We need more masons to be involved in politics. And be able to discuss ideas that can make a change in the society.
Freemasonry as a whole is and can be a political changer, not a political movement, a changer, an equalizer.
Harmony and love and tolerance do not come from ignoring some topics, but from being able to talk about them and finding the middle ground from which we can start building a better society.
I agree, 100%. If anyone can find the balance represented by the Middle Pillar, and bring people together it is a Freemason. It's really sad to me that Masons have largely given up on seeking elective office in the U.S.
The current political climate doesn't support the type of candidate I would hope a Mason would be, though, and I'm not sure if that's a symptom or the cause, but the point is moot. I'm no fan of the current Speaker of the House, but look at how he's being treated by his own party because he worked on important, bipartisan legislation as a very current example. Love him or hate him, Joe Biden is the type of politician that has in his career been a moderate voice working to find common ground and look how he's been treated as VP and as President. Middle-ground candidates rarely make it through primaries these days and when they do, they can't get anything done anyway because of all the extremists that block their way.
My view of it is that we, not our country's elected officials, but we as the collective people of this country have enabled the extreme voices in both major parties to become dominant despite their relatively small numbers.
There have always been whack jobs in elected office, across the political spectrum. That is something that can't be avoided when offices are open to all.
But those whack jobs were largely ignored, powerless, and eventually faded away. Because they didn't get any attention.
Now, all of the attention, campaign money, and everything else flows to the whack jobs. The extreme fringe in both the Republican and Democratic parties. We the people are doing this by paying attention to those voices, elevating those voices above the majority of elected officials who just want to do a good job as they see it.
Social media has greatly contributed to this, but so has traditional media as it has become more like social media in an attempt to remain profitable.
But, I think that there are still a lot of places where a good Mason could make a great difference.
Undoubtedly, Congress has been an overly partisan hell hole for a long time, and it is growing worse. The Legislature in my State (of which I've had a front seat view for my entire adult life) resisted that nonsense for a very long time. It remained a place where people from across the spectrum could work together, and where whack job voices were largely ignored. But, the last handful of years, that has degraded. It isn't bad like Congress yet, but it is headed in that direction. I'm not sure of course how any other state Legislatures are faring, I imagine they are all different in that way.
But, ignoring those institutions, there are great places that Masons could make a difference. City Councils, County Commissions, Planning Commissions, PUD Districts, Port Districts, Cemetery Boards, Water Districts. The list of this sort of opportunity is vast, and these positions can have a real, meaningful impact on people's lives.
>>>The current political climate doesn't support the type of candidate I would hope a >>>Mason would be
I agree with this. Everything flows to the whack jobs in both parties right now. But only insofar as the institutions we see on TV everyday. Local government in many cases is largely (not always of course) free from the lunacy.
But, also, in our system, we need the voices of candidates who are not whack jobs. Even if they can't win, they can serve as good examples of what an elected official should be.
I was asked to run for office once by the father of the former mayor of napavine. I invited everyone i knew who had any political interests to an exploratory meeting About two weeks before the filing date, including the requestor.
I ate dinner alone in a restaurant's "private meeting room" large enough to hold 50.
I think that maybe you encountered something that almost all candidates encounter.
True story:
Many years ago I became the campaign manager for a family friend who was running for the Legislature. I held elective office in my city then, and back then had a big beautiful house, so we scheduled a fundraiser at my house for my candidate. We advertised the heck out of it, and spent significant sums to make it great.
As I recall, the attendees were the candidate, the then Mrs. Bailey and me, plus some of the candidate's immediate family. I remember how extremely disheartening that whole thing was.
But, the candidate went on to win that election and he served a couple of decades in the Legislature ultimately landing a position directly appointed by the President.
One would have never guessed it looking over the 'crowd' at that fundraiser!
At least he had 5 or 6 supporters. I had none. I wasn't even asking for money at that point. Just gauging interest. Maybe recruit a campaign manager and work on a platform. I was paying for the meeting room reservation and meals out of pocket. Zero. Not even family. Nor the person who suggested I run in the first place. I have no personal ambition to lead. With no social support, I have no desire to put myself through a completely avoidable rejection. If only I had no sexual desire, I could stop putting myself through that rejection too.
I'm too damn old to worry much about sex anymore (funny how that happens) but isn't part of the excitement from the risk of rejection? The overcoming of obstacles to achieve the goal? I don't know, but it might be a lot less exciting if it were forever freely available.
Ive long contemplated running for city council or county commissioner. I'm currently running a spot on a local sport league and seeking to be President of that board. Prior, I served as President of a local Club inside that league. If I am successful in getting on the board and elected President, it's a 3 year term. I figure that might be a good start of a platform to seek future local office.
We need more masons to be involved in politics. And be able to discuss ideas that can make a change in the society.
Freemasonry as a whole is and can be a political changer, not a political movement, a changer, an equalizer.
