Don't Blame the Pollies - Fix the System

Our grass-roots political system is failing to provide government for the benefit of the people.

Have a look at the present situation regarding such matters as the war, global warming, public transport, health and education, the rich/poor relationship to name just a few. Why are these problems not being solved the way the vast majority of us would wish them to be solved?

It's no good blaming the politicians. They are prisoners of the present system no matter how honest and well-meaning they might wish to be.

The problem is in the fact that we seem to be accepting that our political system must be beholden first and foremost to the big, wealthy, political lobbies, who represent the big wealthy interests - the armaments industry lobby, the road transport lobby, the pharmaceuticals, mining, tobacco, etc..

No matter which party is in power, if the politicians don't look after these interests they don't get the money and other support (including media) they need to get elected. What the people want and need - particularly in the long term - so often becomes a secondary consideration. The golden rule thus becomes "he who has the gold makes the rules". But it doesn't have to be like that.

We urgently need more trains and better public transport arrangements but that would not suit the road transport lobby which represents car manufacturers, the oil companies, the tyre manufacturers and a myriad of other road transport businesses.

So if some good political candidate pops up and announces he's going to do something about railways and public transport, he is likely to find himself with a very well-heeled and well-supported opponent for his place in Parliament.

Having started life as a journalist, I can see where it's been going on for many, many years. Back in the 1930s the American Road Transport Federation pooled money from the tyre/oil companies/car manufacturers and used it to purchase the railroads in 25 American cities. They tore up the tracks and forced everyone to use motor cars, trucks etc. Los Angeles had two of the best rail systems in the world - one handling 90 million passengers a year and one handling 200 million passengers. Los Angeles is still built along those railroad tracks, but the tracks are not there - and Los Angeles became one of the worst smog-ridden cities in the world.

It's just one example but it means that, if we desperately need the development of cheaper solar power to look after our long term future, we're not likely to get it from politicians who are working for the short term benefit of getting elected or re-elected with the backing of oil and mining interests.

This is fundamental to our wellbeing and it is long overdue that we had a look at the situation and started using our intelligence to return power to the people.

What can be done?

For a start, it may be worth considering banning election television advertising for three months before an election. We've already seen where some political parties, with big backers from various interests, have been able to swamp the television to win an election and then put these interests first to the detriment of the public.

While allowing freedom of expression to all, we still have the ability to bring in some controls to improve our system of government.

One such control could be to remove certain vital public interest decisions from being used as a political football - having them decided by a standing all-party committee, with secret voting.

We should have the brains to make our system work for the majority of us.

So, what's your view? Send me a note via my blog - see link, top right.

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