Finding a voice

An old fart like myself hears about blogs. Some seem to be highly respected, others ignored.

What will happen to my words as they are launched into the electronic ether? And what will I talk about? How self-disclosive should I be? Will I talk about how I see the world? Will I dare to talk about the institution I work for? Will I talk about my hobbies? My family? My friends? What pisses me off?

Well, I'll start by saying that the world of politics seems to be one where individuals work to place themselves in positions where power can be maximised. Sometimes that is through the accumulation of money. Other times it is through the power and control of individuals. The energy needed to create the environment necessary for the promotion of self must require a gigantic commitment, especially in the early stages. Perhaps once the individual attains a certain level it becomes easier. And relationally, what is the cost? Does one who has achieved a certain level of political power find like-minded individuals with whom to relate? Does their relating equate to "ordinary" people's relating, or is it substantially different?

If this seems to be a mess of mumblings, perhaps it is. But over the last two years I have observed politics at a closer, more atomic level than I have done before. This hasn't always been a pleasant experience. Much of what I has seen has filled me with a strange sort of admiration: a certain grudging admiration for the ability an individual has to manipulate situations. However, my response has also at times been that of nausea as I have watched the cost of the politics borne by the innocent bystanders - "collateral damage".

So... a bloggers beginning. Maybe I'll continue the musings along these lines, maybe I'll head off in a more positive different direction. We'll have to see.