The Crisis of our Representatives?

The Crisis of our Representatives?

Let’s talk about politics, and more precisely lets talk about the “fantastic and magnificent” relationship between politicians and the public, us. Yes, you and me. We are governed by an idealistic, indirect democracy where we are all being represented by the electors, those that we democratically, consciously and freely voted for to be our voices in the House of Representatives. They look after our interests as their owns, they argue and discuss relevant matters in order to come up with the most beneficial decisions for the community. They also repeatedly and constantly use of mediating institutions and organs as a means of becoming aware of our concerns and solve them. An infinite number of measures are carried out with full transparency, dedication, professionalism and volition. 

This could be real in another dimension, a fairy tale or a fictional film. Dewey, John & Rogers, Melvin L. ,in chapter 4 of their essay, demonstrated that unfortunately, reality doesn't match the idealistic world as just described. In contrast, we “rejoice” in having no voice. One that is silenced by the economical interests of the business powerhouse- the ones truly represented by the political sphere. They call themselves the “authors and guardians of prosperity”, legitimizing their interventions. The authors talk about an evolution of the first pioneers, who in today´s society are businessmen, who´s intentions have, ironically, devolved from genuity to self-interest. The political panorama is mainly comprised of inept and unqualified puppets unable to face their duties, such as solving the severe and significant problems that “govern” implies. As the text explains, “Political parties may rule, but they do not govern”. 

It is frightening as it is overwhelming. Well, but at least we are a democratic nation, where we can exercise our universal and fundamental right to vote. Aren't we? Instrumentally and judicially we are. However, recent data shows the systematic drop in participation during elections. The question is, why is this happening if, as Aristotle claimed, we are primarily “Zoon politikón” , individuals extremely engaged in the concurrence of politics? Where do we begin. Firstly, we are not informed. We don't have the initiative to analyze the current political, economical or social situation. As a substitute, the powerful provides us with the enough amusement and entertainment needed to keep us being viewers of the game instead of players. Moreover, the political spectrum is limited, is really voting among TWO parties a free choice or is it about choosing the one you dislike less?

The worst thing, as far as I am concerned, is that we easily fall into their trap. We are the perfect hunt, we prefer to be ignorant rather than knowing the painful, unpleasant but necessary truth, and that truth is that (versioning a quote from Nietzsche): “THE PUBLIC IS DEAD” (or nearly). We need to assert it because only by identifying what is the reason for our disconnection with the political issue, we will raised from the dead. In order to mark a new path in political history, a path where changes are not just possible but real, a path where citizens are included as active agents in the political affairs. Because, as the author of the chapter suggests,  “We cannot expect the causes of a disease to combine effectually to cure the disease they create”. We must interfere, and that means that we must exist. The crisis of our representatives is not real, because we don't have representatives, and something that ceased to exist can not be in crisis. Instead, we are living a crisis of the Public, and as the tittle of this chapter defines, a total eclipse of it.

BIBLIOGRAPHY 

Dewy, John & Rogers, Melvin L. The public and its problems; an essay in political inquiry. (Chapter 4, 101-119). Publisher:

Pennsylvania State University Press.