"Real" Clear Politics

Good politics and bad politics.  One is real the other fake.  I've capitalized Good because I mean the "higher" form of  Good, which comes from God. There is a distinct difference between these two as the opening line implies.  Unfortunately bad politics are the norm in many human groups. Whether it is friendship, a marriage, a family, business, school, government, and even church, secular politics (our sinful nature) seems to be "in play."  Bad politics are all about self protection, self advancement, and manipulation.  Politics as we practice it in government, business, churches, families and friendships is a self-centered debilitating, taffy-pull designed to get the "higher" ground over our "rival".  It is the Darwinian  natural selection in relationships. Watch the news or work for a living or attend some family gatherings and you know what I'm saying.


Any time people act in their SOLE self interest they are being greedy. It is great and good to act in your own interest, but not solely.  .  Paul talks about this when he writes to the Philippians- 

⁴ Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.) (Philippians 2:4). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

 

This is Paul giving us practical training in the Golden Rule. The idea of mutual benefit is a keystone to achieving a righteous, free-marketplace and one of our founding principles at God's Work in Progress. 

 

Good politics is the art of persuading people towards an ultimate truth or reality of understanding, which can then inform sound decision-making. This kind of politics is absolutely necessary.

 

We'll discuss this further in future posts.