Political Parties used to matter but as the main parties fight over the middle ground its difficult to see how they differ. Party membership is in decline as people get “turned off”. In recent elections it appears only 40% of the voting public participate in the current “democratic” process and bother to vote. None of the parties is putting forward a vision to help people in these turbulent times.
Elected members at all levels spend their time squabbling with each other, bash each others’ ideas without putting alternative ideas or alternatives. They hurl pre-scripted insults and answers to each other and blame current problems on past policies.
They’d get far greater traction and support from the public if they suggested more thoughtful, fair policy ideas that made sense to normal people.
Most people think that all politicians are the same regardless of party thus, resulting in a lack of trust. At the same time, they are too male and white and probably privileged too, continuing to select candidates from a shallow pool of people with no real life experience.
For political parties to recover ground and become meaningful again they need to attract more diverse talent at all levels of their structure – not just candidates – and become more representative of their local communities and the country as a whole. They must shout less and listen more. Every press release with a complaint must be accompanied by an alternative solution. They need to be more positive in outlook and less negative.
Are political parties still working?