I have been thinking about politics this week. I guess it was all the Barack/Clinton/McCain stuff that's in the media. This might well be the model of democracy that we are all meant to look up to but it's so confusing observing it from the outside, don't you think?
The campaigning seems more fierce between candidates from the same party than it is with the true opposition – just strikes me to be such a waste of energy that has gone on far too long.
Before you all start turning the page to the horoscopes thinking that I am changing my vocation from a producer of inane nonsense to the heavy stuff – my point is to raise the question of the politics that each of us have in our everyday lives.
The candidate selections we make for ourselves are a good starting point. People cross our paths all the time and simplistically they present us with a manifesto as to what they can offer us. Both parties at this stage might have objectives or prior motives as to what the end game is.
This dynamic exists if it's in the capacity of potential friend/business associate or part-time/full-time life partner – but we all need to assess what this person will bring to us.
It may not even be a conscious decision that we are aware of making because expressed that way it sounds somehow so cynical – but it's a process that at some level we all go through.
Much like real politics we have to ascertain whether the candidates are presenting a version of themselves that is truthful or just pushing the buttons that are easiest pushed. I mean politicians will always start with the promise of lower taxation but the reality when they gain our trust is to hit our pockets in other ways.
I am sure that we have all met people like that! In real life, the initial illusion of a soul-fattening, life-enriching friend might fade away after a while when their secondary taxation really kicks in.
It might not have a financial impact but it costs us our time, feelings and general levels of all-round stress. The only advantage is that we don't have to wait four years to oust them from power! Talking of power – that appears to be the crucial element.
Anyone we initially vote into our personal circles comes to hold some degree of power, and it's the balance that's so important to monitor and keep in check.
This power might manifest itself as that something special they colour our lives with ... it could be just the fun factor, it might be that element of thrill, danger and excitement, or it could be the magical feeling that they are part of the foundation for our future.
It's the checks and balances that we struggle to put in place to maintain our own position that is the most tricky. How do you deal with those people?
I mean, without being some kind of non-committing control freak how do we ensure that we are not giving too much of ourselves away so that we don't allow some unpopular policies of others to be played out? Unlike real politics – relationships in my view need to be based on transparency and honesty.
Each of us should declare our agendas and live and die by the sword that we carry. The other thing that I learned is that the willingness to give ground is a key attribute to display oneself and expect from others.
As much as it's nice to have our own way a ll the time – that's not the recipe for a long term of office. I think this idea was best expressed in a wonderful song's lyrics: It's not only rainbows and butterflies but compromise that moves us along. So do I get your vote?
