Buddhists and politics

When I first started this blog I was wary when it came to posting about politics. I of course have political views, and there’s nothing wrong with that, but sometimes I’m positively outraged by political developments and I feared I’d end up using my blog to rant. And the ranting season is now well under way.

I experience doubt about this: on the one hand I think Buddhists should be politically aware and politically active, but on the other hand I harbor the suspicion that I’m not very good at writing about politics in a very reflective, balanced, equanimous, considered and — dammit — “Buddhist” way. I keep thinking, maybe I’m just picking sides and letting my ego take over the keyboard?

I think it’s that awareness that has had me posting recently about the psychology of conservatism and liberalism (and I promise I will be writing shortly about some of the absurdities and limits of liberal thinking).

Anyway, thanks to the Rev. Danny Fisher’s list of Buddhist blogs, virtually all of which I’ve subscribed to using Google Reader, I’m now a bit more aware that other Buddhists are equally disturbed by political events and are writing in the same vein as myself. I do a lot of “on the one hand … on the other hand” thinking, so here I go again. On the one hand I’m reassured because I’m not alone and I won’t be standing out as “the ranting Buddhist” but on the other hand I’m aware of the ad populum fallacy, which reminds us that just because you’re in company with your opinions doesn’t make you correct. And if I had a third hand I’d have on that the wish that there were Buddhists posting the balanced and insightful thinking that I believe is lacking in my own writing.

Anyway (useful word), let’s round up some of the writings of my co-conspirators in Buddhist political ranting:

Bill on Digital Dharma has a post on conservative pastors campaigning to have the right to undertake political advocacy from the pulpit. A lot of them do of course — like Sarah Palin’s pastor who warned that voting Democrat would get you sent straight to hell. That’s illegal of course — his church has tax-free status precisely because it’s not a political advocacy group, but somehow I don’t think the justice department or IRS will be cracking down on him.

William Harryman at Integral Options has a post (as I do) about the tendency to vote republican being linked to a strong startle reflex. He also has a post on a tool that helps you map your political leanings, and one on John McCain’s lies.

Mumon at Notes from Samsara approves of an Obama ad. I do too.

Nacho at Woodmoor Village Zendo writes about Sarah Palin and her husband breaking the law. Incidentally I love Glen Greenwald’s column. And he has another entitled “Against the Disenfranchisement of the American People,” about an alleged plan by Republicans in Michigan to disenfranchise American citizens who have had their homes foreclosed, or face foreclosure. I share his concerns.

UPDATE

I forgot to mention two posts by Terrence over at the Republic of T.

The Measure of a Maverick, Pt. 1
The Measure of a Maverick, Pt. 2

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