The political life of the country affects everyone. All members of
society, being born to society, are members of the body politic and their
lives are determined by how society is governed. How the body politic is
organized and governed, and the agenda of government institutions at all
levels, all profoundly affect people's lives. It is not a matter of
individual likes and dislikes, of personal choice, whether a person is
political or not.
Changing the political life of the country is a matter of necessity.
What kind of political parties and institutions are needed? How can the
current dissatisfaction give rise to action that serves society? Debating
these issues will contribute to working out what actions serve to create
a new political life--and which serve to keep the status quo.
One important problem to take up for solution is the role of political
parties. The Democrats and Republicans organize to come to power. Their
actions are dictated by the unprincipled stand of "winning at all costs."
Once in power, these parties break their promises or claim their hands
are tied and they can do no better (as Clinton recently did on welfare
reform).
It is our view that political parties should be judged by the analysis
they have of society--its fundamental problems, their causes, and concrete
solutions, for both the short and long-term. They should be judged by
their ability to provide solutions that lead society forward. They should
also be judged by their ability to turn words into deeds, by taking action
on the basis of analysis, to educate and mobilize the people politically
and raise the level of political discussion, as part of organizing to
move society forward.
Serious debate on this starting point would serve all those working on
this problem of political parties and increasing the role of the people in
political life today. It would no doubt give rise to numerous other
positive steps to take while also revealing false solutions. For example,
if the existing set-up--the framework of the old--is accepted as a
starting point, can the new political life so needed and desired by the
people be created?
Shawgi Tell
University at Buffalo
Graduate School of Education
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
