Toxic

We shouldn't be squeamish about the conduct of politics. Throughout history power has been distributed and used by the force of arms. Rivals have been killed, and opponents silenced. The peaceful resolution of disputes has not been the norm. We are privileged to live in a country and a time when elections and argument have replaced the brutal use of power.

Yet all is not well with our democracy. There are signs that parts of our system are turning toxic. The last year has illustrated this - but the roots go back further. In this post I'd like to highlight some of my concerns - and suggest ways that we can drain the swamp.

FALSE NEWS - It is often asserted that politicians always lie. Sometimes this is unfair - at elections claims are made about intentions, which may are genuine - though optimistic. Events can foil those intentions. Yes, politicians should be more realistic about what they can actually achieve. But this is very different from the cynical statement of a falsehood. In both the US Presidential Election and the UK's referendum on the EU we saw a significant rise in deliberate falsehoods being produced and repeated. And it's not only politicians - some parts of the media are regularly poisoning the minds of their readers. We need to call out the liars.

NO COMPROMISE - Politics is the art of the possible. It usually requires negotiation and compromise. The Trump approach is ultimately destructive. It can often end in violence.

VOTER SUPPRESSION - This is not a new phenomenon - last night I was listening to (the first part of) the audiobook of Robert Caro's "Master of the Senate". The introduction describes the 'voter suppression' rife in the South during the 1950s to stop black voters registering. But it is back today. Political consultants advise their clients how to achieve it - and we saw it in the media during the British General Election. Voters were led to believe that it was pointless voting for anyone but the Conservatives - the intention being to keep potential progressive voters at home. In both the US and UK we've seen it made more difficult for people to register. This is a worrying trend.

We have to call out, and stand against, these toxic tactics. Progressive parties and politicians have not been innocent of using such tactics - but the powerhouse has been the so-called 'conservative movement'. It has infected the Republicans in the USA - and they have been imported into the UK.

We need to restate the basic values of our democracy - the "Rule of Law"; fairness in elections; a willingness to deal fairly, negotiate and compromise.