Engaging in Politics

"A shepherd must tend his flock. And at times, fight off the wolves."
--Reverend Oliver (The Patriot)

Politics can be seen as activities associated with gaining control over the strong arm of government for personal purposes. Many people are likely to refrain from engaging in political process. Politics will be seen by many as a non-value added activity, a distraction from what they are interested in doing. Moreover, for those opposed to the use of aggressive force to get one's way, they will likely refrain from political process for ethical reasons.

However, there are some who like the prospect of employing strong armed government agents to advance their interests. These are the people who are likely to engage in political process at an early date. Particularly when political issues are decided by democratic vote, then these political activists hold a distinct advantage. They can marshal majority votes much easier when those who are disinterested in political process stay away from the polls.

Only when forcible intrusion by government challenges preference for liberty will those who dislike politics get involved in the process. Because preference for liberty varies among individuals, we should expect the engagement of those previously disinterested in politics to be gradual--perhaps taking many years or even decades.

Meanwhile, the early activists have gained a distinct edge, having wrested the strong arm of government in their favor. The late engagers are behind the curve. They have done nothing wrong, but their liberty is now being forcibly compromised and they lack political sophistication for reversing their condition via government.

Unless the late engagers are able to peacefully gain control of the political process and reclaim their liberty, then pressure builds in the system for them to forcibly defend themselves.