One of the responses I least like when door-knocking or collecting petition signatures is, “Oh, I don’t do politics.” Many times, I’ve glibly replied, “Well, politics does you.”
But I want to take this head-on now, because people “not doing politics” is such a significant misunderstanding of what “politics” means. In fact, I have found that there is no generally accepted definition of politics, so I’m going to make one.
First, politics isn't just candidates attacking each other. It isn't the endless TV ads, or the polls, or reporters, or even the eager canvasser knocking on your door. Those are side shows.
The biggest part of politics is the work of governance, which can be described as the method or process of overseeing and enforcing a system of rules for a government or business entity. We prefer to believe that governance should be held to a standard that benefits the whole constituency and perhaps even the whole society. Local governance may oversee and manage local parks, libraries, traffic, housing, and all kinds of everyday benefits. So politics touches you when you check out a book, stop safely at a red light, move into a house that’s built up to code, and go for a picnic in the park. You may not think of that as politics, but it is–and elected officials and the bureaucracies they oversee make it run.
Politics is also the exercise of power, from our collective power as part of a democratic society, the power of the people we elect and those they appoint, all the way to the raw power of an autocrat. It’s been said that the people who reach for power are often the ones worst suited to wield it. But for much of American history, power has been exercised within a framework of laws and norms–although deeply warped by the bigotry and wealth disparities baked into the system.
In the 1950s politics decided women didn't have the right to a credit card, that black communities could only be built in specified areas, and that a gay man could be jailed. In the 1800's, politics decided who had the right to vote (white, wealthy landowning men), how little the working man could be paid, and the working conditions of young children (child labor is making a comeback, by the way). Politics can also work to address these injustices.
The most visible part of politics, the part that gets the most attention, is the conflict resulting from disagreements about power and governance. There’s no question that people want to wield power for different reasons, and unfortunately governance for the benefit of society as a whole isn’t everyone’s priority. In today’s politics, we need to think hard about what we want governance to deliver, in what manner, and who’s best equipped to make it happen. Politicians fighting isn’t the most important part of politics–but they're telling you what they'll do, and that's what matters.
Our country is a work in progress - we will always be a living, breathing entity that changes as the nation grows. There will always be politics. It's up to us to determine how we want our collective power to be used.
PS: When a politician we support gets elected, we need to hold them accountable for their promises. That's politics too.