Lord Voldemort, the nature of evil, and politics

[Tonks]

--- In HPFGU-OTChatter at yahoogroups.com, "Barbara" <miamibarb at ...> 
wrote:
> 
> Lord Voldemort types would do whatever it takes to win even when 
young.
> 
> My brother was heavily involved in politics in college.  He still 
considers himself a moderate Republican, but he became much less 
involved after he ran into Jack Abramoff (a Republican, now in 
prison for corruption.)  Abramoff must have been about twenty 
> when he wanted my brother to spread nasty, despicable lies about 
(Pres.) Carter during an election.  Abernoff must have been about 
twenty at the time.
> 

Tonks:
Yes, this is one of the minor thing that political campaigns do on a 
regular basis. I am told that it is also the duty of the party that 
is out of power (this time the Republicans) to investigate anything 
that might be of question about those currently in power, and if you 
can't find anything of substance, make it up and start rumors. I am 
sure that this is what your brother was asked to do. Both sides do 
it.

There are experts on each side, in sociology, psychology, etc. that 
know how to influence public opinion. But the general public think 
that what they see is what it is. They don't realize all that goes 
on to package and sell what appears to be 'truth'. 

There are so many things that go into a successful campaign. Such as 
the 'street money' and the busing (people who don't really live 
there come to register and vote in the caucuses), for example. I 
know that this happens and is a regular occurrence. Those too are 
minor things. While I am still angry about the cheating that went on 
in the primary at the caucuses, what I object to the most is the 
planned, deliberate, premeditate, vicious methods used to destroy 
another human being, only for the sake of winning. Most of this is 
done behind the scenes, but this year it peaked it head out into the 
open just a little bit... in the things that happened to Joe the 
Plumber. The poor man was just standing in his front yard playing 
ball with his kid when Obama was walking around the neighborhood. So 
when Obama came by his house, Joe asked a question. Because those in 
charge of damage control had to protect the candidate from himself, 
they investigated, humiliated and attempted in a small way to 
destroy Joe the plumber. The poor man is not even a politician. When 
we take the tactics of 'politics as usual' and extend them outside 
of the political arena to an ordinary citizen.. that is going to 
far. Personally I think it is going too far to do it to each other 
within the political arena. It is no accident that some staffers and 
others in their first experience of Washington DC, either kill 
themselves or start drinking themselves to death. It is not a place 
for the faint of heart. I would never survive a day there. I am told 
that sometimes those at the top are insulated from it. 

You see it in private industry too. Maybe not as severe, but anyone 
who makes it to the top of a large corporation has blood on their 
hands one way or another. All I am saying is that as human being we 
need to evolve beyond this. I don't want LV to be right. Rowling 
through Harry and DD try to show us another way. I am just depressed 
about the methods used to seek and aquire power in this country and 
the world. And I realise that our corrupt political system is a 
Sunday school picnic compared to what happens elsewhere in the 
world. My lament is for humanity as a whole. 

I feel that I have a choice that I have to make at this point in my 
life. Do I resign myself to what is, or do I work to change it?  
Would it even be worth my time and enegry to try? Or should I just 
ignore what I see, leave the political areana for younger folks, 
enjoy each day as it comes and let all the rest go ... telling 
myself in my heart that Voldemont was right after all...... ;-(

Tonks_op
wondering if being a Auror is really worth it. Maybe I should just 
take up gardening instead.