Whatever next!

It seems everywhere we turn we are confronted by crisis! James Brown, the godfather of soul, once said “if it ain’t one thing it’s another”. And we live in a world where things are changing all the time as we leap from frying pan to fire and back again.

So here we are, May/June 2009, against a backdrop of worldwide recession, rising unemployment, allegations of police brutality, international conflicts and swine flu. At times like this we look to our leaders for guidance and inspiration but we discover that our MPs are also in crisis.

Day after day for the best part of three weeks the news has been dominated by allegations concerning the improper use of MPs allowances. I hosted a meeting recently with Eastside parents, the first half of which had nothing to do with the agenda and more to do with the media reports. They were frustrated, angry but powerless. From my own limited perspective, I believe that our MPs are underpaid and for the most part overworked. Our honourable overlords it seems were making the most of a system that compensated for their minimalist stipend. And although there are some noteworthy exceptions I was tempted to say to those gathered, “…..he who is without sin….”

This political crisis does however give us an opportunity to look carefully at our system of government. Representative democracy is amongst the lowest forms of public life; it encourages apathy and diminishes our citizenship. It is only when we get angry or annoyed that our voices are heard as we make our protestations. When the adrenalin rush ceases however, most of us will return to our widescreen TVs, escapist activities and every other distraction consistent with our consumer culture.

The above notwithstanding my hope is that this crisis will precipitate change. Used wisely this situation can enable us to channel our frustrations and concerns in such a way that we participate in politics, not observe. That we take time to make a difference through civic involvement, challenging the prevailing structures and galvanising our friends and neighbours so that true democracy, the politics that belongs to the people, will rise from the ashes.




Ray Lewis