Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
Have you ever heard the term “beer goggles,” where the more you drink, the more attractive someone looks? Politics works the opposite. The more you see things politically, the worse everything looks.
Once someone starts looking at things through the distorting lens of politics, there’s no telling what they’ll think they see. Even without politics, people see what they want to see, what they expect to see, or what they’ve been told to see. Politics make this effect worse.
With politics, people see the worst possible interpretation of what’s in front of them. Is this how they want to see things, or is the expectation so strong it traps them? Has someone else made everything political in order to manipulate people into reacting a certain way?
If I say I’m against a certain practice, those in favor of it are likely to imagine they heard me say I want government to forbid it and punish those who engage in it. That’s political and it’s not me. I think most bad behaviors bring their own punishment.
No matter how much I oppose something, I think there is a better way to deal with it than by throwing government at it. Yes, even things like murder.
You might say a unified standard for handling things is necessary, but since rules vary by country, state, county, and city, there is no standard in any real sense, only the illusion of a standard. Often, the rules are completely wrong anyway, so even if there were a standard, it would be more harmful than helpful.
There are many behaviors and practices I consider wrong even though they are legal and widely accepted. When I say I believe they are wrong I am not saying I want them made illegal.
This has nothing to do with a China-style “social credit score” either. Nor does it encourage censorship or canceling anyone. It is me, as an individual, acting on what I see as the wrong thing to do.
If someone does those things I’ll consider them a bad person and I will not want to have anything to do with them. I may also be giving a warning that I could feel the need to defend myself if those things are done to me.
Even if I tell you why I am shunning someone, I’m not going to demand you do the same. That would be political.
Farwell’s Kent McManigal champions liberty. Contact him at: