Politics are the distractions of people who want to control other people's lives, usually because they fail at their own. People who pursue politics that are grander than those on an interpersonal level pretty much revert to a de facto position of "this is how people should live." Even self-styled anarchists fall into this trap, shunning or even silencing using force those who don't agree with their opinions. Anarchists, Libertarians and others generally say things like "people SHOULD have freedom," or "freedom is good" and basic assumptions like that, that they spout off as fact. A cursory glance at the real world shows that no, not all people should have freedom, and those people that shouldn't have freedom generally don't.
In this corporeal world, things are governed by how much one wants something and how strong one is willing to push for it. If you're not strong enough to gain something by force or otherwise, then you won't get it. Unless someone stronger than you gains it for you, and gives it to you. Thus some people NEED to be dependent on others, that's simply all they can do. This is model for a government. THis may seem socially darwinists to those who are inclined to run screeching from anything anyone who can be labeled as that says, but keep a closer look. Life is darwinian. Even if those who don't beleive in social Darwinism take power, it's because they are stronger than all other parties... following Darwinate theories. Reality hurts... but only if you're not paying attention.
I've found that you can basically do what you want, if it doesn't harm other people. Although I prefer not to do that stuff for dumb idealistic reasons, nobody tends to care what you're doing unless it affects them. I've carried illegal weapons, done illegal drugs, smoked and drank underage, ridden a bike without a helmet, jaywalked, been out way too late, ad infinitum/naseum. Now, currently, I'm a fairly law abiding cititzen... BECAUSE I WANT TO BE.
Here comes the shocker, straight out of a Heinlein novel:
Everyone does everything because they want to. I do everything I do because I want to. This includes following the law, because I'm not willing to accept the consequences thereof. But, say, if the government made coffee illegal, I would probably drink it anyway. Willing to deal with consequences means willing to take the action.
However, one of the actions I refuse to take (because doing nothing is still doing something) is to allow someone else to control me. This is the extent of the politics I hold. If I do something, it's because I want to, and I want to be able to say that the whole way through. It makes me glad I do what i do.
All politics are self serving. If, say, there was some sort of libertarian revolution or something just as fun I would probably take part in it, because it interests me and it serves my end. At least I admit it. But those dedicated to controlling and taxing me for the benefit of others don't see that their policies are self serving too, in a feel-good kind of way. Even logical positions, such as republicanism suffer from this untenable thought pattern. No, not everyone should have freedom, if you hand it out like candy it'll be come just as frivolous.
In short to most people I would say this: don't try to pretend that you know what's going on in the world, I bet you barely know what's going on in your life. I don't know anyone I'd give a vote to. People who can't run their lives perfectly shouldn't have any say over others. And noone runs their life perfectly. Thus, give me freedom or give me death, or just silence.
More later
