D is for Democracy
A system of government, from the Greek dēmokratia. Demos means people and kratia means power
The world feels like a really messy place at the moment. I haven’t posted or blogged since the terrorist atrocity at the Manchester Arena. I was so upset and horrified that Facebook and my silly wee writing projects seemed so trivial. When horrible and major events happen it makes us recoil and go back into our own safe places but soon we start to reflect and then to question. The general election has come at a time in British history where, because of various different factors, our society is questioning and looking for answers. Initially, I was disgusted when May called her vanity election but soon began to see this as an opportunity to challenge the government and to shake up politics. Of course this was presented as the Brexit election, however, the British public has moved on from that. Brexit is happening, the vote for that has taken place and there is nothing the British people can do about that now. If it was so important to us to stay in Europe, we would all have voted Lib Dem surely. It is the government who has to take us through the divorce from Europe. British people have moved on and are concerned with domestic matters.
The press has intimated that the British public is fed up with elections. I don’t think we are fed up with elections. An election is the only time we can be officially involved in the democratic process. In the recent election 67.8% of eligible voters turned out, 66.1% turned out in 2015, 65.1% in 2010. This demonstrates more people becoming involved. All of the recent political activity is energising the electorate.
“People shouldn’t be afraid of their government. Governments should be afraid of their people.”
― Alan Moore, V for Vendetta
We pride herself in Britain on being a democratic country and, on having the Mother of all Parliaments. That being said, in a true democracy, we would be able to vote directly on policies. This is not practical at a parliamentary level but we must be active in understanding what our government is doing, keeping them to their promises and reminding them that they are public servants. At present, we vote to put people into power but not on policies. If we are ignorant and inactive we are not part of the democratic process, we just have a vote. The Media, Facebook and Twitter give us a voice, help us to share information and are a tool for lobbying. Of course, it will be on party lines and it is important that you don’t take everything you read at face value, but it is still a place for people to learn and a meeting place for ideas. For example, Theresa May’s hasty decision to jump into bed with the DUP to shore up her own political career and try to prevent another election has promoted a huge flurry of activity on Facebook and over 500,000people have signed a petition against this political move calling for May to resign, in only twenty four hours. Okay so signing a petition does not seem like it is taking a powerful action but it is. The government cannot ignore social media. The Conservatives have had a huge shock and it is time that they remembered that they are representatives and public servants and not carry on governing behind closed doors, taking advice from people who are not elected and so are not accountable to the electorate. I cannot believe that Theresa May is considering a coalition with The DUP. I question how democratic that is. How can they represent three countries which didn’t vote for them?
Over the last few days, there has been a lot of talk about the fact that a change in politics is coming. The Labour Party have fought a good election battle, they have engaged people and they have run a clean campaign. One of the sound bites which has come out of this election is that politics has changed. I want a government which gets on with working instead of wasting time throwing insults at the opposition. Wouldn’t it be different if May ever said: “That’s an interesting point, Jeremy I will consider that.” I was imagining a meeting of Heads of departments in Education where the head of technology made an interesting point and the head of science said, “Does the honourable head of technology think that anybody is going to listen to her when in 1987 she suggested the positive classroom behavioural initiative, I don’t think so.”
Politics is going to stay interesting for a good while I would imagine. Take an interest, be an informed member of the electorate and when you get the chance to take part in the democratic process, on whatever level, take it.
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