The music of politics

Politics in Washington is a combination of many factors.  Some of these are contrapuntal, with strong sounds of dissonance.

Fear, obedience, strategy, tactics, principles, consensus, leadership, and survival are among the many diverse, contradictory, but sometimes sonorous overtones.  The music is certainly played in a minor key, with multiple tonalities.

All these are motives as well as operations, all portions of this strange symphonic band. Perhaps this has always been; the best leaders had a sense on how to arrange this strange concoction into a harmonious symphony of achievement.  This was in the past when politicians could be maneuvered into their place in the orchestra of legislation. 

Perhaps the current leaders simply don’t understand the fundamentals of political music.  Perhaps the current politicians are so tone-deaf there is little understanding of how this music is made, much less played.  We also have especially too many minor players wanting to be soloists, e.g.  too many trumpets. The percussion of discussion leads to a cacophony of sound, confusing the audience, e.g. you and me.  We listen for a melody, but none is heard.  We hear only noise.

Critics, i.e. the press, hear little of value, don’t like the composition, and revel in closing the engagement.  The audience leaves the event, highly dissatisfied, having heard not a single sound they like.  The unhappy director is discombobulated. 

Couldn’t resist this post. The music metaphor, the dissonance, and the orchestration all have wonderful yet direct analogs in our democratic political process.