There is nothing in life that is not political. [View All]

[MessiahRp]

I was asked to repost my reply in another thread as its own post. In that thread someone asked some DUers to put aside political criticism of Tony Snow due to his death and that there was another world outside of politics.

I disagree. I don't think there is any aspect of life in which politics does not have some affect.

Every day life beyond political arguing is really decided by politics.

-When you go to school your education and the school you attend will be influenced by how politics has decided the funding and type of curriculum you are allowed to learn.

-When you go to work, politics has decided whether your work can send your job overseas without penalty, whether they can get out of paying you overtime pay or benefits.

-When you walk down the street, politics has decided what laws you must follow. Ever jaywalked? Politicians decided that this would be a good law (even if it is stupid).

-When you get sick politics helped decide whether or not to regulate HMOs or pharmaceuticals and in doing so may have raised the rates of or prevented your care altogether.

-When you get old politicians may have decided on whether or not to retain or cut medicare or social security which greatly impacts your future.

-If you're struggling and poor politics may have decided whether you have any assistance available at all. Whether it be medical assistance, food stamps and WIC or low income housing and energy assistance. Hell even your child's school lunch is dependent on politics.

-What television shows you watch, what newspapers you read, what radio shows you turn on... all the content has been determined by who owns the media and that is determined by politics.

-The gas you put in your car, the prices are largely affected by politics. Whether or not those cars get decent mileage is also dependent on political pressure on car companies (because they rarely do this voluntarily on their own).

Everything in life is political. Everything in life is dependent on people standing up and fighting for their political values and beliefs.

And when Tony Snow dies or Tim Russert dies and gets media swoon for it, we must remember that this same media for reasons listed above does not mourn the over 4,000 soldiers who were sent to die in a war that was... political.

Rp