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Returning power and decision making to the community

 

Many Labor voters have changed their allegiance for the first time and together with the Liberal heartland are expecting significant changes to be made.  In particular people in the country now believe that they have a stronger voice in government. 

But there is a fine line between  'returning power and decision making to the community' and cynical political pragmatism.

 Recently, during the term of the past Government a political view developed under which economic theories, and concerns about effective markets or social equity, become irrelevant.  This has recently been described as focus group driven politics;  political pragmatism or simple cynicism.

Political pragmatism says that the first business of government is not economic development, wealth creation, jobs or other social benefits, but being re-elected.  The idea is to find out in which direction the electorate is going then to get out in front, to be seen to be a leader.

The ten rules of political pragmatism:

  1. If there is no electoral gain don’t do it.
  2. Appearance is more important than reality. 
  3. Media, myth and fashion drive out substance.
  4. Keep the powerful, and particularly the electronic media, ‘on side’.
  5. Short term drives out long term. 
  6. Personal interest (‘hip pocket’ etc) drives out the general interest.
  7. Local concerns drive out national or global concerns; always be ready to use the 'not in my backyard' motivation.
  8. The first response to any issue with potential to alarm the electorate, is to express concern.
  9. The second is to regulate.
  10. The third is to reallocate resources to that issue, irrespective of its relative merits.

 

For example a good standby for the political pragmatist is to promise to regulate to protect the vulnerable while simultaneously promising to cut red tape.  Removing regulations or unnecessary qualifications, limiting competition in commodity, goods, services or labour markets, might produce economic gains fast enough to have electoral advantage.  But beware, these regulations protect the income of sometimes numerous or politically powerful groups within the electorate.  Never offer a reduction in the volume of legislation, or its simplicity, as a measure of success.   Many regulations are likely to be difficult to remove; to become increasingly complex and qualified; and new regulations will continue to proliferate, to address new factors directly impacting individuals or of immediate (fashionable) concern to the electorate.

 

 

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