The sweet science of politics returns | Dennis Box

In a couple of weeks the round-one bell will ring for the political main event that will wrap up in the Nov. 8 general election.

The sweet science of politics.

I have been writing about politics in its many forms since the 1980s and I am always intrigued by the folks who are willing to jump into the ring.

It is a hard job to campaign and hard job to govern.

It takes a certain type of person to be willing to join in the political fray and there are very different types at each level.

At the local level, like school boards and city councils, the candidates are often surprised and shocked to find themselves in contentious and at sometimes quite confrontational races.

I understand the innocence of those who are shocked.

I will usually get a question along the lines of, “Have you ever seen anything like that stupid pinhead.”

I am usually asked that question by both sides, with equal sincerity.

My comment is never very comforting.

Yes and much worse I tell them. You are in American and our political system is based on robust debate and conflict to get to a resolution.

Folks may not like this, but if a governing body is always holding hands and singing “Kumbaya” the community is probably not being served very well. The American political system works best when there is serious debate, and that means it will at times get personal and painful.

The best political advice I ever heard came from an old political hand discussing negative campaigns.

“Everyone says they hate negative campaigns, especially the losers. If you don’t think this is worth fighting for, go home and play Yahtzee.”

That is the hard nut of the political ring. Good candidates had better be willing to fight for what they believe in. The really good ones learn when  it is time to throw the hook, and when it is time to take the fall.

Some of the best political leaders I have ever covered lost a brutal race along the way. It’s the losing that made them good, not the winning.

What lifted Muhammad Ali from being a good fighter to a great champion was not beating Sonny Liston in 1964, but losing that first fight to Smokin’ Joe Frazier in 1971.

It’s the losing that makes you learn how to fight and when to fight.

The first week in June the local candidates will sign up for the various political seats.

It is a profound amount of work to campaign and to govern. It can be a very tough fight that goes the distance.

Considering the work the candidates put into our American system, it is well worth the time to listen and consider their ideas. It takes both attentive voters and committed candidates to make the fight for representative democracy work.