Canaidh cuid nach eil ùidh sam bith aca ann am poilitigs agus nach eil iad a’ creidsinn gum bheil feum sam bith a dhol a chur bhòt ann an taghaidhean oir nam beachd chan eil e dol a dhèanamh feum no atharrachadh sam bith. Ged a ghabhas leithid de theagamhan tuigsinn gu ìre, ’s fhiach beachdachadh air ciamar a bhiodh ar dùthaich, agus gu dearbh suidheachadh an t-saoghail, mura biodh duine idir a’ feuchainn ri rian agus stiùir a chur air cùisean. Theagamh gun canadh feadhainn nach biodh gnothaichean dad na bu mhiosa, ach tha foghlam eachdraidh ag innse dhuinn gum bheil amasan sìobhaltachd ciallach agus luachmhor agus gum bheil dleastanas oirnn uile obrachadh a dh’ionnsaigh chinn-uidhe leithid sìth, soirbheas, agus slàinte an t-sluaigh. Tha gluasadan an t-saoghail gach latha cuideachd a’ sealltainn cho caochlaideach ’s a dh’fhaodas daoine a bhith, agus leis nach eil ann an ceannardan ach daoine mar a’ chòrr againn tha iad a cheart cho buailteach ri burraidheachd, sannt, buaireadh, agus fiù ’s cogadh.
Air an t-seachdain a chaidh thug mi iomradh air geallaidhean a bhios luchd-poilitigs a’ toirt nuair a tha iad a’ sireadh taic a’ mhòr-shluaigh, agus mar a dh’fhaodas na h-amasan sin a dhol ceàrr nuair a tha iad ann an cumhachd riaghlaidh. Tha mise a’ creidsinn gum bheil an fheadhainn a tha gan cur fhèin air adhart mar thagraichean airson gach Pàrlamaid ann an da-rìribh a’ ciallachadh na tha iad a’ gealltainn, agus gum bheil iad cinnteach gun gabh na leasachaidhean a tha comharraichte aca an coileanadh. ’S e an duilgheadas ge-tà nach eil agus nach bi gu sìorraidh smachd aca, neo aig partaidh sam bith a tha iad a’ riochdachadh, air gach eileamaid a bheir buaidh air an cuid amasan, agus a dh’fhaodas aig amannan fiù ’s stad a chur orra. Uaireannan, cuideachd, faodaidh ball geallaidhean dhan sgìre aige / aice fhaicinn gan trèigsinn air sgàth adhbharan poilitigeach agus cumhachd taic mòr-shluagh sgìrean eile. Le Taghadh Coitcheann air fàire an-ath-bhliadhna tha ceannardan phartaidhean uile a’ greasad an cuid suirghe air luchd-bhòtaidh le geallaidhean de gach seòrsa a’ biathadh nan dubhan! Cha ghabh e bhith nach eil iad uile làn-earbsach as na tha na ceannardan aca a’ foillseachadh mar amas, ach tha fhios gum bheil mòran aca cuideachd mothachail gum faodadh aimlisg air choreigin creideas luchd-taice a thoirt bhuapa. Saoil nach biodh e nàdarra dhaibh mar sin a bhith gan riarachadh fhèin mu cho-dhiù a bhios dìlseachd dhan luchd-taice neo dhan phartaidh dol a dh’fhaodainn prìomhachas.
An e ceist iomchaidh a bhiodh an sin bho luchd-bhòtaidh? Bho chionn beagan mhìosan a-nise tha am Ball Pàrlamaid Albannach Fearghas Ewing air bruidhinn a-mach an aghaidh a’ phartaidh dam buin e is e den bheachd gum bheil poileasaidhean aca a tha cronail dhan sgìre a tha esan a’ riochdachadh. Chaidh Fearghas a pheanasachadh airson a gheallaidhean dha muinntir na Roinne-Pàrlamaid aige a ghleidheadh, ach saoilidh mi gun do choisinn e mòran spèis agus creideas am measg an t-sluaigh!
There are people who claim no interest in politics and choose not to vote because they believe that it will achieve nothing. Whilst one might have some sympathise with these views, the people involved should consider what the country, and the world, might be like if no one worked towards civil society. Doubters might still argue that things could be no worse, but world history has taught us that civilisation is valuable and that we all share a duty to work towards peace, and community wellbeing. Daily world events demonstrate how fickle people can be, and leaders are as likely as anyone of being greedy, oppressive, troublesome, and warmongers.
In this column last week, I commented on the promises aspiring politicians make in seeking voter support, and how such pledges can go astray in government. I believe that Parliamentary candidates are honest and believe that developments they promise can and will be delivered, but in reality neither they or any party they represent will ever control all elements which affect realisation of their proposals. On occasion a member of Parliament might see pledges to his area abandoned for political reasons, and the numerical importance of other constituency votes. With a General Election expected next year all party leaders are gearing up their pursuit of voter support with promises of all kinds being used as bait. Candidates must have total confidence in the aspirations of party leaders, but some at least must be aware that some unexpected problem could deprive them of community support. Would it not seem sensible for candidates to make an early reconciliation as to whether their priority commitment will be to their constituents or the party?
Is this a reasonable question for voters to ask? For some months now veteran MSP Fergus Ewing has challenged his own party over policies which he believes could be damaging to his constituency. Fergus was penalised for honouring his promise to his constituents, but I suspect that he earned a great deal of respect and credibility among voters!