Defining "Politics"

It seems that in the 7th century BC Zaleucus, writer of the Locrian Code, thought that the purpose of politics was to reconcile societal fractions and to uphold equality before the law Sounds like good politics to me today

Men, know to us, have been defining 'politics' for about 5000 years. It seems that for most of that time it has been about citizens. Politics, these days in a republic, is that which citizens do as citizens. Its how people make collective decisions. It is a learned art and skill. We taught our children a bit about it at home and in their civics classes at school. In a republic politics are the affairs of citizens.

To be a citizen one need be the citizen of something. These days the thing (or process) is often called the state.

Politics may be called the art of civil administration. It is the way we do governance. That is, politics is the act of people practicing governance. It is the duty and honor of  American citizens to understand and participate in the governance of Country, State, County, City, etc. Its the way we decide who gets the gold and who goes to jail.

Other political duties of citizens of the republic are to oppose corruption, and to support equality before the law, freedom of religion, and freedom of speech. It used to be important to be civil too.

The skills and art of politics may be practiced where-ever resources are used or cooperation is desired: church and corporation are institutions that come to mind.: school, sports, and marriage are others.

A principle constituent of the art of politics are the skills of that purposeful, cooperative talk often called dialogue.

Some young neighbors of mine call it a fair-fighting way of getting what you want.

Learn from One Another

I have been thinking about us.


Lots of things about us have come to mind. Learning has come up most. Thoughts of instruction, education, and teaching have arisen.I've thought of ways of knowing and understanding.


I have consciously and unconsciously resisted learning from time to time. Most often I have been pleased to learn, pleased to be taught. I think that often man of us would be pleased to learn, to be taught, to be educated, to be instructed.


We desire the power, the knowledge, the understanding, the skill.


Many a husband could learn to better educate his wife about a thing or two. I think that he could learn to do it in a way his wife found acceptable, perhaps even a pleasure. I am sure that a father has a skill he can help his child to develop. The child would love to receive the father nurtured skill.


A wife can find an area in which her wants instruction. She is capable of learning to instruct him in a way that honors him. A mother can learn to teach her child something in a way that is pleasing to her and to the child.


A father and a mother can learn to more appropriately applaud a child's respectful attempt to help a sibling learn.


A family member might learn to encourage a grandparent to share skill or knowledge wit another family member.


You have some willingness to learn, so do I.


Like brothers and sisters we can help each other to the power, knowledge, understanding, and skill.

Appropriate Trust

The power in knowledge may be tapped by organization.


The power of knowledge is manifest through use.


Gather and share valuable information through cooperation.


Communicate to organize. Talk honestly.


To talk effectively we need more than trust, we need skill.


What is the source of skill?
What is the source of trust?