Like what you've read?

On Line Opinion is the only Australian site where you get all sides of the story. We don't
charge, but we need your support. Here�s how you can help.

  • Advertise

    We have a monthly audience of 70,000 and advertising packages from $200 a month.

  • Volunteer

    We always need commissioning editors and sub-editors.

  • Contribute

    Got something to say? Submit an essay.


 The National Forum   Donate   Your Account   On Line Opinion   Forum   Blogs   Polling   About   
On Line Opinion logo ON LINE OPINION - Australia's e-journal of social and political debate

Subscribe!
Subscribe





On Line Opinion is a not-for-profit publication and relies on the generosity of its sponsors, editors and contributors. If you would like to help, contact us.
___________

Syndicate
RSS/XML


RSS 2.0

The ANZACs, Churchill and a Lesson for our Politicians

By Mal Fletcher - posted Friday, 24 April 2015


For their part, the Tories failed to keep their word on a much-vaunted debate on the status of marriage, something that still rankles with many social conservatives. Whether or not this social change was irresistible is open to argument; the point is they were wrong to back down on a commitment made.

Meanwhile, all the parties in this campaign are making financial promises they likely cannot meet. They certainly are not outlining where the money will come from.

Late-campaign promises are made on the basis of their appeal to swing voters or people in marginal constituencies rather than their true feasibility.

Advertisement

All of this owes more to the philosophy of Dickens’ Artful Dodger than that of political statesmanship.

All of this represents politics by evasion. And it doesn’t end on election night. Once ensconced in government, politicians of all persuasions are likely to continue down the same road.

When mistakes are made, the fault is usually someone else’s. Responsibility is to be evaded, while glory is to be pursued. The higher up the ladder one goes, the more one sees this evasiveness at work.

On the rare occasion that we see a senior government figure tender his or her resignation, the event is usually accompanied by a letter which is prefaced by something like this: ‘Whilst I do not believe that I have done anything wrong…’ or, ‘Whilst I have only ever acted in the interests of the people…’

Of course, it’s not just within politics that accountability is a rare commodity.

Numerous business scandals, mid- and post-recession, have seen corporate heads passing the buck for gross corporate failures and, in some cases, outright misuse of shareholders’ funds.

Advertisement

Evasion always spells the end of constructive engagement with a problem; it leads us down a cyclic path where one problem leads to another. With each excuse we dig a deeper hole for ourselves.

Solving a problem begins with accepting whatever responsibility we can for changing it. Psychiatrists have long argued that a failure to accept personal responsibility for one’s life is a certain road to anxiety and even depression.

If I am merely a victim of the fates, then my decisions do not count. If my decisions mean nothing, I cannot change anything in my life. I am a sure candidate for despair.

  1. Pages:
  2. 1
  3. 2
  4. Page 3
  5. 4
  6. All

This article was first published on 2020Plus.net.



Discuss in our Forums

See what other readers are saying about this article!

Click here to read & post comments.

24 posts so far.

Share this:
reddit this reddit thisbookmark with del.icio.us Del.icio.usdigg thisseed newsvineSeed NewsvineStumbleUpon StumbleUponsubmit to propellerkwoff it

About the Author

Mal Fletcher is a media social futurist and commentator, keynote speaker, author, business leadership consultant and broadcaster currently based in London. He holds joint Australian and British citizenship.

Other articles by this Author

All articles by Mal Fletcher

Creative Commons LicenseThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

Article Tools
Comment 24 comments
Print Printable version
Subscribe Subscribe
Email Email a friend
Advertisement

About Us Search Discuss Feedback Legals Privacy