Is Theravada (monastic) Buddhism strictly non-political?

[Metaphor]

Some interesting thoughts were expressed in a similar thread several months ago:

What did the Buddha say about democracy?

The Buddha clearly thought it was a good idea - or he wouldn’t have created the Sangha along the lines that he did. But in DN 16 he lists factors that contribute to a nation’s prosperity and security. One of these factors was that its citizens come together to discuss and decide upon their affairs. Within the Sangha, there are rules that stop you from opting out. For instance, if a Bhikkhuni knows that another Bhikkhuni has done something terrible, and she doesn’t inform the community, then sh…