In an ill-conceived television commercial introduced Friday, Ontario’s Premier Wynne accuses her political detractors of playing politics. The commercial makes it look as though she is striding after a moving camera, trying to keep up with the teleprompter. It is an overall badly written and badly produced effort. It is also bad politics.
The use of the words ‘playing politics’ denigrates politics. Politics is not a game. Politics makes the rules for our society. It enables us to live together in peace. It enables us to work together to build infrastructure and a better life, protect our environment, nurture our children, be considerate of our aged, bring succour to our injured and ill and aid those less fortunate than ourselves.
And yet these people who pose in the political scene have the temerity to put down those whom they claim are ‘playing politics.’ Maybe they should start by questioning how they are serving the voters in the way they ‘play’ this political game.
Take those who promote ‘small government’ and ‘lower taxes.’ They cheat our children of opportunity. They minimize health care. They disrespect our environment. They abuse us of the money we give them to maintain and build our social structures. They set priorities that are contrary to our needs and wants.
And you wonder what kind of leadership your society is receiving when backroom deals are made between parties to stave off an election. An election should mean a cleansing of the political turmoil. It is needed. It is cathartic. It should never be delayed for political purposes and advantage.
Political parties are there to serve us. We do not blindly serve them. When we in our electoral district choose a representative, they are chosen to serve us. If they only serve their political party, they are betraying us. They are the go-between, the ambassador, the representative. To choose them just for their ideology is a betrayal of the role. To choose them for their leader is giving them only half the job. To not have them represent us is a waste of the cost of sending them to where the decisions are made.
People wonder at the widening gulf between the politicians and the voters. Is it a surprise when politicians put cant ahead of reason? Is it a surprise that the voters feel discomfited by the constant attack ads? Yes, we need more voters to pay attention to the political scene. We also need more politicians to pay attention to the voters.
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Copyright 2014 © Peter Lowry
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