Democracy Usurped « The Australian Independent Media Network

Democracy Usurped « The Australian Independent Media Network

Democracy Usurped

By John Kelly on May 13, 2014 • ( 5 )

I have said it before
but it deserves repeating. Democracy is not failing us; it is we who
fail democracy when we fail to actively engage with it. Democracy, as we
practice it today, has lost its essential direction and has been
usurped by divisive, vitriolic, jingoistic spin. Democracy today is no
longer government of, by and for the people. It is government of the
most influential, the loudest shock jock, the focus group, the public
relations consultant and whoever else is able to exercise their lust for
power. This dysfunctional gathering ignores concern for national unity
and prosperity. The voice of the special interest group has come to
dominate the present model. Debate, divide and conquer is the aim and
its tactic is to fragment the collective energy of the nation, split it
down the middle, weaken its resolve and make it easier for vested
interests to have their way. Unity is strength. Disunity is a recipe for
failure.


The system we call democracy, the one devised by ourselves for
ourselves, has been hi-jacked. It has been compromised by the wealthy
for the benefit of the wealthy. The collective interest of the masses
has been relegated to second place and has become a by-product. The
ideology of conservative politics is to strengthen power within a subset
of the privileged; those who have the means to exploit and develop
resources. The people who own the resources are relegated to mere
observers and see little of the benefits that result.


I am reminded of these basic tenets of democratic idealism when I
observe the lack of them with the present government; how they go about
their highly orchestrated routine of daily spin doctoring. Dressing up
documents with headings like ‘Labor’s Mess’ is not just poor politics.
It tells us how uncertain they are about their own legitimacy. They are
reminding us of how they got there. It says they didn’t get there on
their merits; they campaigned on negative values, on what was bad about
the other side, not what was good about them. They couldn’t say what was
good about them because they don’t know. They don’t think of such
things. They have an uncompromising agenda, devoid of social morality
and will favour those who support that agenda without consideration of
the social implications. That agenda is essentially about wealth
creation; developing, embracing, supporting and rewarding wealth
creation. When successful and productive it has flow-on effects that
benefit the greater population through employment, education and health,
all of which benefits the nation as a whole. Conservative governments
love that agenda. Their failing is that they place that agenda ahead of
social responsibilities. And when things go pear-shaped it is the rest
of the population who suffer, who bear the brunt of mistakes made by
those whose only interest is wealth creation. This is not how democracy
was meant to work.


How
do we reinvent democracy? How do we wind it back to the way it was
practiced in the past, when the voice of the people determined the
future direction of the country. When we engage in collective discussion
we are more intelligent than we think. When we argue for collective
interest over special interest we strengthen the whole. Discussion
panels need to replace focus groups. Councils for public interest should
replace lobbyists. But I’m not holding my breath. The people will
decide this government’s future, but it is likely they will not be able
to see through this agenda, this ideologically flawed goal of wealth
creation above all else. They will, more likely, be blinded by spin and
deceit. And that means Labor, in opposition, will need to sharpen their
communication skills and find more creative ways to deliver their
message.


It remains to be seen if they can convince sufficient numbers of
voters in at least 21 seats around the country to change their vote. It
remains to be seen if such skills, properly developed, will prevail. A recent survey of 15000 people in Canada concluded that “people with low intelligence gravitate towards right-wing views because they make them feel safe.”

The study also concluded that, “Individuals with lower cognitive
abilities may gravitate towards more socially conservative right-wing
ideologies that maintain the status quo.”

This apparent connection between conservative voters and lower cognitive
abilities should not surprise anyone. It is what has enabled
conservative governments to win power for decades.


But
dealing with, and overcoming, that anomaly is the challenge for Labor.
That is what it will take to remove this deceitful and ideologically
paralysed government from office in 2016. One thing is clear: this
government should be removed. They are only interested in governing for
their masters; the privileged, the wealthy and the powerful. They
achieve that end by deceit, by carefully concealing their true
intentions and by the constant repetition of three word slogans which
they know appeal to the ignorant and the less intelligent.


But this isn’t how democracy is supposed to work.