Politics is saying/doing what helps you get elected or re-elected, regardless…
As our by-election looms. it’s important to know the difference between policy and politics.
Politics is saying/doing what helps you get elected or re-elected, regardless of the net benefit to the country or whatever jurisdiction you represent.
Policy should be decision-making based on real analysis of who benefits and how much, in the short, medium, and long term, regardless of popularity.
As a result of politics, we have lots of laws that benefit a small number of people a lot, and spread the costs widely, so that the people paying those costs don’t notice. Examples include all the tax expenditures, i.e.., deductions/exemptions that allow favored (i.e. campaign donors) people/companies to reduce their taxes – the amount has to be made up by everybody else. Protectionist laws that raise the costs of imports (or in some cases keep imports out completely) benefit domestic producers but raise prices for everyone.
The politics of this weekend’s by-election have been dirty, but isn’t that what we expect now in 2020? The smear campaigns, the obviously false emails, the slander ….
The Politics of Eden Monaro have been dirty on all sides, with various images and stories popping up on various social media sites
Politics is the battle during the Election. Politics is the horserace, the showboat candidate, the protests and the outspoken; Or in short: those who would move the ball further down the field without actually scoring a goal for the team.
Policy is where laws are made, deals are made and the votes taken. Policy is taking an idea and making it concrete where it affects people.
So with all of this in mind, it is important, now more than ever, to look past these issues, these distractions, to the core of each candidate’s policies and promises.
On Saturday, vote with your head, not your history…..
