This is Politics (ideally)

There is a disturbing belief in our time that politics is an arena in which time and energy are wasted, a kind of endless labyrinth of promises and debates that, in the eyes of many, seem to lead nowhere. This thinking, however, is based on a limited conception of what it truly means to engage in politics, insofar as politics, in its purest essence, is the art of structuring human coexistence, of organizing the social bonds that define common life, of building the edifice of values ​​and norms that govern society. In this sense, politics is, by nature, one of the highest expressions of our human condition, being the means by which we build the space where everyone participates and coexists, so to disdain politics is to disdain the collective future itself and the project that is shaped daily in the relationships between citizens.

Yes, politics takes time; yes, politics requires consideration and debate. However, nothing truly lasting or significant is built quickly and superficially. It is through this time dedicated to debate, dissent and the confrontation of ideas that a society evolves and adapts to the challenges it faces. Thus, those who see politics as a waste of time view it with a superficiality that ignores the complexity of the social fabric, perhaps even ignoring the fact that there is no progress without the work of thinking about what we want to be, what we want to leave behind and, above all, what we are willing to share and build together. This is perhaps the greatest mistake of our era: haste; the idea that everything must happen immediately, as if the resolution of social and moral issues could be sped up like any other transaction. On the contrary, politics requires patience; it requires the understanding that human problems are not solved all at once, but rather through the persistent construction of consensus and compromise. It is this time of reflection and discussion that makes politics the antidote to authoritarianism and tyranny, because in a truly political and politically true society every voice counts and every opinion has the opportunity to contribute to the common direction.

To say that politics is a waste of time is to forget that, without it, there is no room for justice or freedom. While it is true that politics requires work and resistance, it is equally true that it is these efforts that allow us to live with dignity and hope. Engaging in politics is not just a task for elected representatives, but a commitment of all citizens to the collective destiny, and when we distance ourselves from this commitment, we give up our own voice and allow emptiness to take the place of decisions that should be shared. Therefore, politics, far from being a waste, is a responsibility: it is in politics that lies the power to transform, overcome divisions and build bridges where there were previously chasms. To disdain politics is to abdicate one's citizenship, ceasing to be part of what defines and sustains society. After all, engaging in politics is not a waste of time: it is rather giving time its true meaning through the work of building the present and the future with the dedication and care that any worthwhile work requires.