 Politics has a reputation for being transactional. Candidates, political parties, and campaigns will do aggressive outreach leading up to an election. But when the election is over, win or lose, as soon as the clock ticks past the deadline, it’s a whomping silence.
Where did everyone go? No matter if candidates (or causes) win or lose, there is a psychological threshold that immediately goes into position. To the leaders driving the outreach and momentum, the customer, also known as a voter or constituent, goes back on the shelf. They unconsciously set everyone they have collected, touched, or built relationships with over the past few months aside and will pull them off the shelf again “when we need them next.” I’ve been in the arena for 20 years so I can speak from experience: this is a trend among the political universe and for a profession that is all about people, it stinks. So, I propose we change it but first we need to better understand it.  I’d love to walk into a kitchen, demand a gourmet cake exactly as I envision it and have the chef present it to me within 10 seconds or less. But wishes - like this - are not reality. It is physically impossible but even more-so it belittles the craft, demeans the quality and mocks the artisian’s end product. A one of a kind cake takes time and process.
Or good luck demanding a 5 star tree fort in a snap from a loving father. He loves the child too much to slap something together in a hurry and then say, “go ahead! It’s safe! Have fun!” A strong, reliable, quality fort takes research, calculations, construction, assessment, refining, and patience. To demand anything less speaks more of the requester than it does the item: they are beholden to whims and emotions and not interested in quality or security. They don’t yet understand or value the process that goes into making something of worth and stability. As conservatives, we rejoice in the growing presence of engaged citizens in the civic arena. But many are missing the greatest anchor: the process.  During World War II a realization was made by military leaders: our soldiers don’t know why they are fighting. Philosopher and author Russell Kirk, based in Michigan, was commissioned to write a book: The American Cause.
I believe its origin reminds us of our own responsibility in this hour if we are going to keep the American dream alive and its paradigm for freedom. BACKGROUND Russell Kirk is a founding member of the traditional conservative movement. He was dreaming up another book when he was commissioned to write the American Cause by friend Henry Regenery in 1956. |
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