Politicians - Clowns or Champions?

This sort of message is harmful to democracy & people's confidence in politics. Yes, this government has failed on many fronts, been incompetent & actually lied. Yes, our "ya booing" commons is a disgrace. Several conservative politicians make me sick to my stomach. But there are many politicians who are trying to do a good job & are guided by decent values. People who mock should just think whether they would be able or prepared to try to run a country in these exceptionally difficult times. I wouldn't know where to start & I am very political. So we the public shouldn't be glib & make cheap jokes. We should try to do something positive to make democracy work better & support the good politicians.

What do UK MP's do?  

• Represent their constituents interests and concerns in the House of Commons. 
• Consider and propose new laws as well as raising issues that matter to you in the House. Including asking government ministers questions about current issues & those which affect local constituents. 
• MPs split their time between working in Parliament itself, working in the constituency that elected them and working for their political party.
• Some MPs from the governing party (or parties) become government ministers with specific responsibilities in certain areas, such as Health or Defence. They continue working for their constituency &, whatever their role in Government or Parliament, still hold regular surgeries to help their constituents.

When I hear MP's answering questions in the media I have 2 reactions - absolute fury when they don't actually answer at all but parrot what they have been briefed to say & admiration that they can remember accurately all the necessary facts & figures. Given the "churn" in ministers & senior politicians responsibilities & the complexities of running a department I simply don't understand how they do it. I sometimes also don't understand how they can live with the dissembling & avoidance of truth & fact. 

But this is the system we have got. These are the people we voted in. We have chosen. Or we have avoided making a decision & not bothered to vote. 

Unless everyone wakes up to the dire situation the world & the environment is in & recognises that the choices & consequences of those choices will be very hard if we are to survive & have a world worth living in, our tomorrows will be worse. This is election year in many places. 2024 will be a crucial decider in what tomorrow will be for our children & grandchildren. 

Democracy isn't working. Our Public Services are at rock bottom, especially the privatised ones. Oligarchs, dictators & despots are winning. The United Nations isn't working. We need NATO to be effective more than ever. 

Don't imagine that someone else will sort this out for you. Your voice & your vote count. Use them wisely. Don't sit on your backside this year or you will reap the consequences.