For the longest time, I have been interested in government and politics. Even as a young child, I would ask my parents questions about the Prime Minister and the President of the United States. I was fascinated by everything from the Canadian parliamentary system to the awesome sight of seeing Air Force One. It certainly seems as if the shine has come off of the institution of government.
The question hit me rather suddenly one day recently while I was contemplating some of the latest nonsense coming out of one of our local Canadian governments: Is ANYONE still satisfied with their government? (And in follow up: At any level? Anywhere? Have you been in the recent past? Do you see it happening in the near future?)
I have often thought before about how unpopular and polarizing politicians have become but this was different. I was no longer thinking about the politics of it all but rather, I was thinking of the general satisfaction with the institution and the relative (un)likelihood that the satisfaction level is likely to rise in the foreseeable future. When you hear a news story about a public housing authority or a health ministry or a treasury department once again disappointing or outright enraging the public, it almost sounds like white noise. When you listen for good news at any level of any government, you're generally limited to good news stories propagated by elected officials looking to again get elected.
Corruption and incompetency do seem all-too-common in politics and government these days but let's assume for a moment that most government officials - both elected and bureaucratic - are well-meaning and have some reasonable degree of integrity. If so, then why are their customers so consistently unhappy and why are they so constantly beset by scandal, operational failure, fiscal irresponsibility and poor planning.
A few examples:
I live in Toronto. This year, Toronto was not ready to open enough shelter spaces for homeless individuals when extreme cold winter weather arrived. Toronto has extreme cold winter weather every year. It always has. The media coverage and investigation of the matter only served to identify more questions around the administration of the public services dedicated to the homeless. When we talk about such matters, there seems to be a certain tone of hopelessness. No one even hazards a guess as to how such a service might be improved and sustained.
In talking about fiscal matters, most governments seem to be stuck in one of the following phases of spending and borrowing: 1. Increasing debt-based spending to combat an economic downturn; 2. Struggling to reduce deficit spending after years of intentionally increasing deficits; or 3. Briefly balancing a budget or running a surplus to fulfill a campaign promise (either through dodgy accounting or legitimately). Typically, phase 1 repeats after phase 3, if we're lucky. Phase 3 can also go missing for decades on end.
What about foreign policy, you ask? I'll ask back, what country has a good one? Maybe China? India? Most countries seem preoccupied with ideological debates over foreign policy but have completely lost sight of whether their foreign policy aligns with the best interests of their citizenry and country as a whole. The politicians are not the only ones to blame for these shortcomings. Often times the citizens seem to be demanding such disadvantageous foreign policies are pursued. "High federal spending on foreign aid giveaways when the federal government is running a large deficit? Sure. It's not my money." Except, it is.
My view is admittedly based mostly on my knowledge of Canadian and American governments at various levels. I hope others have had different experiences. I fear that we are looking forward to a future where these shortcomings likely will not improve unless we start thinking a lot differently about things. I would be encouraged to hear ideas from others. Perhaps we need to focus on electing officials who will just focus on good governance of existing structure and get rid of the endless pursuit of the better mouse trap. Perhaps an increased use of direct democracy would be a catalyst. Maybe the only campaign promise that matters should be, "I will always strive to do the right thing for the good governance of the city (or state/province/county/country)."
Maybe there should be a new political movement called the Governance Party. I know that sounds a bit like calling your hockey team the Hockey Team but perhaps it would also allow for a return to some of the basics that made governments successful and even admired in the past. This is definitely an adult conversation we should promote.
CW