Until we change the key to the political system, that is, the electoral system, we will not have better politicians or a political culture of service

 

Only a profound change in the political culture will allow us to solve the problems that have dragged on for years and to have, for a long time, a pride in politics, a taste for politics. Is it not exasperating that we should not pass over the stale grapevine? Is it not enough that we are always hearing about the same problems without ever seeing them resolved? Does it not saturate to be, in crucial areas, a postponed country? What creates this framework of do-it-does-it-does-not-walks is a mediocre political culture.

 

One of the most negative aspects of our political system is the spirit and attitude of the ruling class in general. The degradation that I criticize does not stem from people's intrinsic defects, but from the mode of operation of the system, which favors defects rather than combat them. We are not a system of excellence, but a system of decay: things evolve for the worse.

 

I believe that only changing the system along the lines advocated by the "Manifesto for a Quality Democracy," or similar, will provide an affirmation of the human qualities of politicians above defects, rather than the negative developments we have witnessed. Why? Because the system we advocate, by strengthening the independence of Members, promotes their accountability, encourages their genuineness, calls for the affirmation of their credibility as authentic and authentic politicians. The individual scrutiny of each Member will become close and natural. I am not referring to the kind of scrutiny in which the scandal press is entertained - it will continue there, of course. But I am referring to a much more important scrutiny to save democracy and that we are escaping completely: the scrutiny of the authenticity of the thought of who represents us, the scrutiny of civic generosity or not, the scrutiny of the sincerity of dedication to the cause Public, the scrutiny of knowledge and purpose.

 

Today it is not so because the system of selection of deputies exempts these attributes and privileges others. The empire of directories dictates: the more docile and obedient the better; The more rhetorical the better; The more gymnastics on the bench press, the better; How much better dissimulating art, the better; The more maneuverability, the better; And so on. Not that some of these attributes are not important in political performance. But they should not be the prevailing ones; Above all, should not erase the attributes that have to do with thought, sincerity, dedication, authenticity, civic purpose. Politics, in its substance, is this; That is just the form.

 

The problem we've come to is that the shape chewed and swallowed the whole substance. The sense and the search for the common good were lost. It confuses itself rudely with political discussion and discussion with debate. A political victory is not the solution of a problem; Is an ephemeral triumph in any boxing ring. You do not overcome a difficulty or a crisis, you crush an opponent. ? The lie itself becomes good and advisable if you give apparatus, show, good line of defense. The essential thing is to arouse vibration in the hosts themselves, enlivening the excitement of the cheerleaders.

 

From cycle to cycle, it is becoming increasingly difficult to perceive what most of our representatives really think. There are some who seem more like professionals of non-thought and live up to the proverb I once heard: "The word is a gift from the devil for man to conceal what he thinks." And the woman too, of course.

 

The policy aims at self-enjoyment of artists and the delight of followers. Sometimes people are shocked to see them laugh and smile so much when there are so many going through so many difficulties. We have become more a democracy of followers than of voters. We see it in their continual removal from election to election - they vote with their feet: "Go away." As I have already written, our democracy is representative in the sense of theatrical representation, not of actual political representation. The theater runs well and excited; The representation of the citizens, not for that.

 

Now we continue to bog down in the lack of reformism of the state, which increasingly weighs on the backs of families and the productive economy. Those who screamed against austerity there are applying it, with new targets and other processes. "And those who shout today - well - against the tax increases are those who, before, have overburdened them and will return - badly - to raise them in the future if they are to be called again. Why? Because political culture is superficial and runs from the root and root of problems. And why is the political culture so? Because it is an irresponsible culture: it is a culture of make-believe, not of accountability.

Until we change the key to the political system, that is, the electoral system, we will not have better politicians or a political culture of service. Only by opening the proportional system - fair, straightforward, without secretarial tricks - to a significant component of uninominal circles, also allowing independent candidacies, we will have demanding competition, serious representative democracy, rehabilitated parties, political regeneration in Portugal. Who is afraid of free people? Who is afraid of a serious system?

References:

• The Political Culture of The United States, http://www.123helpme.com
• Essay on Political Culture, https://grademiners.co/
• American Political Culture, http://www.ushistory.org
• Canadian political culture, https://www.megaessays.com