Politics: What is it?

I wonder at the quantity of political commentary. People think and people talk and for some reason politics is fascinating -- to some. Chesterton is not alone in saying so but he is the first who got my attention when he claimed politics is over-rated. I think he meant it means so much less than our personal character, our work habits, our families.

And yet some say to disparage politics is to exert privilege, meaning, I think, that politics matters a great deal to some because of its direct effect in their life for good or ill. This seems true in measure. That is, some people's path in life is far more vulnerable to political matters than others.

I think I still prefer the principle of keeping things as close as possible to individual responsibility, leaving the government and politics for the most tangential but necessary duties. This is a political opinion, one that says the machinations of politics are necessary but should not be relied upon for good or ill in most of the daily functions of life.

Political machinations, rather, should be in the background. These matters would be military, local and state police, court and justice systems. Those elected to public office would be responsible to the electorate to maintain support in the background: support for freedom and protection from molestation either foreign or domestic.

I disparage more than that in politics because I think it actually hinders the human person. Acts of mercy must be carried out close to home. Involve government if necessary but keep all things close to home. The family should do it first. Barring that, local community, then the state. There can be interplay between the levels.

But politics should not be the aggregate entity upon which we rely. Rather it should always be a respected and necessary role to be carried out by those best for the job and in support of the common good. If it is a matter of privilege to proffer such a notion, then I am privileged. Such a moniker says nothing of the veracity of the claim, however.

I wonder at the vast quantity of political commentary.