I asked the question " What makes good government? " on a forum I belong to and an answer struck me as one of the best.
" Good people make a good government. So the real question you are asking is "what makes good people?" "
Obviously, this leads to the question that if we have good people, why do we need government at all? Easy. Because we will always have bad people. We just don't want them in Government. Simple really.
It therefore follows that we need Good people in Government to protect us from Bad people.
Instead, why is it that it seems to be the opposite way around?
When I ponder this, I must ask myself what makes us actually WANT a government? To pay taxes? To be brow beaten? Seriously, why do we have a government? I warn you now, you may detect a certain sarcastic tone today. For that, I do not apologise.
We are told that government is a good thing. Hell, it protects our freedom and our rights. I mean, they are responsible for safeguarding the rights and freedoms of the citizens aren't they?
Governments establish and enforce laws to protect individuals from harm, discrimination, and abuse. This includes upholding civil liberties such as freedom of speech, assembly, and religion.
Oh, and they are great for maintenance of law and order: Governments maintain law and order by establishing a system of justice and enforcing laws. They provide courts and law enforcement agencies to ensure public safety, resolve disputes, and punish those who violate laws.
There is provision of public goods and services: Governments provide essential public goods and services that benefit society as a whole. These may include infrastructure development (roads, bridges, public transportation), healthcare, education, social welfare programmes, public safety, and environmental protection.
I think our governments need to get back to the drawing board. Fixing the Bruce Highway. The ambulance ramping. The out of control crime.
Governments play a crucial role in regulating the economy to ensure fair competition, consumer protection, and overall economic stability. They establish policies and regulations to prevent market failures, maintain monetary stability, and promote economic growth.
Last time I looked, they were making it worse.
Governments implement social welfare programs to address poverty, unemployment, and inequality. These programmes include unemployment benefits, social security, healthcare subsidies, affordable housing, and education grants. They aim to improve the well-being of disadvantaged individuals and promote social cohesion.
Governments are responsible for protecting the nation's security and defending against external threats. This includes maintaining a military, conducting foreign policy, and participating in international alliances and agreements.
Governments facilitate coordination and planning at a societal level. They develop long-term plans, set priorities, and allocate resources to address collective challenges such as urban development, environmental conservation, disaster preparedness, and infrastructure projects.
Democratic governments allow citizens to participate in decision-making processes through voting and representation. This ensures that the government is accountable to the people and reflects their interests and values.
It saddens me that I had to consider the serious question: What if a government fails to do its job?
It used only to be in 3rd world nations, but now it is across the globe.
You see, when a government fails to fulfill its responsibilities and effectively carry out its duties, it can bugger a country up. It becomes a failing government which doesn't provide essential public services such as healthcare, education, infrastructure, and public safety. This can result in inadequate healthcare facilities, poorly maintained infrastructure, limited access to education, and increased crime rates.
Ineffective governance can lead to economic instability, including high inflation, unemployment, and a lack of investor confidence. Poor economic policies, corruption, and mismanagement of public funds can hinder economic growth and negatively impact the overall well-being of the population.
When a government fails to address the needs and concerns of its citizens, it can lead to social unrest and political instability. Citizens may become frustrated with the lack of progress and voice their dissent through protests, strikes, or even violence. This can further undermine governance and exacerbate social divisions.
A government's failure to combat corruption undermines public trust and leads to the mismanagement of public resources. Corruption erodes the rule of law, distorts the allocation of resources, and hampers development efforts.
A failing government may be more prone to human rights abuses, as there may be weak legal frameworks, limited accountability mechanisms, and a lack of respect for individual liberties. This can result in violations of civil, political, and socio-economic rights, including repression, censorship, and discrimination.
A government's failure to effectively govern and address societal issues can result in a loss of international credibility and standing.
So what do we do? We tried peaceful protest and that didn't work. We got pepper sprayed. Arrested. We tried getting in touch with our elected representatives.
We tried starting alternative media outlets and places to speak.
Hell, we tried demanding greater transparency by requesting access to information, scrutinising government actions, and promoting accountability mechanisms such as independent oversight bodies or anti-corruption commissions. Promoting and supporting initiatives for transparency and accountability can help combat corruption and improve governance.
We try voting in elections. And ... guess what? We got someone doing a Hollywood audition as our leader.
We have gone to court, to hell and back to get our voices heard but all that seems to happen is that we get locked up, shut up , shut down and ultimately silenced.
So I wonder - What are the basic Human Rights? Available to All?
Other Rights include the right to be free from arbitrary deprivation of life. It sure doesn't work for babies does it?
The right to be free from arbitrary arrest or detention. Julian Assange or the J6 would disagree.
The right to a fair and impartial judicial process.... doesn't work for too many for me to list here ....
The right to express your opinions, beliefs, or ideas.... for all of us on the Conservative side of politics, that is a soon to be legislated no go zone.
The Right to be free of unwarranted intrusion into your personal life.... we all know that one with the barcodes and tracking from mobile devices and government intervention.
The RIGHT to be treated equally and without discrimination based on race, gender, sexual orientation, or other protected characteristics.
Who the hell knows what " other protected characteristics " are?
We are stuffed at the moment, aren't we?
Never in modern history have elections been more important. Never in modern history have we, the People, stood to lose so much so quickly. Never before in modern history has so much been at risk.
I am sitting here wondering how to end this post - a famous quote, an impactive image, a profound piece of wisdom. Instead, a thought sprang into my head. A memory of my 8 year old great grandson, sitting at the table at Redhead's place about a year ago. He had been very well-behaved, doing everything his grandmother had asked. he was polite, respectful and very good. The more we praised him for his manners and his enthusiastic but respectful contribution to conversation that morning, the more alive and happy and confident he became. Someone asked him what was the most important thing in the world. Without hesitation he replied " Me. " I asked him why he felt that way. He replied " Because Mum said I am. "
