Question of ethics...how low can one go in the political arena in order to achieve their goals? How far is one willing to go in order to be the popular one, to be the elected one, to be the leader? I guess in the case of the Toronto mayoral race, some cases like Barbara Hall, one can go pretty low in going just short of declaring David Miller a racist for saying he looks like a mayor. "Does that mean the mayor has to be a white anglosaxan guy?" Damn, Barbara. Don't you already realize you're over the hill? I can't stand her...listening to her debate on television is so excruciating, it feels like pulling all four of your wisdom teeth at once.
[note: By the way, I was in no way endorsing Barbara Hall or David Miller to be the next Toronto mayor. As much as I hate the fact that his campaign workers called me in the middle of something important to ask me to vote for him, I'm going to cast my vote for John Tory. Why? Because he's a businessman, just like me. Hall's pedestrian leadership style makes me want to choke. Miller is a NDP-type leader, and we all remember what THAT brought us with Bob Rae. Tory to me is the consensus "sexy" pick, part of the new breed of leaders, with a clean image, hard-working researcher, financial expertise, and the ability to be diplomatic and sensitive about things, unlike outgoing Mel Lastman (a la Hells Angels, a la Olympic Bid "Don't boil me in that African tribal pot"). Polls open tomorrow!]
But that's beside the point here.
Before you read any further, realize that I'm in no way doing a knee-jerk reaction to a recent event. This has been on my mind for a while, and watching the mayoral debates only developed it into a more conclusive thought.
Watching it made me think about the parallels to my life. Politics exist in every facet of your world, whether in the workplace, at church, or even amongst friends. But I've left behind underhanded political tactics to rise to the top in life's game of snakes and ladders. Fly by night with smokes and mirrors. Life was always in the fast lane, just my style. Take a risk while driving on the road, cut across and swoop in front of a slower moving car, and leave them in your dust. They're coughing and choking on my dust? Their problem, not mine.
Back in my heyday, I'd at least be able to run with the best of them and hold my own. Sure, I'd lose a couple of battles here and there, but I generally managed to stay a step ahead. But soon I was just tired of the lies and politics. Integrity and maturity, as people insisted it was, kicked in. I went from constant acceleration to cruise control.
To top it all off, I decided to keep my head firmly turned to the right, blind to all that zoomed past me in the fast lane on the left.
I thought if I left behind my arsenal of political boxing, I'd at least be left alone. I wanted to try out this "integrity and maturity" theory, and do things "the right way". I thought, as a grown-up now, the political weight would be shifted off friends and church life, and firmly into office and parliament. I was in a different game now, with a whole new set of rules. Those that were still living my old life hadn't grown up yet.
I was wrong.
Behind my back, I could feel the jabs hitting me. Problem is, what I ignored as merely jabs turned out to be heavy body blows, and now I've got the bruises to prove it. I soon realized that the people that convinced me it was all about "integrity and maturity" were the same type of people that I was constantly leaving in my dust. What infuriates me even more is that I'm being pummeled by the same underhanded tactics that I swore off using. Everyone had passed me in the fast lane while I was chuggin' along. It took me a while to realize what I was feeling was political defeat. (Just like Barbara Hall, heh heh...couldn't resist)
I thought I wouldn't have to worry about ethics in the use of agendas with friends and even with church and fellowship, because hey, if they're your friends, even if you're not that great friends with them, you don't need to step on them. Same deal with church/fellowship. We're all on the same team for God. I was wrong about that too. So-called leaders and friends have thrown ethics into the trash can.
And now I'm just pissed off.
It's now become a game of catch-up. I'm in business, and the stereotype for businessmen is that we have the ability to fight for what we want. The question now is, do I resort to lowball tactics to get back ahead now? If I want to make someone look bad, shall I ask people to "pray with me for his issues", instantly making myself look like a saint and the other a disgrace? How true is the adage of fighting fire with fire? What I'm interested in hearing is whether it's okay to play the political hand when you're confronted with it, and what sort of tactics are allowable.
Not one single politician can prove they've lived a squeaky-clean life. Yet they're the ones in power.
Maybe there's a lesson to be learned there.
[sotm] Linkin Park - Numb.
if you've read this far, i'm truly impressed. i'm also sure it's caused some sort of reaction, so it'd be great if i could get your thoughts in the comments. if you never post a comment, just do it this one time.
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