Why Vote; what to vote for?

Why vote and what to vote for?

We are in the throes of an election campaign in which the standing of politicians has never been so low. I was talking to a group of teenagers this week who cared about a number of political issues but had no time for the main parties. One suggested there was never a better time to vote for the Monster Raving Loony Party.

I sympathise with their feelings but couldn’t leave it there.

Listening and Judging

For me politics is about listening, judging and acting. In order to make good judgement we need to listen to people and take note of circumstances. Once a judgement is made then action is taken.

Here is my problem – there is precious little good listening going on in our politics. Oliver O’Donovan wrote: “Much advocacy of democracy confuses two quite different things: electing governments and consulting about policy. Election is an aggressive exercise, roping different points of view together to form a majority. Consultation is a discriminative exercise, which entails weighing up different points of view. For representative action to have moral depth, the representative needs a comprehensive sense of what the people at its best; i.e., at its most reflective and considerate, is concerned about.” (Oliver O’Donovan; Ways Of Judgment, 2005, p179)

This election is not about politicians listening to us, but about them persuading us to vote them into power. The manifestoes offered us are not cast iron commitments but ways of attracting votes. To be fair they give us a flavour or sense of the core direction for a party, but little more.

We have an expenses scandal partly because of human greed, but partly because of the detachment of politicians from the reality of good judgement. Politicians will never sort this out themselves.

So here is my point – let’s vote, but let’s not kid ourselves about the difference it will make. Now cheap negative points about politics are easily made – it is harder to offer a positive alternative.

We need a way to bring listening into our politics. Not just listening to individuals in surgeries, nor listening to focus groups offered carefully crafted questions. To listen to communities gathered to weigh up points of view on important shared issues.

That is for communities to organise. We could find ways to gather together churches, community groups, synagogues, mosques, sports clubs, and residents associations to discuss and raise matters. Politicians should be invited to attend and listen! Some of this consultation happens now and is well intended, but because it is organised top down it is faulty from the start.

The legitimacy of our MPs is then on two bases: firstly the ballot box and secondly how they engage with and respond to listening in the community.

Partners?

Now this leads me to another thought on this election. We are being offered a fairer society and a society in which we can take control of services. This is both exciting and dangerous.

There is a case for people running their own services and this should be encouraged, but there is a risk in the service not being equally provided.

If we consider the example of churches, I think that we should have the opportunity to run projects and services and be funded to do so. There is a long and positive history of this happening. But this should never be the main thing.

It is much more important for us to remain free as Christians to critique, challenge and encourage what is provide publically and privately in society. I am concerned that we could simply turn churches into service providers.

There are many opportunities to participate and be heard in society. My concern is that for years these opportunities have been offered to consumers rather than people. I have a concern now that the voice will be passed from consumers to delivery partners. This is a bicycle dynamo effect in politics – as long as you are peddling the light shines – as long as you are a consumer or a delivery partner or a share holder you matter – but if you are simply a citizen you don’t.

Previously, churches and Christian projects have been excluded from providing services and receiving grants. This has changed and is to be applauded. However the danger is that we allow ourselves to be co-opted and turned into solely or mainly service providers.

The engagement of Christian groups / church should always take a variety of forms: critical voice; policy former and partner in delivering. As we take part in this way, we should be informed by listening to the Spirit, scripture and one another in churches.

One voice among many

Now some may detect the hint to special treatment for Christians and a church state feel to what I have just said. Not a bit of it. The legitimacy of our voice as churches and Christian groups should not bring privilege. Other groups should have the same opportunity. We should be one voice among many – but there should be many voices.

These voices will be generated from the listening process to outlined above.

We should encourage different groups in society to have voice. Groups should be able to have voice for themselves. This is my unease with the current faiths agenda in society.  To speak and take part as faiths belies our distinct voices and different perspectives. Let us and others groups speak clearly for ourselves, let us form alliances with others, but not be conflated into one.

If listening is to create judgment then there must always be different views expressed. If judgment is to produce action then we should always seek and offer solutions and not complaint.

Put an X on it!

So on the 6 May I will vote. The cross on my ballot paper will be matched with crossed fingers behind my back. I do not want my vote to be a blank cheque for politicians to do as they please for 5 years.

Changing that is down to us.

Let’s not just vote for the details in a manifesto, but the principles behind it.

Let’s not just vote for services to be passed into our hands but for a more accountable and listening politics.

Let’s vote and be prepared to organise in the next 5 years.

If we just vote and forget it then we are all monster raving loonies!

If this has encouraged or annoyed you in any way come along to Moortown Baptist Church on Wednesday 28 April, at 7pm, for a ‘Why vote and what to vote for?’ meeting.

Graham Brownlee, 15 April 2010