Politics is not what you think it is.
Politics isn’t necessarily the boring old news
about the boring old Government.
Politics can involve Government but Politics is much,
much more than Government and political parties.
Everybody engages in political action everyday.
Having and expressing an opinion about Iraq or the atrocities committed in
London in July is political, and potentially illegal.
Buying a loaf of bread isn’t political, is it?
This act of commerce can have a more dynamic significance.
A company you know to have low standards of hygiene may supply the loaf;
another shop may sell better quality or better-priced bread; you might know
the shopkeeper because he wrongly accused you of shoplifting a year ago.
You do not have to buy a particular brand loaf or buy it from a particular shop.
There is a whole range of reasons why you may or not buy that loaf.
This is your power of choice.
The shopkeeper may wish to entice you to buy his wares by offering a reduction
in price or giving away something else free, etc. The shopkeeper may be known to rip
people off with their change.
Local people may decide as a group to boycott that shop as a result.
These are the political dynamics of the relationship between a shopkeeper
and his potential customers.
All human relationships have this power dynamic – the power of one person or group to get another person or group to do something or not to do something.
As Del Trotter said, ‘No man is an island, Rodney’.
We all depend on other people for something or other and money is the
major means we have come up with of making things happen.
Values of commodities, ie goods, services and labour, are always under negotiation and thankfully there are charities and honest public servants and others prepared to give
their contribution to society regardless of the financial rewards that might be available.
Working for an employer doesn’t have to simply be a case of doing what you’re told, when you’re told and putting up with a bad situation with low wages.
Working people in similar workplaces choose to contribute a small part of their wages to
a union. The money raised by the members of a union in this way is used to finance the organisation of representatives of the members to act on each member’s behalf.
A law was passed that says that employers must negotiate with staff representatives
over pay and conditions of jobs.
Environmental groups concerned about the effects of global warming exist to put
pressure on governments and companies to go about their business without
jeopardising all our futures.
These are political acts. To be an active shopper, trades unionist or environmentalist
you do not have to be a part of political party, in fact it is probably easier not to be to get
your point across.
As for Parliament and the political process, there is a growing pressure to lower
the age at which we can vote and stand for election at any level, locally, regionally,
nationally and at European level.
Presently this age is 18. Young people’s views at 16 and 17 should be part
of the process. We are entitled to work (at lower rate minimum wage) and then have to
pay taxes at 16 years, so why not have the right to participate?
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WORLD POLITICS
on the BBC, take a look here or locally here
