If that title has caught your eye you probably think this is an article about marriage. Sorry. It’s not. Well not exactly. It’s about a separation. Only in this case the separation isn’t between a couple. It’s between the constituent and the politician. It’s what we might better term “disengagement”.
Most separations are fraught. There’s bitterness, resentment, name calling, accusations of unfairness, divided loyalties, an unconcealed regret at having chosen that party and trusted that person with the big decisions affecting your life. Then there’s the loss of trust.
When people lose trust, cynicism sets in. You hear expressions like,
” Those pollies are only in it for themselves.”
“They’re all as bad as each other.”
“Why bother voting. Nothing’s going to change.”
Expressions like these are symptomatic of political disengagement. It is unsurprising that so many Australians feel this way, given the goings on in politics in recent years. The problem is, being disengaged is a luxury which our democracy cannot afford. Take the 18 year old who shrugs their shoulders and expresses no interest in their first chance to vote. Disengagement has already set in before the first vote is placed. If it leads to inaction, nothing ever changes.
A robust democracy requires that all citizens of voting age make informed decisions at the ballot box. What a robust democracy we would have if we all made our representatives more accountable for the decisions they make on our behalf. How many of us take the time to write to a politician or a newspaper or online forum expressing our concern at government inaction or inappropriate actions?
Decisions are made regularly at a local, state and national level. These have impacts on our lives and the environment in which we live. We sometimes get mad about these decisions and feel frustrated and helpless. We express our outrage at the club or across the dinner table, but not enough of us convert outrage into action.
Political engagement starts at the local level.
At the moment we are seeing a group of local citizens expressing concern about Lake Macquarie City Council’s decisions around multi-story buildings on the foreshore. These people see something which they think is not in the best interests of the community or its foreshore and are actively engaged in fighting for this community. They see the loss of potential recreational space and the setting of precedents for such buildings around a foreshore whose special appeal is the very absence of such high-rise buildings, as issues worth getting involved in. They are urging those in the community who share their concerns to become actively involved through emails and phone calls to local councillors. A recent meeting of well over 400 people suggests there is the will in the community.
It is so important to find time to stay politically engaged in the midst of our busy lives. If we take the time to find out about candidates standing in our electorates and what they stand for, if we take the time to make those we vote for accountable for the decisions they make, then we are playing our part as engaged members of our Australian society both at a local community and broader level. Now that’s an engagement worth celebrating!
Ultimately, who is responsible for the kind of society that we have and the legacy we leave for future generations?
www.tfpg.org.au
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