Garth Rattray | What citizens expect from their representatives

No society can exist without some form of leadership. And in our society, leaders ascend to their positions by way of the democratic election of representatives. The political process (… the activities associated with the governance of a country or other area, especially the debate or conflict among individuals or parties having or hoping to achieve power) is the tool that we use to choose those who administrate our country.

What people expect from our politicians, and the opinions that they have of them, is very different from one another… sometimes almost diametric. Of course, there are decent politicians that represent us, but some are unable to live up to the expectations that citizens have of them. They fall woefully short, and in so doing, sometimes earn horrible reputations.

Surveys have found that citizens expect their political representatives to [actually] represent their interests, not the interest of the political party to which they are affiliated. You will, of course, realise that such an expectation may be at odds with the convention of ‘collective responsibility’. Because collective responsibility means that each member of the Government is held responsible for the actions and decisions of that Government, individual parliamentarians often vote in unison … even if [sometimes] their vote is in conflict with the wishes and needs of their constituents.

Because of collective responsibility and party politics, although parliamentarians are supposed to listen to the concerns of their constituents, act based upon their values and needs, and then advocate for them in Parliament, there are times when they do not do so. However, once in a while, someone breaks ranks with their party, as East Portland Member of Parliament Dr Donald Rhodd did in October 2009 when he voted against the revised provisions for the Ministry of Transport and Works. He said, “I think what I did was the right thing on behalf of the people I represent.”

TRANSPARENT AND ACCOUNTABLE

People want politicians to be transparent and accountable in their actions, decisions, and in how they use public funds. They also want them to be honest and open. The public wants politicians to make informed decisions based on expert advice, research, evidence, and careful consideration of the potential consequences for everybody, irrespective of their party allegiance. I need not belabour the number of scandals that we have suffered, having to do with contracts and the use and misuse of public funds, on both sides of the political aisle. We also know about the lobbyists and big contributors with their own interests that have nothing to do with the general public.

The public wants politicians to encourage economic growth/development, stability, and to create policies that promote job creation and financial security. Our citizens want to be safe and secure. They want fair and effective law enforcement, emergency services (including ambulances), and national defence. We have the full complement of security force members. There has been improvement in this sphere, but we need to drastically reduce police corruption and enhance surveillance and intelligence-gathering capabilities.

People want their rights and freedoms protected. They also want the Constitution upheld and our laws in line with international human rights agreements. The citizenry wants improved public services and infrastructure, and the provision of quality education, healthcare, and transportation. They expect our politicians to see to social and environmental / climate issues while dealing with poverty and social inequality.

ACCESSIBLE

Constituents expect their representatives to be accessible, responsive, able to discuss their concerns, ethical / moral, and efficient. Politicians are held to a higher standard than they realise. They must try to build trust, credibility, and a strong relationship with all the people that they serve. And in that vein, because politics can be divisive, the politician who represents the entire country is seen in a better light and is more trusted if he/she tries to reserve party politics for active campaigning.

Generally, public opinions of politicians are not flattering. Many are sceptical about their desire, intent, and ability to represent the public interests and needs. Citizens are worried about corruption, unaccountability, serving their own interests and those of their donors / contributors. Citizens want transparency and connection with the people who put them where they are at all times, not just when elections are near. People also worry that politicians may become consumed with their own celebrity status, power, and privilege.

Citizens distrust politicians whose campaign promises are only political advertisements designed to hook voters. And when they fail at addressing pressing socio-economic and security issues, there is disillusionment and consequential enduring distrust. Hence the low voter turnout that politicians bemoan.

As things stand, as a rule, our various government ministers are not experts in whatever ministry they oversee. They must depend heavily on the permanent secretaries and advisers as they learn on the job. The inherent danger is that they may make decisions based on their personal and/or political aspirations.

I have always believed that political representatives should [solely] do just that: represent us. Managers of the various government ministries should be hired as specialists in whatever that ministry overseas. The political representatives should be the folks who go between the people and the administrators. They would present our wants and needs and follow up with the relevant managers who would act objectively based on their expertise. But perhaps that view is utopian.

Garth Rattray is a medical doctor with a family practice, and author of ‘The Long and Short of Thick and Thin’. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and garthrattray@gmail.com.