Terrific, thoughtful post! Which … I need to think about. 
>Geoff:
Hi Bill, enjoyed this article… I resonate with McCain’s comments on cynicism, but… I guess that leads me to my comment/question:
How can we (the cynics) avoid being cynical, given the choice we face between two major political parties, both of which seem to focus primarily on their own target demographic, and not on the majority of Americans who are fed up with all the posturing? (Ok, I’m assuming that the majority are fed up… maybe I’m wrong!)
The politicians I see, on both the “right” and “left”, pay lip service to self-reliance, while ignoring their own positions of privilege (and the irony of any presidential candidate claiming to be a “common person”). I see those who decry government incompetence but continue to support the status quo wherever possible. I see many who conflate liberty and freedom into the opportunity for personal expression and the accumulation of “stuff”, but seem unable to grasp why that view of liberty might be disturbing to those who recognize the dangers of consumerism and selfishness. I see those who respond to unfriendly nations with whatever tactics suit their particular agenda, including the tactics of fear and hypocrisy. I see those who are forced to “play the game”, even if they don’t want to, because the only way anything gets done is if you play the game.
Not that politicians are entirely to blame. Without a doubt, part of the reason we are cynical is because we, the people, have become dull in the face of our own affluence and media-driven superficiality. We have forgotten that America is a land of great potential and immense opportunity for all, both as citizens and as individuals. But I wonder if it’s any surprise that the “American people” has learned so well the lesson preached at us for the last 50+ years by the leading political, economic, cultural, and media voices, which often amounts to basically “take care of yourself, and then, if you have to, worry about the other guy.”
When I look at the political system today, this is what I see: millions of people, on both sides, thinking, “which candidate will take care of me first?” (either by giving me a handout, or leaving me alone so I can do my own thing) And it’s awfully hard not to be cynical about that, because no matter how much I don’t want to, I know that I, as an American citizen, am a part of both the problem and the solution.
Part of me wants to applaud McCain’s comment: “If you find faults with our country, make it a better one. If you are disappointed with the mistakes of government, join its ranks and work to correct them.”
But part of me thinks, “People don’t want to correct the faults of our country. They just want to make their own lives comfortable and worry-free, no matter the cost. And that attitude certainly can’t be fixed by government.” So, I’m cynical.
To modify McCain’s final statement, with a nod to the Democrats on one side, and Republicans on the other:
Dem. version: “Wherever there is a hungry child… Where there is an illiterate adult… Wherever there are people who are denied the basic rights of Man… Wherever there is suffering, a great cause exists. If we provide governmental programs for them and throw money at the problem, that will solve it.”
Rep. version: “Wherever there is a hungry child… Where there is an illiterate adult… Wherever there are people who are denied the basic rights of Man… Wherever there is suffering, a great cause exists. If we show them how to succeed, they will. If they don’t, too bad for them.”
I know that’s probably a crude oversimplification, but on the national level, that’s how it looks to me most of the time. And I don’t see that changing any time soon… and I have a suspicion that the majority of Americans feel the same way.
May 27, 2008 – 1:47 pm
