Why Politics?
More accurately, why should anyone be involved in politics? What is the purpose and is the purpose motivation enough?
Most people will make the case that the premise of the prime purpose is a duty that is owed to someone else (for example, “it is your civic duty”). I wish to make the case purely from a selfish perspective, leaving aside arguments from duty and focusing exclusively on why politics is of value to you, the individual.
Chances are extremely high that if you are reading this, you live in a country. A country is comprised of individuals who interact with each other on a daily basis in a wide variety of activities which, ideally, are based on mutually agreeable terms. We buy and sell goods and services from each other in the marketplace, we meet up for a variety of social events, and most raise families.
Such interactions are only possible in a civilized society in which there are governments which establish and enforce laws which recognize the rights of each individual. A “right” is a moral concept which identifies an individual’s freedom to act within a social context. What does a person have a “right” to do in his interactions with others? Or to phrase it differently: what “rights” do you have and what “rights” do they have in such interactions?
Transposing “rights” from a moral concept into laws which identify, recognize, and protect such is the domain of politics. Contrary to popular notions or representations in movies, politics is not a playground for scandalous behavior among publicity-seeking narcissists (though it can devolve to such a state). Rather, it is a serious field in which “rights” are recognized or denied and powers are granted to a government to either protect or destroy them.
This is where involvement in politics is crucial to you. Your “rights” are protected or denied by governments, which are comprised by people who are actively involved in politics (you may know them as “politicians”).
Do you value your rights? Your right to live your life as you see fit? Your right to form and express your own opinion on any matter? Your right to pursue a career of your choice? Your right to associate with whomever you please on mutually agreeable terms? Your right to own property?
While you may value such, there is no guarantee that others share the same values. They may advocate for laws which deprive you of your rights, usually under the pretext of protecting theirs. History is replete with such examples (notable ones from the 20 century include Nazi Germany and Communist Russia).
If you do value your rights, who is advocating for them in the political realm? Who better to advocate for them than yourself? The selfish purpose of politics is for one to advocate for their rights, the motivation being that when rights are secured and held inviolable, one can live their life as they see fit, without fear of a violation of those rights from others.
However, in a democratic society, such as in Luxembourg, is your one voice sufficient to protect your rights? If not, how do you find allies to strengthen your cause?
The value of political parties is that they are comprised of individuals who share the same definition of rights and who band together to advocate for the protection of such. This why joining the [Luxembourg] Demokratesch Partei is in YOUR interest.
Politics does not need to be a full-time job. It does not require you to be an eloquent orator, a publicity seeker, or to have any of the characteristics commonly attributed to politicians. There are many different roles in politics which are on stage and backstage, filled by both extroverts and introverts, with work ranging from intellectual activities to simply setting up chairs at a convention.
What politics DOES require is for you to raise your voice and be heard. The only guarantee that your rights will be protected is if you take the lead in the endeavor – and the more who do, the higher the chances of success. . . .
