The politics of humanism

I came across an article about the juvenile corrections system in Missouri, AP Story and the thing that struck me besides the success rate of the system in keeping young offenders from re-entering the corrections system, was that from 1983 when the overhaul of the system was started, it has been supported by both conservatives and liberals in Missouri. This isn't a conservative or a liberal issue, but a human issue, and it is extraordinary to see politicians from both sides agree to put aside their normally prickly opposing views and do what is "right" for a change.

In a country that can never seem to put aside it's polarized political posturing to do something that works and is truly good for people other than their own self interest supporting PACs, it is both refreshing and unusual to see this coming together to support a plan that is not the "normal" way, and to stick with it through the years to provide a solid and documented successful way to deal with juvenile offenders.

This is just one example of what can actually be done when our political system works as it was intended by our founding fathers. A country for the people, by the people, rather than a few political avatars posturing and preening for the cameras in order to get the next sound bite, or criticize another politician to make their own visceral worth higher.

We need politicians that are more interested in developing programs and getting them enacted that honestly benefit the majority of people in the country, rather than select and narrow special interest groups. We need to have politics of humanism, rather than Republican and Democratic agendas.

If a sticky and very serious problematic situation as the one in Missouri can resolved, and proved to work when the base human need is the focus instead of the politics of what "sounds good" at the moment, then there is hope for us as a country to do so in other even more important areas of need. We need the same focus on the human need for programs such as health care, old age, and yes even foreign policy, and trade relations. Only when this happens will we see the true strength of our country displayed, and the true benefits of our representative system bestowed on the greater populous.

I only hope it comes sooner than too late.