POWER POLITICS

Webster’s definition of politics is the set of activities, processes, and methods that groups and societies use to make collective decisions, distribute resources, and manage power.

I try to avoid mentioning personal politics in my columns, but sometimes it’s hard. When I say politics, I generally mean political candidates and their parties. A different kind of politics began early on for me, when a group of friends voted amongst themselves against letting a new face join our small circle.  This was preschool even.

This type of politics then entered elementary school, with the same thing happening on the playground. A friend of mine in Texas, Todd Mold, was chastised by classmates because of his name alone. Girls were especially harsh on Todd, sometimes ganging up on him and saying crude things. In other words, he was shunned by most but me.

I can’t recall him crying or anything like that, but I’m sure he was hurt deep inside. If a kid sided with Todd, they were made fun of too. Some might not call this power politics, but I do.

High school was a totally different story. Becoming part of the ‘in crowd’ meant being ‘voted in’ by those already in the group. I never tried to be accepted because my friends and I marched to a different beat. It was definitely power politics at its finest.

Those students in this special group weren’t into fishing, camping, hunting, or hiking. They were more about being seen and looking cool, much like certain political candidates are these days.

Another political group existed, with the entry into this club being that you had to smoke pot or drink alcohol. They were open to anyone joining their club if you agreed with them that marijuana needed legalizing, and that you shared and didn’t bogart the product.

Some of these guys and gals often met in the school parking lot during lunch to do their thing. I silently viewed them as losers and didn’t mind being excluded from their ranks. Sometimes the pot advocates and the in-crowd mingled, but generally only after football games or other school activities.

Power politics is alive and well on the job, where employees who shouldn’t get promoted are advanced up the ladder because of favoritism. The same holds true in the upper officer ranks of the military and in youth sports.

Some kids get more playing time not because they’re better athletes, but because the child’s parents are friends with the coach. I’ve seen this happen. Yes, power politics plays a role here.

Power politics doesn’t seem to be a big part with seniors unless it’s perhaps among the HOA or Condo Association crowd. Here in Havasu, you don’t see as much flaunting of wealth as you might in Scottsdale, even though a good many wealthy folks live here.

Havasuans, for the most part, seem to belong to the same political party, which makes for a melding pot of sorts.  The rich blend in well with us have-nots, and I believe a good many like it this way.

As I mentioned at the beginning of this article, I try to avoid writing about politics, but unfortunately, it involves much more than just the daily friction between Democrats and Republicans. Power politics is everywhere.

This kind of politics at school, on the job, in HOA and Condo Association meetings, in car clubs, and in sports can be hurtful if you have thin skin. It’s a negative force that’s alive and kicking everywhere!