The morality of politics?

If you've been following along for the past couple of weeks, you most likely know what I think the answer to the question posed by this post is. Politics is just a way we go about organizing and structuring our lives together (in the public sphere), and as such, it is fairly neutral in and of itself. Having said that, however, it is also clear that the only ones who can organize and structure is us; that is, we human beings, and as such we are, or at least should be, moral beings. Can the two -- morals and politics -- mix?

The ideal answer is "yes"; the perceived answer is "hardly"; the real answer is "no".

Each and every one of us is face with moral, that is to say, ethical, decisions every day. Our morality has to do with what we believe to be right and good and true, regardless of where we draw our motivations for coming to such beliefs. We have seen that there are some issues which are inherently dilemma-like when it comes to the moral domain: killing, stealing, harming others, lying, and more. What we have also seen is that it is these very issues are part and parcel of political dealings, be they domestic or foreign, local, national, or beyond. In other words, we can't neatly partition off those aspects of political life that are uncomfortable or that make us uneasy, or put us in situations that might confront us with making moral choices. That is, however, what I believe most of us do in the end: we simply avoid.

The stands you take politically are, whether you like it or not, moral stands. You must be clear on what your moral values are, and you must be clear on how truly you uphold such values. Morality isn't partially anything. There's not a little bit of unethical. There's no rightness that's well-sort-of-in-this-particular-situation. You need to decide and you need to be aware.

I have brought this up merely because much of what I hear for argumentation in the political realm is based on alleged religious principles, on higher-order beliefs, and what some might even call divine ideals. Condoning cruelty, oppression, violence, the inflicting of pain and suffering, and the denigration of others to serve our own interests are simply wrong. To uphold such practices, especially when they are made policy, is obviously wrong. To turn one's back and remain silent, for whatever reason, is moral weakness.

There is so much talk these days of the "moral high ground", of what is right and what is wrong, of what are values are (or should be), and in most of what I see and hear, there is little moral foundation at all. It is not up to me -- nor is it my intent -- to tell you what you should believe. I can only admonish you to become aware enough of what you do believe that you are willing to stand up to that every day of the week and in every decision that you make, and in every position that you take.

Our invariably most egregious moral shortcoming is simply that we are not aware.