The Process of Participation

The premise of this blog post goes back to April of this year.  At that time, my husband and I journeyed across North Dakota to attend the 2018 convention for the Republican party of our state.  This convention takes place every other year, and is where the party endorses candidates for the upcoming elections. 

After attending, I came away a bit disheartened.  The number of delegates allowed from each district is based on how many voted in the last election.  I don't recall the exact numbers, but I believe District 2 here in the northwest corner of the state was allowed around 80 delegates.  We could only convince 15 to participate. 

Now I realize the political scene isn't for everyone.  It wasn't for me prior to the time my husband got involved in state politics.  As time goes on, however, I realize it is getting more and more important to do so.  When "I don't want to get involved in the process" becomes the attitude of the majority, what rises to power is people who have ideas outside the thinking of that majority.  Think back to our last presidential election, when many of us found ourselves not liking the prospect of either candidate.  This is what happens when everyday, ordinary people don't get involved.

A Scottish philosopher by the name of Alexander Tyler of the University of Edinburg noted eight stages that articulate well what history has shown as a pattern for the rise and fall of the world's great civilizations.  Listed below are the eight stages.  As you read them, think back on the history of the United States and follow through the pattern.

1.  From bondage to spiritual growth
2.  From spiritual growth to great courage
3.  From courage to liberty
4.  From liberty to abundance
5.  From abundance to complacency
6.  From complacency to apathy
7.  From apathy to dependence
8.  From dependence back to bondage

As I ponder this list, I find myself placing our nation somewhere between the complacency and apathy stages, perhaps even inching toward the dependence stage.  Many people just aren't interested in getting involved, and simply want the government to take care of everything for them.

But the heart of a nation is the people.  We are the ones who are supposed to be making our nation great, not any politician.  So how do we change things?  Perhaps by not being complacent or apathetic in our views, and by getting out to vote when the elections roll around.

Tomorrow is the day.  I will be voting.  Will you?