I have a friend who is running for political office. It's his first involvement in politics. He's fully committed and genuinely interested in making a difference.
He was first attracted to this path when he was introduced to the Ron Paul 'Revolution'...If you've spent any time on the internet in the past year, there's a fair chance you've been exposed to this movement. For those of you who don't know about Ron Paul, he's a Libertarian Republican Congressman from Texas who was running for President. He attracted a small number of people (in terms of percentage), but definitely had an impact.
Paul has since dropped his Presidential bid, but the 'Revolution' continues...and it's gotten ugly! Paul was the glue that held this thing together. The 'Revolution' was a cult of personality that attracted fringe elements of every stripe, along with true libertarians and other conservative leaning Americans. The message was vague enough to attract everyone, so long as they didn't ask about specifics.
Now, back to my friend...I warned him months ago to disassociate himself from these fringe clowns, but he felt it was his only base support. He didn't have the name recognition necessary to be picky about his associations. Now he's paying.
The 'Revolution' is disintegrating. They're all turning on one another. Now that the Messiah (Ron Paul) is gone, they're all discovering that they really don't agree about much. And my friend is feeling it.
"Politics IS compromise", I wrote to him. Ron Paul, et al, are idealogues. For them there can never be compromise.
He changed course somewhere along the way. Rather than ranting, he began to talk to others, became accepting of the opinions of those who disagree with him. In short, he began to compromise.
But that doesn't sit well with his idealogue friends...
I started this venture in 2008 as an avenue to talk about a wide variety of topics, but primarily as a SCUBA blog under the name "Musings from the Deep Blue Sea". It's evolved. My renewed interest in health, fitness, and nutrition (at the age of 43) has brought me to where I am today, and this site reflects that. Having said that, my original mission statement hasn't changed...
Our lives are important only because of the impact they have on the lives of others. Making a difference is important. This blog isn't written for you, it's written for me. My way of reviewing my life, and its significance...Of course, given my wide range of interests in life, there will be much variety. Welcome to my life.
Monday, August 4, 2008
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