Throughout this cornonavirus crisis, political life marches on. Despite the horrendous death toll in the UK attributed to Covid-19, and the outrage expressed on social media, officials within the Conservative ranks must be confident that as (or if) we emerge out of this, the Prime Minister’s public standing can only gain altitude from its present, low-level trajectory.
I enjoy reading the comments on the political debates that rage beneath online stories. I was fascinated at the way one went the other day where, as usual, it became personal and silly. “So, are you seriously saying Diane Abbott would make a better Home Secretary?” was one challenge. Another was, “We should be grateful Corbyn isn’t Prime Minister.”
Since the Labour Party is not in power, these seem without point, and can only perpetuate and widen division. Telling someone he or she is daft (or much worse) to have voted as he or she did, is not likely to lead to a conversion. In fact, studies into what is termed ‘cognitive dissonance’ show it is more likely to lead to even more entrenched views.
The first-past-the-post democracy we have chosen and endorse can only exacerbate such division. Given the 650 UK Parliamentary constituencies, theoretically it only needs one party to win every seat by a single vote to democratically erase 50 per cent (minus the 650 of course) of the electorate’s wishes. That can’t be right and defies logic.
As the attribution of blame heats up, the fingers are not being pointed just at the Prime Minister and his Government but at all those who voted for the Conservative Party, prompting the retaliation from them of “It would have been even worse if...”
I believe the blame does not lie with Boris Johnson, or his party, or, indeed, with any politician, no matter his or her ideological hue. The fault must surely be ours. We have put, as they say, the cart before the horse.
We have allowed our governments to reinforce a phenomenon whereby we are offered a view of society by a particular party via manifesto where the logical philosophy that would heal division is for the people to have a vision of the ideal society then choose the politicians they best believe can deliver that.
My personal politics are irrelevant as are my feelings towards those in power now, but I am concerned at the rage being directed towards their supporters.
While there will always be a minority whose views are at the extremes of normality and human compassion, there is much common ground among the electorate; highlighting that, however, is not in the interest of career politicians who need a mast to nail their colours to.
From the far left to the extreme right, there are common ambitions and these are what bind any civilised society together. It is in no citizen’s interest to endeavour create homelessness and unemployment, increase deprivation and isolation, to maximise child poverty and minimise educational opportunity, to socially segregate and disengage the most vulnerable, to exploit or victimise. Decency demands we tend the sick and ease suffering.
We have our own societal manifesto but it would seem we have neither the means nor the motivation to share that with those who wish, and seek, to represent us.
The Covid-19 final death tally is a shameful reflection on us all. There is even doubt among sections of the population of its veracity and the need for the measures that were, and are, being imposed. That makes this an even greater indictment on us all and the divisions we have created.
Decisions were made, cloaked in the demand for austerity, that we, as a nation approved, either willingly or through complacency, indifference or ignorance, and this pandemic has exposed the error of these and the fragility of the framework that binds and protects us.
Thousands of people have died and that is horrible. What is even worse is we have made the fear of death into an unimaginable lonely terror where there is not even a hand to squeeze at the end.
Thousands of people have died and that is horrible. What is even worse is we have made the fear of death into an unimaginable lonely terror where there is not even a hand to squeeze at the end.
Every life is precious, even with “underlying health concerns”, and if there is anything to learn from this, it’s not that we are Conservative, Labour, LibDem, Nationalist, Green or whatever, it is that we all want better and we deserve better, and we have been failed because we have failed ourselves.
We express our anger, shame and disappointment through social media, instead of taking the time and trouble to put questions to those in authority. Our democratic rights are much stronger and wider than a simple cross on a ballot paper. Every single one of us has the right to raise issues with elected representatives, governing bodies and so-called ‘watchdogs’.
We employ them. Don’t we even want to tell them directly what we expect and how we think they are doing? Why abdicate that right? Do it individually! Share the responses. Make each and every one accountable directly to you.
We express our anger, shame and disappointment through social media, instead of taking the time and trouble to put questions to those in authority. Our democratic rights are much stronger and wider than a simple cross on a ballot paper. Every single one of us has the right to raise issues with elected representatives, governing bodies and so-called ‘watchdogs’.
We employ them. Don’t we even want to tell them directly what we expect and how we think they are doing? Why abdicate that right? Do it individually! Share the responses. Make each and every one accountable directly to you.
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