What Matters

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Having set myself the goal of writing something, anything, at least once a day, I naturally find myself without a thing to say – at least not anything important enough.

Which brings me to the contemplation of why we consider some topics important and others not so important and still others not important at all. And why do different people have such varying opinions about that?

As anyone who knows me knows, I find politics both important and interesting. My son, on the other hand, thinks politics as a topic ranks below guessing the winning lottery numbers from a year ago. As an activity, he finds it every bit as compelling as watching fungus grow.

My husband is exactly the opposite. He liked nothing better than telling me the day’s doings on the campaign trail this summer, especially after I was forced to accept Obama as a substitute for Hillary. But you won’t catch John doing any real political work, not even walking door-to-door in our own neighborhood. He works hard and he expects to be able to relax in the evenings and on weekends.

So why is politics sufficiently important to me that I will not only read and talk about it, but also do the day-to-day grit work that builds an organization? It’s not because I want to run for office. I have almost no interest in doing that. I’ve done it twice, badly, and even though I now know how it should be done well, I know that I am not the person to be the candidate or even the campaign manager. I’m much better at being second in command.

(Not that I don’t have my moments wishing I had the abilities that would make it possible for me to take the lead. But I know, from experience, that it never works for me to do so.)

When I take a moment to think about it, the first thing that comes to my mind is the good that can be done when we have the kind of government that makes it possible for people to get through bad times. I also think that political parties need to expand themselves into the niche left by the demise of the neighborhood church that lent a hand when someone was sick or in need of financial help. I can wax philosophical about how modern life separates us and we need institutions that bring us together.

But the truth is, I just like the work. I enjoy putting together and maintaining a useful database. I delight in writing articles and copy editing the HQ newsletter. I am proud of my ability to put out a nice-looking announcement with all the relevant information on it in a readable form. And I love doing mailings.

Would I do those things in support of a cause that did not meet my definition of making the world a better place? Probably not. But I’m awfully glad that the Sedgwick County Democratic Party means I don’t have to worry about that question.

And that matters to me.
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