The Government You Deserve
As the circus that passes for our democratic process of electing government representatives becomes more violent, I find I’m only willing to watch the news reports for ten or fifteen minutes a day.
In the midst of watching the hyperbolic rhetoric, the vicious fear mongering, and the blaming, one of Quan Yin’s blunt and unequivocal pronouncements rings bright and clear in my mind:
“You have the government you deserve.”
This answer to a question regarding elections a number of years ago acted like a slap in the face, leaving everyone in the session breathless. After all, what can one say to such a statement?
Quan Yin never elucidates or expands on this kind of pronouncement. She leaves it to each individual to consider what she said and come to their own understanding of how it may apply to their personal and communal life.
After a considerable length of contemplation and meditation, I came to relate this statement with another of her teachings: What is outside of us is a mirror or reflection of what is inside of us. She’s referring to more than just accepting the responsibility to vote or who is voted for. As usual, Quan Yin sees everything from a much broader view than I.
Oxford Languages on Google defines “deserve” as “earned because of something done or qualities shown: merited.” While this is a traditional definition, I think of “deserve” less as a punishment or reward. I see it more as a result of what you/I/we have created or manifested by our actions, thoughts, prayers, etc.
Our government, if it is to be even a decent representative acting for the people, needs each of us to accept our responsibility (and culpability) in its formation and ability to serve the people it is commissioned to serve.
If we accept the premise, or at least the possibility, of Quan Yin’s statement, “You have the government you deserve,” and we don’t like the government we have, what can we do in addition to voting?
Take a few moments and discover what one thing about your government (federal, state, county, city, or even school board, PTA, etc.) that elicits the strongest reaction. Then ask yourself:
How am I like that? Or how do I do that to myself and/or others?
Don’t wait until you have a concrete answer to these questions. Instead, once you’ve asked them, take a breath and do a few rounds of Ho’oponopono (Self-forgiveness practice) and follow that with a few rounds of Gratitude Practice (Thank you for everything, I have no complaints whatsoever) and end the session with “And so it is.” Then go on with your day.
As each of us begins or continues the hard work of helping create the government we think we deserve, I’d like to believe that we will be successful, and that “the government you deserve” will truly a blessing to us all.
Blessings,
Charlotte
Edited by Monique Huenergardt of MoReadsYou.com