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June 3, 2004 There are few things more enjoyable to an honest, working American than putting in a decent day’s work for the betterment of the people, no matter how small. This is why I so enjoy working with the Indiana Democratic Party; not because it happens to be the party that I am a member of, but because, in any government position, the opportunity for improvement of the people as a whole is possible. I do not wish to infuse this column with partisan politics, except to say that, in some situations, the threat of partisan politics, of one party winning over the hard work of another, keeps those devoted going. It’s much like Hamiltonian economics, where keeping a little national debt around to keep the people working at full force is a positive thing. Working phone banks for the party may not seem like the kind of illustrious work done at the higher levels of government, but nearly everyone involved with the Democratic party at the state level put in that work for a considerable amount of time before finding a way into actual public service work. It is important to remember that, in politics as in life, there are shortcuts and jumps that can be made, but the glory of the work is missed if the easy way is taken. I am an incoming Senior in high school, and will be taking up an internship on top of the one I currently have. One of these will be working phone banks and volunteer work with Governor Joe Kernan’s re-election campaign. The other will be working directly through the Indiana Democratic Party organizing dinners and scheduling things. In November, one of those jobs will end, either in victory for Governor Kernan or defeat for the cause of the Democrats in Indiana. I do not fear for Kernan – we hold large leads over Republican Mitch Daniels, and have succeeded in attracting many moderate Republicans into the fold of Kernan’s appealing moderate views. So often politics falls down into the mud and becomes something so impersonal that it is almost a fistfight between opposing sides. So often it is forgotten that the political machine must be used to benefit the people in every way possible, that social, economic and legal reforms must blossom from campaigns and promises or else everything has been in vain. No one wants to have a part in a self-serving candidate. As the political machine divides, so does it unite. Republicans friends of mine, some of whom work on the opposite end of the spectrum on Mitch Daniels’ election campaign, often join me for trips to movies or evening dining. It is the balance of keeping politics away from personal life that keeps things enjoyable. If there is a candidate so consumed with his own political gain that he wishes no part of the opposition, he is very dangerous to the political process. I plan to run for office some day. My views have moderated in the past year, and doubtless will moderate more as time goes on, as I am exposed to more and more of the raw world. However, I do not worry about becoming one of those who wishes only for his own gain with disregard for how the people are treated. In a move that has alienated me from idealistic Democrats, young Democrats who cannot see the beauty of compromise, I cite Theodore Roosevelt as by far my favorite President. If only career politicians could understand compromise as well as some of those people I associate with do. ------------ About the author: Max Burns lives in Indianapolis and interns with the Indiana Democratic Party. Visit The Rabid Demoncrat or read the fantasy-fiction novel "Alcardia". He is currently a junior at Lawrence North High School and is active in political clubs and associations. Max thinks it's time to hatch a real environmental policy and plant George W. Bush back in Crawford. Email: MBurns_NS@hotmail.com Tell a friend about this site! ------------ |
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