Harmony and love and tolerance do not come from ignoring some topics, but from being able to talk about them and finding the middle ground from which we can start building a better society.
I agree, 100%. If anyone can find the balance represented by the Middle Pillar, and bring people together it is a Freemason. It's really sad to me that Masons have largely given up on seeking elective office in the U.S.
The current political climate doesn't support the type of candidate I would hope a Mason would be, though, and I'm not sure if that's a symptom or the cause, but the point is moot. I'm no fan of the current Speaker of the House, but look at how he's being treated by his own party because he worked on important, bipartisan legislation as a very current example. Love him or hate him, Joe Biden is the type of politician that has in his career been a moderate voice working to find common ground and look how he's been treated as VP and as President. Middle-ground candidates rarely make it through primaries these days and when they do, they can't get anything done anyway because of all the extremists that block their way.
My view of it is that we, not our country's elected officials, but we as the collective people of this country have enabled the extreme voices in both major parties to become dominant despite their relatively small numbers.
There have always been whack jobs in elected office, across the political spectrum. That is something that can't be avoided when offices are open to all.
But those whack jobs were largely ignored, powerless, and eventually faded away. Because they didn't get any attention.
Now, all of the attention, campaign money, and everything else flows to the whack jobs. The extreme fringe in both the Republican and Democratic parties. We the people are doing this by paying attention to those voices, elevating those voices above the majority of elected officials who just want to do a good job as they see it.
Social media has greatly contributed to this, but so has traditional media as it has become more like social media in an attempt to remain profitable.
But, I think that there are still a lot of places where a good Mason could make a great difference.
Undoubtedly, Congress has been an overly partisan hell hole for a long time, and it is growing worse. The Legislature in my State (of which I've had a front seat view for my entire adult life) resisted that nonsense for a very long time. It remained a place where people from across the spectrum could work together, and where whack job voices were largely ignored. But, the last handful of years, that has degraded. It isn't bad like Congress yet, but it is headed in that direction. I'm not sure of course how any other state Legislatures are faring, I imagine they are all different in that way.
But, ignoring those institutions, there are great places that Masons could make a difference. City Councils, County Commissions, Planning Commissions, PUD Districts, Port Districts, Cemetery Boards, Water Districts. The list of this sort of opportunity is vast, and these positions can have a real, meaningful impact on people's lives.
>>>The current political climate doesn't support the type of candidate I would hope a >>>Mason would be
I agree with this. Everything flows to the whack jobs in both parties right now. But only insofar as the institutions we see on TV everyday. Local government in many cases is largely (not always of course) free from the lunacy.
But, also, in our system, we need the voices of candidates who are not whack jobs. Even if they can't win, they can serve as good examples of what an elected official should be.
I was asked to run for office once by the father of the former mayor of napavine. I invited everyone i knew who had any political interests to an exploratory meeting About two weeks before the filing date, including the requestor.
I ate dinner alone in a restaurant's "private meeting room" large enough to hold 50.
I will not be doing that again.
Ugh, sorry you had to go through that.
I think that maybe you encountered something that almost all candidates encounter.
True story:
Many years ago I became the campaign manager for a family friend who was running for the Legislature. I held elective office in my city then, and back then had a big beautiful house, so we scheduled a fundraiser at my house for my candidate. We advertised the heck out of it, and spent significant sums to make it great.
As I recall, the attendees were the candidate, the then Mrs. Bailey and me, plus some of the candidate's immediate family. I remember how extremely disheartening that whole thing was.
But, the candidate went on to win that election and he served a couple of decades in the Legislature ultimately landing a position directly appointed by the President.
One would have never guessed it looking over the 'crowd' at that fundraiser!
At least he had 5 or 6 supporters. I had none. I wasn't even asking for money at that point. Just gauging interest. Maybe recruit a campaign manager and work on a platform. I was paying for the meeting room reservation and meals out of pocket. Zero. Not even family. Nor the person who suggested I run in the first place. I have no personal ambition to lead. With no social support, I have no desire to put myself through a completely avoidable rejection. If only I had no sexual desire, I could stop putting myself through that rejection too.
I'm too damn old to worry much about sex anymore (funny how that happens) but isn't part of the excitement from the risk of rejection? The overcoming of obstacles to achieve the goal? I don't know, but it might be a lot less exciting if it were forever freely available.
If I got anything other than rejection it might be exciting. Instead it's just depressing.
I can understand that.
Good work sir!
Wishing you the best of luck from the UK
Thank you Brother!
Ive long contemplated running for city council or county commissioner. I'm currently running a spot on a local sport league and seeking to be President of that board. Prior, I served as President of a local Club inside that league. If I am successful in getting on the board and elected President, it's a 3 year term. I figure that might be a good start of a platform to seek future local office.
I think it would be great if you decide to run one of these days. City or County, both can make a great positive impact!
I'm sure if I get serious about it, I will be reaching out for alot of advice! Civic service is very important.