Blog draft feb 16 26

Politics As Usual?

There will always be people who believe politics is always corrupt and self-serving. It is easy to see this, to believe it, to grapple with it. But I remain convinced that politics is not all corrupt; some, yes, but not all. There is truth in the self-serving part, but even that is arguable.

Yes, people get involved because they have a point of view they believe is more correct than other viewpoints, but that is normal. That’s legitimate. We fight for what we believe in. and that is the core of democratic strength.  We can get involved. We can invest our time, energy, money and connections in what we believe is good for the rest of our nation. This is our nation, our democracy. It demands we get involved.

That involvement is more than voting. Vote, yet, but not only that activity. We must be informed, we must be able to talk about issues, argue them with others to better understand the issues. This interaction also helps move the issue and its components into improved positions. Working with others improves legislation and administration policies. This is how our nation comes together as best it can to create governance systems and policies that work for the common good. It is a process of involvement. It requires us to be involved, to discuss, to be informed, then to vote.

Being involved also helps us understand the whole of the issue. That knowing helps abate self-serving currents, helps eliminate corruption, and makes our government more functional, better serving.

Blind trust in others gives cause to the evil we complain about. Don’t trust others blindly. Be involved enough to make a solid judgment that supports a well working process of democracy.

We owe this to others. We owe it to ourselves. The opposite creates the unthinkable. It made our current situation what it is. That’s on us; not entirely on Trump and his minions.

February 16, 2026

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