Current location:	Seattle, WA
Current mood:	thoughtful
Entry tags:	politics

Why Political Theory Matters
Politics… I can’t tell you how often I’ve heard someone asking me why I even bother. I’m not sure if it’s because I care more than other people or if it’s a matter that my ideas aren’t always in the mainstream and asking why I bother is a good way of getting me to shut my trap and talk about something else. Regardless of the reason, today I’m going to answer the question of why political theory matters.

Here’s the thing, political theory is not just an endeavor in trying to figure out which type of government is the best. It’s a way to figure out what people are like and what will help us create a better world. And it’s very personal. It’s so personal, in fact, that political talk is usually taboo in the workplace- it’s just too easy to offend others with our ideas about how government should work and what influence it has over people.

So why even bother if it’s going to offend? Why spend time thinking about things that are going to end up creating strife and anguish?

Reason One: Digging into Political Theory us connect to other people.

Didn’t we just mention how divisive politics can be? What do I mean by connecting people? Well, it’s strange- No matter what side we’re on politically there are usually some common goals that all people have. Security, for example.

If I’m a conservative I might be interested in a strong national defense (security) and limited government intrusion into the free market (financial security).

If I’m a liberal I might be interested in expanded social welfare (social security) and government regulation over how businesses treat employees (security).

If I’m a libertarian I might want the government to stop meddling with the currency and stop regulating how and where we spend our time and money (security, security, security).

If I’m a statist I might expect the government to add even more regulation to business and social aspects of life so that no one is left behind or treated differently than another person (security).

Each political philosophy attempts to solve the concept of “security” differently. Military, government regulation (or deregulation), social programs, anti-social programs and the like are all attempts to create a safer, better society- one that’s productive and one that gives each citizen a chance to reach his or her fullest potential. Thinking through political theory and getting to the ideals behind each one is a way to connect with other people who have the same eventual goal. It’s usually ok to disagree about the MEANS if our ENDS are the same.

Reason Two: Digging into Political Theory helps us Redefine our Priorities

Oddly enough, what people care about politically should overflow into their personal life as well. For instance, if I learn about the monetary system and how the Federal Reserve helps the US Government issue more money to keep interest rates low and how this system of fiat money manipulation is one of the primary causes inflation, destroying the currency- perhaps I’ll start making investments in Gold or International.

Or in a different example, perhaps I really care about education and I hear about how Florida recently cut Billions of dollars to schools and teachers because of the housing crisis and instead of just complaining about it, I realize that I need to mentor one of the kids in my neighborhood who’s probably not getting the kind of educational opportunities that he deserves. And I also work toward ending government bailouts and give some of that money back to educating people.

Or perhaps I really think that universal health care is a MUST for all people. I won’t just vote for it, I’ll also look for ways to donate to hospitals that are providing free care to low income families so that the dream is realized even if the government doesn’t step in to address it.

Thinking about political theory means that we begin thinking about what we want and then molding our lives around it instead of only asking the government to mold around it.