Decisions are made by those who show up

If you’ll permit me I’m going to get just a little bit serious for a moment. Yesterday NI21 announced some 50 candidates for the upcoming 22nd May council elections. This represents a massive commitment by individuals hoping to move Northern Ireland beyond the current debacle of our Unionist vs. Nationalist politics. It is also an attempted return to common sense. Where religion does not constitute policy and where consideration is given prior to immediate opposition and deadlock.

 

There will be those who will laugh in the face of this attempt. After all is this not just another party entering the fray? My answer to this is no, this is something different. For too long we have pandered to the stranglehold tactics employed by our current political parties. The DUP is but one short step away from becoming a Christian fundamentalist group, dependent on the Bible for political guidance and a rallying cry of, somewhat ironically, “For God and Ulster!”

 

Sinn Féin on the other hand looks nothing but stately in it’s approach. Look at the unreasonable Unionists! Unreasonable with their “fleg” protests and their resignation threats over OTRs. Unreasonable over Haass. By doing nothing but sitting quietly and accepting invitations they have watched as Unionist division plays itself out for the world to see.

 

I could go on about how Alliance is inert in it’s attempt to appease all, how the UUP and SDLP have slipped into irrelevance but that is simply not the point. The electorate is tired of all of this. Apathy is the default mode.

 

It doesn’t have to be like this.

 

What those 50 people can represent is the silent majority. The people who have, until now, had no-one to vote for besides what they have voted for before, if they voted at all. They are able to do this because they themselves are that silent majority. From all walks of life, religion and ethnicity that make up Northern Ireland, they are, simply put, a stunning cross section of the provincial community.

 

What makes them different to everyone else in that silent majority is that they are tired of recognising our government is not working for us. The councils have stagnated to the extent that they no longer work for, or see themselves as accountable to the people. Why should they? In our apathy, by allowing them to continue unchallenged from one election to the next, we give them the mandate to continue as they have before.

 

What we, as an electorate, have failed to realise is that decisions are made by those who show up. By not voting you give up your right to complain and protest against those in office. You give up the ability to hold them to account for their actions. Think about that for a minute. By removing your voice from the conversation you are allowing the quieter extremes to control the debate.

 

Democracy is not perfect. I’m not even going to pretend it is, but as far as a means of government it is the best model we have. It comes into question every time we vote. Don’t demean it by staying silent. That is what these people represent. They stand for something. They stand for democracy at its finest. Where it is for its people by its people. Surely by their courage, or some might say foolishness, that is reason enough to vote. Decisions are made by those who show up.