Call of Duty

It had been a good session – lots of talk and ideas about the need for a renewed sense of democratic possibility. The group I was speaking to last week responded warmly. Then the group’s leader stood up to thank me for the speech. What he said wasn’t what I expected. “Glen, given your passion and dedication towards citizenship, it is inevitable that you will have to run again for politics, at whatever level. In fact, I think all of us feel it’s your duty. We’re all frustrated with what’s going on.” He said many other nice things, but already my mind was wrestling.What do we say to this concept of a person fulfilling a duty by running for office? Is it legitimate, or merely wishful thinking? One thing is for sure, I have heard enough politicians say that they felt it was their obligation to run for their position that I have trouble trusting that sentiment, largely because they then went on to do their own thing or that of the party instead of what was best for their constituency.Right now, throughout the country, there are likely hundreds of people wondering if they should put their name in for the next election at whatever level. Some will think they can do a better job than the person already in office. Some will consider it because a certain political party feels they’re a suitable candidate. Others will think they are uniquely gifted for the position. But what do we do when one of them says that they feel “called” to put their name forward? Called by whom? Some feel they are summoned by God for the task. But how can someone claim they feel called by citizens to take a run? Citizens aren’t that well-organized, although a few can get together to support a certain individual. How do we trust it?Benjamin Franklin once noted that, “It is the first responsibility of every citizen to question authority.” Most of us wouldn’t have trouble with that. But it’s a far cry from questioning to claiming some kind of summons to represent citizens. We have watched politics long enough to observe that George Patton’s call to, “Do your duty as you see it, and damn the consequences” has just about ruined more noble democratic impulses than any other.To try to lay the moral obligation for running for office on another person is somewhat unfair, especially if that person feels no such calling. And yet communities have every right to expect qualified people to put their names forward and to urge them in that direction. It’s not as though democratic representation has had a stellar record in these past years; communities know it and want a change. But if you want to approach citizens and say you feel it your “duty” to run, don’t blame them if they remain dubious.This isn’t the army, or even the rigors of political party discipline. It’s just one citizen emerging from the crowd and deciding they wish to run. To feel it is his or her duty to go for it should be a decision left up to the individual and his or her family; it is no one else’s responsibility.If one feels the “duty” to serve other citizens there are other options besides running for politics. Asked recently at the Abu Dhabi Media Summit about running for the American presidency, Bill Gates had a different take on it:

"I decided the philanthropic role is where my contribution would be more unique, and so that is what I will work on the rest of my life. I actually think that I can have as much impact in that role as I could in any political role. In any case, I would never run for political office."

Politics lures people for numerous reasons – service, perks, notoriety, change, ego. If you wish to add “duty” to that list then make sure it’s about service to your constituency. Your political career should be empowered by the same impulses evident in the comments of Bill Gates – to benefit the people you represent over all else. Politics is at its most noble when driven by such impulses.It isn’t always true that service and representation coincide; the further the distance between the two, there more illegitimacy resides in the political system. Far better to be motivated by the lofty ambition of Helen Keller all those years ago: “I long to accomplish a great and noble task, but it is my chief duty to accomplish small tasks as if they were great and noble.” If you feel “called” to political office or believe it your duty, begin now, long before you put your name forward, by taking on those numerous smaller tasks that build community instead of egos. Build your community before you launch your political career and by the time your opportunity arrives you will have learned by instinct that if your feeling of duty gets transcended by service then you’ll have the motivation just about right.