Something which happened this week has shaken me up and set me thinking (even more than usual!) 'Anonymous' sent me a comment a couple of days ago (see below) when he said: I wonder how long it will take you
to face that fact that these government criminals no matter which party
they belong to are never going to do anything in your best interests.
At first I didn't really take that statement very seriously. I am a member of the Green Party and I know some wonderful people who give massive amounts of time and energy because they believe that change can come about through our mainstream political system. They certainly are not 'criminals' and I am sure that they are working for what they consider to be our best interests.
What does worry me, though, is I'm beginning to wonder just if it is possible to bring about the sort of change we need through our mainstream political system. Huge numbers of people are increasingly rejecting voting as a means of bringing about change and are joining campaigning groups such as 38 degrees. The Green Party hasn't been able to get the support of those disenchanted voters.
We could argue that the GP is not able to get its message across because it doesn't have the massive funding made available to other parties by corporate and other interests. On top of that, mainsteam media doesn't give a proper picture of the alternatives offered by the Green Party.
Political parties funded by, and media in the ownership of, vested interests are just the barriers which prevent the Green Party as being seen as a radical alternative which offers the changes we need. So, perhaps 'anonymous' has a point: Not that our politicians are criminals but that our political system just isn't, as they say, 'fit for purpose' and never will provide the change we need if we are to have a world worth living in.
There are quite a few questions here. 1. Are all politicians criminals? No - obviously not. Many are conviction politicians - they went into politics to change things in a way that they thought would be better. I disagree with Nigel Farage on virtually everything he says and does but he is one of those who believes that some principles are more important than money.
ReplyDeleteHowever, is what the politicians are doing to the planet 'criminal'? If that is the question then I would answer 'yes'. We know full well that people are being killed in large numbers by environmental destruction and that this carnage is accelerating. Politicians make lots of noise about change but continue to expand polluting industries like aviation, and continue to cater for ever greater car use. So, on that basis, I would argue that many politicians are 'criminals'.
Question 2 links back to Farage - why is UKIP doing so much better than the Green Party in the polls. That is because a large section of society sees over-population as a more pressing issue than climate change. That section of society will come out and vote UKIP in May. I believe that UKIP poses a very serious threat to society, for a number of reasons, but there seems to be no doubt that they will do well in the May polls because they convey a simple message that appeals to many people.
The Green Party is not in competition with UKIP; in the sense that the two parties are in competition for the same group of voters, because they are not. A working class Tory (the classic UKIP type) is never likely to vote Green. What the Green Party needs to do is to attract former Labour and Lib-Dem voters. It needs to position itself as left wing (renationalise public transport etc) and attract those Lib-Dems and Labour supporters who realise that the climate change crisis needs dynamic action.
The one thing the Green Party should do better is communicate simply what it will deliver if elected. Give the electorate the top 5 things it will do that will create jobs and stop environmental destruction. e.g. "Insulate every home to Scandinavian standards, slashing fuel bills, reducing fuel imports and creating 250,000 jobs". The party needs to put out much simpler material, with the top 5 commitments. This will enable people to see that the Greens offer real hope and a better way.
Of course we should consider as 'criminal' the policies and actions of politicians which mess up the planet and leave millions of people in poverty. If we assume that many (most?) politicians are intelligent people we can assume they know what they are doing so their actions do amount to intentional criminality.
DeleteI'm really not into discussing the differences between political parties any more. My opinion and belief are that power no longer lies with national governments but is wielded by international corporations who call the tune. I guess the an increasing number of people are beginning to see that their vote counts for nothing which is why so many people are not bothering to vote.
As for your suggestion that 'The one thing the Green Party should do better is communicate simply what it will deliver if elected' we need to look at just who owns the media and just who decides the agenda when it comes to what we should all be talking and thinking about. Benefits cheats are constantly in the headlines, while corruption in high places and tax evasion by multi-nationals get only a rare mention. It was the British Medical Journal and not the Daily Mail who reported 'More than one in three GPs who will buy patient services have financial links to private providers'
I don't agree that the Greens are not in competition with UKIP. Many people are disillusioned with the main political parties and are looking for an alternative. I also think that population is a problem, as environmental impact is a function of affluence, technology and population. I know there is a trend on the Left to regard population concern as racist but I think this is deeply misguided.
ReplyDeleteI think the Greens need to look for votes on the Right as well as the Left - obvious targets are nature conservationists (caricatured as middle class, middle aged, middle brow and middle Tory), small businesses, and faith groups
Good to hear from you Chris. I'm considering whether the energy put into the GP really gets results. Great if Rupert Read wins the Euro Election in May and I'll be voting Green all the way (no competition really!) but - as I said above - I do get rather depressed at the lack of power we ordinary mortals can wield through the mainstream 'democratic' process!
ReplyDelete