I’ve been planning to write on this topic since I started up this blog a few weeks ago, but I’ve found it difficult to get started. I’ll just plunge in by saying that I don’t really have a political home, and I’m looking for one.
This isn’t necessarily about picking a political party, which so often boils down to “you will suffer humiliation when the sports team from my area defeats the sports team from your area.” (You can skip this if you’re in a hurry, but can I just say that it drives me berserk when the POTUS is giving a State of the Union address and the response to a statement like “We’ve reduced crime by 95% percent, eliminated the national debt, and established world peace!” is a standing ovation and tears of joy from one side, and stubbornly folded arms and pouting glares from the other side. Seriously, what is wrong with these people?)
I’ve never been very involved in politics, nor do I consider myself well-informed enough to take a strong position on most issues. However, last year I had something of a political awakening as I become increasingly fascinated by the presidential campaign. I followed the primaries and election fairly closely. I read Obama’s book, The Audacity of Hope, in which he shares his views on “how we got here” in contemporary American politics and how he’d like to see the political atmosphere change. I found myself agreeing with pretty much everything he wrote and greatly appreciated his clarity, intellect, and optimism. I read up on a few of the other candidates, but none of them interested me much. I was happy to see Obama elected, and I haven’t regretted voting for him since, but I also haven’t been able to decide what comes next for me, politically speaking.
I tend to support liberal causes — does that mean I’m a Democrat? But wait, wouldn’t I also prefer to have smaller government and much lower national debt? Should I take the ever-popular “fiscally conservative, socially progressive” position? What about those tantalizing libertarian ideals? Perhaps the trouble is that I’ve been focusing on questions like “which candidate do I like” or “what position should I take” on a particular issue, when those answers should ideally flow from a few bedrock principles.
Some days I wish I could forget everything I’ve heard about what it means to be conservative or liberal, Republican or Democrat, and just build my own political home, brick by brick. To that end, I’m looking for a few good books (or web sites, documentaries, magazines, etc. — I’m not picky) that can provide a straightforward rationale for why a person ought to support a certain political philosophy — not just a candidate, party, or specific issue.
Feel free to make some recommendations!
Scott
