Neither the Democratic Party nor the Republican Party has a platform or priorities that fully reflect the principles of Catholic social teaching. Money has infected the American political system, threatening the very foundations of representative government. Politicians run polls so they know to avoid words like poverty and social justice, which don’t win votes. Major challenges go unaddressed as polarization grows and divided government seems to be the default setting—a recipe for inaction as our parties purify themselves ideologically. Lobbyists write bills, politicians beg for money, and the public is too often duped by negative campaign ads that play to their worst instincts. Cable news shows preach to the choir or offer intentionally worthless debates based on bumper sticker slogans and superficial analysis.
It is an ugly scene. There is no use sugarcoating it. Anyone who seeks to live virtuously is tempted to turn off the noise, ignore the idiocy, and focus on their everyday life. Many idealistic young people look to NGOs to change the world, hoping to sidestep the filth of politics. This escape would be nothing new. The Gilded Age was an era when the best of men sat on the sidelines, while the greedy and corrupt pursued politics for their own ends. To run for office was to risk losing one’s reputation for honesty and integrity. (Of course, many non-white men and all women did not have the opportunity to opt-out, as they were undemocratically excluded by others.)
Read Full Article »