Freemasonry and Politics

This subject may rub against the grain of many; Freemasonry is non-political. And this is true if you only consider the time-honored tradition of barring the discussion of politics and religion within the Lodge. This admonition has served Masonry well for hundreds of years in welcoming good men of all political and religious persuasions into a realm of brotherhood and frienship that would otherwise have long since dissapeared. I do feel, however, that this subject is worthy of discussion in considering a Mason's duty to attempt to improve the world in which we live. As evidence that Masons are not precluded from political action I need only reference the several Presidents of the U.S and the many Senators and Congressmen who have been members of our Craft.

These are difficult and dangerous times, in my estimation. Gasoline sold for 25 cents per gallon in, or about, 1966. At $3.00 now and talk of up to $5.00 in the near future I worry about our nation’s future. Gas prices affect everything about our economy, including our ability to withstand a cold winter. Many will suffer in the months to come in having to chose between medicine, food and heat. And, while enjoying record profits, huge oil companies have just received a gift of billions of tax dollars from our politicians.

Hurricanes Katrina, and Rita have devastated the lives of hundreds of thousands, if not millions of people. Except for the central area, pretty much the entire city of New Orleans has been destroyed by flood water, wind and contaminates, requiring billions of dollars spent on demolition, dissenfection and rebuilding, but only after billions more are spent on improved flood protection systems. And this is only New Orleans. Who knows the cost of rebuilding hundreds of miles of ruin along the Gulf Coast. As was the case in Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi, Rita will cause ecological damage in the way of oil spills and chemical contamination among the oil processing and chemical facilities of the Gulf Coast. Costs?, who knows. Huge amounts of our nation’s capital is being spent daily in the care of those who have lost everything, which will continue for many months to come.

Might it be that those who have supported President Bush’s Iraq war might now be wavering a little. This unnecessary war has already cost the lives of 2,000 fathers, mothers, sons and daughters (and let’s not forget the thousands who have been paralyzed and/or disfigured for life), it has driven up our national debt and placed the burden of paying the bill on our children and grandchildren. There is obviously no reserve remaining to pay for the effects of two huge natural disasters, and thousands of our military reserve forces, who would ordinarily be counted on to assist those in danger and in need, are instead in Iraq with their equipment.

These represent only a few of many ongoing national problems, and I hope and pray will serve as a wake-up call to spur all of us who have been so complacent in tending to our responsibility of setting the direction of our country. It must be clear now that those whom we’ve elected to steward our nation have done a miserable job. Our country has been increasingly led by men and women who owe their primary allegience to the corporations and interests who supply vast amounts of monies to their campaign coffers. It is crystal clear that the plight of our less powerful citizens and the future of our country is not the concern of most of our political leaders. Their primary goal is to be elected. Why? To be re-elected. This intolerable situation is my fault – and your fault.

We, living our relatively pleasurable lives, have failed in our most important responsibility. Many thousands of our forefathers paid dearly to hold onto this country’s dreams and ideals, and now we are into other, “more important” things. “Government of the people, by the people and for the people” - Of the people? We’ve not been dilligent; By the people? Not the right people; For the people? Not hardly.

There’s not a peep coming from the media about the possibility of a terrible recession, but the groundwork has been lain. And it would require many pages to talk about the declines in our standard of living, education system, medical system, personal freedoms, morality and ethics. We have become experts at losing costly wars; the war on drugs (billions spent over 30+ years with no victory in site) and the war on poverty (billions spent and the poverty rate increasing) are prime examples. We continue to claim that the US is the world’s greatest nation on Earth. I love our country and would die to defend her, but can we still say that? Does the “world’s greatest military power” equate to the “world’s greatest nation”? I don’t think so. Lest anyone think that I’m a Democrat Bush basher. Nope. I don’t see adequate leadership in either major political party, or anywhere else for that matter. Both parties are controlled by the wrong people and neither has the courage to do what is right or that which is just plain common sense.

There is a growing undercurrent that exists in this country today. Where it will go, I’m not sure. My feeling is that a strong, charismatic “leader” could lead this current in a direction which could be exceedingly good, or horribly bad. Things have, and will continue to change. But, to what end? I could go on wringing my hands about the dangerous course of our nation. But I think instead I’ll spend a little time pondering the question of what one person can do to improve prospects for our future. It is time for me to do something. I have kids and grandkids who deserve at least as good as what I inherited from the "Greatest Generation".

I have written this as food for thought for others, as well as to clarify my own inner thoughts in search for a course for myself. The truths and tenets that I have learned from Freemasonry are, in my view, sorely needed but missing from our political system. Don't we have an obligation to do something about that, if within our power.

* Comments are welcomed.