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Root out poison in political power for the good of all people

LIVING in a lifeless, soulless and heartless world that is unfolding right in front of our eyes, one is bound to ask the question: what is the good of politics?

LIVING in a lifeless, soulless and heartless world that is unfolding right in front of our eyes, one is bound to ask the question: what is the good of politics?

The answer might be elusive to come by when all else around us does not inspire nor show the determination of making society put its best foot forward to approximate the wonderful world of milk and honey that political manifestos so effortlessly promise at election time.

What is the point of politics when some public representatives mistake their election as a reward and licence for their prompt comfort and yet show no urgency for the troubles and disfigurement of ordinary people in whose name they forever wish to be returned to political offices?

No wonder politics keeps getting the bad name of being a dirty game that white-winged angels dare not play. As the angels desert the scene the prowling devils seize the centre of power to dictate their tune. This leaves the rest of society to face the music and dance and drill to the beat of the devil.

As the devil's workshop engages top gear, to devour everything that is noble in the spirit of the nation, all else around us becomes lifeless, soulless and heartless to render our world a living hell. This hell comes in the form of power that reduces politics to a strange god of corruption and a norm worthy of worship by society. Consequently, power becomes the honeyed poison. Left unchallenged, the poison keeps accumulating the boldness of filth that embroils all that is good, bad and ugly within our public sphere into a corrupting sticky mess.

As corruption becomes a winner, and integrity a loser, the temptation sets in to ring even louder in the ears of those that have come to accept that principles do not pay: "If you cannot beat them," the devilish beat goes on, "join them". And if powerful forces such as the state can fall prey to the alluring and corrupting power of money, how can ordinary struggling people ever be expected to continue to have faith in politics?

If nothing is done to turn the tables on corruption, politics will soon be dismissed as the art of deceit exemplified by use and abuse; promise and regret; befriend and betray. This makes law-abiding citizens abandon the good that is still left in them as pearls before swine.

This is all because of shameless politicians who are forever looking after their stomachs rather than serving the people. And shame, according to Karl Marx, is a revolutionary sentiment. Shameless fixation with their own stomachs renders visionless politicians unfit to lift their faces to see a future that needs rescuing.

Without vision from leaders, ordinary people are prone to resort to the Samson syndrome to perish with their enemies. People need to be given the reason why they are alive and knowledge of how to survive.

The goodness of our politics lies in giving people renewed hope that they will finally overcome the corruption that makes the honour of political office a plaything for fools and criminals while the wise and the sincere, who can serve with distinction, are kept at arms length. For good politics to fight and win, the brave must stop bending backwards to accommodate mediocrity.

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