Politicians In News

Photo by Joanna Penn at Flickr as seen from the London Eye

This post should be about the big news regarding certain politicians in both of my countries. For the past few days I’ve had too much on my plate to write, which is just as well because I don’t like to be among the first to talk about such news. I prefer to wait until it has reached full bloom.

Donald Trump earned the charges that are at long last being brought against him in the USA. His federal indictment is an example of why I choose to wait before commenting much. When the indictment was released, its scope and level of detail were stunning and thoroughly damning. I was pleased by that. His vituperation in response has been entirely in character. He will probably use his predicament to fundraise.

Boris Johnson earned expulsion from Number 10 Downing Street. The committee he is raging against didn’t have the power to expel him from Parliament. He seems to be immune to being held accountable for anything he does, even violation of rules he set upon the UK himself. The first three news reports I heard or read after he issued his resignation diatribe all mentioned how Trumpian it was. I was pleased that they weren’t using the usual both-sides methods to downplay it.

Neither of these chunks of news is about politics. Both are about politicians who believe they shouldn’t have to abide by the rule of law. That isn’t really about politics. It’s about people attempting to subvert society, undermining the community for their personal benefit.

In both of my countries, the major political parties that claim to be conservative either don’t know how to step away from the cult of personality these politicians have created, or embrace the cult. Which of those is true doesn’t matter. The result is the same.

The Unmentioned Lesson

Over the weekend I wondered what I can say about all of this that is constructive and isn’t already being said.

These episodes and others along similar lines, albeit seldom with such large headlines, often prompt people to advise “Don’t go into politics. It’s all corrupt. They’re all the same.”

No, it isn’t all corrupt. No, politicians are not all the same.

On top of the Trump and Johnson show, the UK also got the news that Caroline Lucas has decided not to stand for office in the next election. She will stand down from Parliament. She has been the only Green MP in the House of Commons. She has consistently been the voice of reason, sanity, compassion and foresight. She has represented her community in the best sense of the term. Her departure from Parliament at the next election is lamented from many quarters, not only in the Green Party.

She has been a good politician. She is not the only one in the world. I’ve had the privilege of knowing a few personally.

Politics happens in every group of people. In a very real sense, politics is essential to getting things done in and by a group of people. If we want good things to happen in our society, we need good politicians. Maybe that’s you, or you over there, or your brilliant child or grandchild.

When good people stay away from politics, that leaves the field open for bad ones.

Every person who discourages good people from getting involved in politics is advocating for corruption and bad people in politics. Most of them don’t realize that’s what they are doing. Some do, and are thinning the field so they can more easily get in there to take undue advantage for themselves.

Trump and Johnson are examples of what bad politicians can do. We need good ones instead, in as many positions as possible, from local to national. If you aren’t running for office yourself, find a candidate who would be a good politician and help them. Volunteer for their campaign, fundraise for them, doorstep for them, donate a little money… whatever you can do. You don’t have to go all in, but do what you can.

That’s how to reduce the number of Trumps and Johnsons in office. Help the Lucases get in there instead.