Polarity and Politics

I have been thinking about politics lately (and then I shake my head and laugh because I am thinking about politics!). I am part of a social justice group that focuses on social justice in education (both teaching and pursuing). With two upcoming elections, there has been a lot of talk about strategies for educating people on the need to vote and what each party stands for. At the last meeting, we put together a sub committee to come up with some education, discussion points thing (kinda hard to describe) and I volunteered to join this group of highly knowledgeable, informed, and political people! I joined as the apathetic one so I embraced the role of not knowing all the party lines and words and issues and lingo and just telling the group if the message would get through to people like me. So anyways, I had a morning meeting this week that was spent talking about the woes of the country, the government and trying to come up with something that would encourage people to vote. Given the nature of the group, I am sure that you can extrapolate that there wasn't a lot of love for the current government's choices and priorities (or conduct for that matter).

And it got me to thinking... what are the answers to the woes of the country? If the conservative government loses power and liberal or NDP get in- then what? Then those who support the conservatives will work to bring down whatever government is in power. The media will paint the leader to be a villain or a hero, but never just a human. Their will be debates that call into every word that comes out of his/her mouth so that our leader has to be on guard at every moment. This system doesn't work! When is the last time people listened to each other in politics, at least when has that been portrayed? When have the people who want more money for jails sat down with people who want more money for prevention programs (youth programs, family supports, etc.) and asked each other "Why do you want that? What do you see as the benefit? How will this shape Canada?" And not just yelled the question across the room, while forming an answer that paints the other person as the villain.

We have a country headed for (some would argue that we have already arrived) crisis and our leaders act like immature children in representing us! But, wait a minute. They are representing us- you and me. Is this the "representing" that we want?

I look around me and see a society that would socially massacre a prime minister who would 'back down' or compromise on something. The headlines would splatter them with sneers and call them weak. People who had supported the prime minister would feel betrayed. And whoever supported the other side would feel like there was a victory- like we were behind the ones who masterminded a plan to sneakily get the prime minister to slip up. Our society can't handle a government that truly and humbly listens to each other, yet that is what we need. And I think that is what it craves! Forget all these games- our country needs leadership, and in a democracy, leadership comes from the people. So, yeah, go out and vote but democracy doesn't end at the polls. Stop the smearing. Stop disrespecting people who think different and have different priorities. Speak up against the media who makes news out of nothing. The actions of our politicians are mirrors of what we are asking for. We need to change ourselves and show the leaders that they can be humble, team players and lead our country. Enough of this childish, ignorant, derisive polarity in politics!

I think if I led the country, I would get rid of capitalism, put little focus on the economy, tell people to stop shopping and wasting money and focus on healthcare, education, people, international relations, righting past wrongs and all the other things that are my passion. And, I think the country would crumble! Without an economy, all sorts of things would fall. I don't even have a strong enough understanding of the things that I do know to think that I wouldn't need input from someone else. I would need someone to tell me the pieces that I don't see. No person, or party, can know or represent everything!

You know what I would like to do? I would like to put all the leaders of the parties in a small, cozy room with comfy chairs and pillows. I would tell them to wear their comfy clothes and leave their notes at home. I would give them tea and veggies and just ask them to hang out. Talk about their families, friends, passions and why they want to change our country. Then, after doing that for a couple days, I would give them a topic for each day. One day, they could talk about education. They could review the facts, talk about their different goals and come up with a plan that is robust, well thought out and diverse. Can you imagine? And then, for the rest of the time, they would go over each other issues. No press would ever hear of the meetings. No one else would be in it. Just them. No pressure. No telling stories. Just listening, asking honest questions and working to make Canada a better place. And I know that most issues would not get resolved- people have different priorities and epistemology- but to have the party that is leading to have heard, like really heard the other side would change things drastically. That is what I want my leader to do. And this is democracy, so I have a voice.