump has his good points and his bad points. He is both evil and good, and this is where the heart of our problems reside.

We are looking at politics from the perspective of judgment! We have been so highly programmed to see everything as black and white, right and wrong, good and bad that we continue to divide ourselves up and separate ourselves into groups. We then identify with these groups so strongly that when someone else has a different idea of what "right" is we fight. This is why this Presidential race has gotten so nasty. We can blame our fighting on the faultiness of the opposing candidate, but the bottom line is we have chosen our sides. Fighting is our choice.

What if I told you it isn't about choosing sides? What if I told you our problems have occurred because of our own apathy and lack of participation in the decision-making process. No, I'm not talking about voting. I am talking about paying attention, being aware of what is happening in the world and following our hearts as to what we can BE in the world that will contribute our gifts and talents on useful ways.

As far as Presidential candidates go, I like Bernie. I like him because he sees the hurt in the world and wants to fix it. That said, I don't think his solutions would work. He is trying to work within the system we already have. That system is so corrupt no amount of changing the funding is going to fix it. It is extremely easy for the powers that be to minimize him because of this. 

As I look at the situation at hand, I don't really like the person I perceive Trump is. He is brash, arrogant, and in some ways corrupt himself. However, in this moment, I don't believe our present choice is about fixing our problems. I believe it is about upsetting the apple cart. No amount of mortar is going to fix the foundation that is crumbling around us. 

As I look back at my own life, there is one thing I understand. My best and biggest learning experiences occurred when I endured the most pain. To a casual onlooker, those experiences could have been termed "bad". Yes, they were difficult. Yes, they were painful. I would not be the person I am today if I had not gone through them. 

Understand this Presidential race is not about separation. It is not about us and them. It is about setting up the conditions to break down what is unstable so that we may begin again and create something new and infinitely better. The pain we experience now is not the end. It is a stepping stone to the place we want to go. Trust the process!

~CSE