At the Gate - Should we get involved with politics?

Have you noticed the stigma that political involvement carries in social circles? I have, for sure, and I'm becoming more convinced that we're giving away something of great worth when we back out and leave the "dirty work" to someone else.

It's true that the vote is still private. So in that sense you can be highly involved with public policy without making a big deal about it. And some will choose to go just that far. Others not quite that far.

The picture I have is sort of an ancient rural ideal of the elders of the city gathering at the city gate to talk about the goings on of the town and what they support or oppose. I imagine young adults also joining in, perhaps mostly listening and learning, perhaps chiming in. Being at the gate could be contentious, but it would be a good and necessary part of working together as a community.



My "at the gate" ideal is about public conversation. I think we need it still today in Wisconsin and through the US and Canada. The alternatives are less helpful and potentially dangerous. Rather than discussing and understanding and forming opinion, we could gravitate to opposite ends of a continuum.

One extreme of this continuum could be called "at the throne." The idea here is that all that matters is power, defeating the opposition. What is important is not even the ideas that win, but being the winner, spoils and all. Throne power can be obtained maliciously or falsely. Thronists might even show up at the gate with a slimy, spinning, secretive agenda. Sure, everyone at the gate would like to see their ideas honored, but the thronists only want to dominate.

The other extreme could be called "in the field." The idea here is that power doesn't matter at all, or at least taking a personal stand to bring influence. The fieldist may not show up at the gate or is completely passive if he happens to hang out there for a while.The fieldist recognizes that important things are being discussed, but he's been burned by the scandals and underhandedness of it all and wants nothing to do with it.

Let's bring it to the here and now. The thronist can be either liberal or conservative, but what truly matters is gaining power regardless of the issue. Proper channels of influence are short-circuited as the thronists grab power with an imbalance of one political branch over another or an improper use of the rules within the political process.

The fieldist listens to his radio shows, or catches some political commentary from his morning show DJ, but doesn't feel responsible to go beyond that. He may vote if an issue grabs his attention. More likely, he's a bit disgusted by the whole process and overwhelmed by the demands of staying on top of the issues.

And here's the crux of it for me. Being "at the gate" means stepping beyond passivity and beginning to support and submit ideas in a public fashion. Once any sort of public comment is made, the stakes of political involvement are raised dramatically. All of a sudden, being informed at least minimally is vital to respond to others who push back with opposing or alternate ideas. And the risk one takes is that, as one steps out with an opinion, the fieldists will see that action as thronism.

If a business owner shows up at the gate, he risks people avoiding his business because of the opinions he carries. If a pastor shows up at the gate, he risks half of his town not wanting to come to his church. If a service employee shows up at the gate, he may fear jeopardizing a promotion by his boss who has different political leanings.

I think we have to take that risk. If good people avoid the gate, public policy will be set only by the thronists. History has shown that power hungry citizens are very capable of steering stable nations into chaos and combat. So how do we do it? How do we get involved at the gate? I'm still learning, but here are a few thoughts:

1. Learn what you believe. No small task this! My advice is to find some bedrock and push off from there. Perhaps that means reading the Constitution and Declaration of Independence. Perhaps it means seeking out the most thoughtful publicly engaged person in your life and beginning to talk. Remember, if there's not brutal honesty with yourself at this point, you'll begin on the path to thronism, power for the sake of power.

Find websites, publications, broadcasts which enlighten you. Take the meat, spit out the bones. Consider how your worldview, personal values and spirituality interact with public policy.What is just? What is compassionate? What does history say about what works and doesn't work?

2. Support a cause. Once you begin to formulate convictions, areas of passion and interest will emerge. Focusing on a single issue or narrow group of issues is not a bad way to start. Get some books. Go to some group meetings. Find like-minded people and begin to serve, learning all the while. Give time and money if you can. Represent the cause to your personal circles of family and friends. You are now at the gate!

3. Support a candidate. Politics involve parties and by this time you've likely found a party that resonates with you. Specific candidates will also resonate. Look up a local caucus meeting for your party. Link to your candidate's website. Get to know your local decision makers. And when you show up at the meeting, engage! Don't write off politics in a democratic society if you aren't willing to get into the conversation.

You don't have to dominate. You don't have to win every argument. But show up at the gate! And when it's campaign season, get some yard signs out there, get a bumper sticker or a hat, do a bit of blogging if you like.

All of this to say, I think it's time we showed up at the gate. If we don't show up, the gate conversation goes away and the thronists win the day. We go back to lords and serfs. Government ceases to be of the people, by the people and for the people.

I feel compelled to this. It seems that showing up at the gate is part of being a mature, responsible member of civil society. I think we still have gate conversation, but it seems threatened. I feel compelled to show up and talk.

This is me...at the gate.