As we approach what might arguably be the most important NZ election for several generations, perhaps it’s timely to think about our electoral system and system of government. Our considerations shouldn’t be confined to MMP, which delivers some bizarre outcomes that fly in the face of the very meaning of democracy, but we should also look at democracy itself which may well no longer be fit for purpose. After all, where is there any evidence to suggest that democracy delivers anything other than feel good slogans and good feelings and a whole lot of indecision or watered-down outcomes?
While in principle the idea of governance by the people (meaning by committee) gives all the appearances of being a useful, negotiable way to get outcomes, the reality is usually quite the opposite; leading to that wonderful expression: “The camel is a horse designed by a committee”.
“The camel is a horse designed by a committee” Image credit: The BFD
Think about it: Isn’t it true that in reality, the only committees that are effective are led by dictators? How does that fit with your democracy?
To even suggest that democracy might be fundamentally flawed is to invite personal attacks and accusations of fascism and alt-right extremism followed by the usual racism, sexism and a good shovel full of diversity and inclusion for good measure.
Except that democracy always was racist, sexist, ageist, exclusive, tribal and to be blunt; a well intentioned ideal that was never truly representative until relatively recently. New Zealand led the world in 1893 giving women equal rights to vote and, post WW1, many other western democracies followed suit. To this day, those under 18 are not entitled to vote (18 being a relatively recent change and then only in some countries), yet they live in our society. Who is it that refuses all of those under 18 a democratic voice by way of a democratic vote under the guise of democracy?
Democracy, based on the Greek “demos” (people) and “kratos” (rule) was the political system used in Athens and some other Greek city states in the mid fifth century BC but the first question was always going to be: Who would have the right to participate and what criteria would apply? Followed closely by: If some people are to be excluded, when does a democracy cease to be a democracy and become an aristocracy or an oligarchy? And would either be any better or worse than democracy?
You may have heard it said about democracy that “It might not be perfect but it’s the best system we have”.
In 1947 Sir Winston Churchill said:
“Many forms of Government have been tried, and will be tried in this world of sin and woe. No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise. Indeed it has been said that democracy is the worst form of Government except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.…”
How is it possible to make any kind of serious case for democracy when it effectively means the election of completely unqualified and inexperienced people to manage something of which they usually have no skills or knowledge? Worse, once elected, those same people make the rules for how democracy is to work: What the criteria will be for elections, for candidates; who will have the right to vote and who won’t. What will constitute a majority and what won’t. They will authorise laws, manage taxation, health, education, determine how we live, what we are allowed to do, how we are allowed to do it and on a whim, they can lock down the entire country for as long as their whim tickles their fancy, a matter we would never have given a second thought to until 2020 and COVID-19.
They control the armed forces, the police, the bureaucracy: Everything. We give them all that power willingly because we call our system a democracy. Again, probably not something we would have given a great deal of thought to until March 2020 when our rights to personal freedom disappeared overnight apparently in the national interest.
What’s to say that one competent and qualified dictator, autocrat or monarch wouldn’t do a much more competent job?
Rule by majority alone without safeguards is arguably every bit as dangerous.
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