A couple of weeks ago I wrote a
blog describing my journey from a Remain voter in 2016 to an avid
Brexit supporter today. In that article I asserted that the
credibility of democracy in the United Kingdom is now in question.
That's because our politicians have miserably failed to take us out
of the EU as promised. Following on from that I'd like to be reminded
what democracy is, and why it's important. I won't be approaching
this question academically, rather I will talk as plainly as I can
and from the heart.
What is democracy?
Let's use a dictionary
definition:
"government by the people;
a form of government in which the supreme power is vested in the
people and exercised directly by them or by their elected agents
under a free electoral system."
Let's break that down into
sections relevant to our context:
"Government by the
people" = We, the people of Britain, govern ourselves - no
one else.
"...supreme power is
vested in the people..." = British voters are in charge here
- no one else.
"[supreme power is]
exercised by... their elected agents..." = Via elections, we
choose agents who exercise our supreme power for us. These agents are
our servants and our will is their command.
"[agents are elected]
under a free electoral system." = British voters suffer no
impediment or intimidation when we vote. We are not obliged to vote
because we are free. If we vote, our choice is never wrong, it is
right - and our birthright.
Is democracy important?
Democracy is our way of life.
Whether you vote or not, whether you think politics has any influence
on your everyday existence, the fact is you live in a country built,
shaped and ruled by your fellow voters - past and present.
Why is there a police force that
enforces the law? Because two-hundred years ago our elected
representatives voted them into existence. Why is smoking banned in
public places? Because thirteen years ago it was voted for by our
agents in Parliament. Why is this nation leaving the European Union?
Because three years ago we voted to leave...
You may feel distant from
politicians and the political process; you might feel that nothing
ever changes whatever you vote; but it is clear that the everyday
bubble we inhabit at home and at work has been made by past political
decisions. If you know this then you know that politics could change
your bubble beyond all recognition.
Our ancestors spent mountains of
treasure and shed rivers of blood so that we could live free in a
glorious democracy. Your vote next Thursday in the European Union
Elections is a precious privilege handed to us by their sacrifice.*
We should also consider that their fight did not only guarantee our
way of life, it also saved that of countless millions world-wide. I
shudder to think what Europe would look like today if Britain and the
Commonwealth had not stood alone in 1940...
To live in the UK is to be
envied. Why do so many people from all over the world want to live
here? We are compassionate, strong, safe and rich by comparison; but
most of all, we are free. We keep it that way thanks to our
functioning democracy. Billions of people in the rest of the world
are not so lucky. Remember it well, because there may come a time
when, like our heroic forbears, we are forced to fight for our way of
life.
In conclusion, democracy gives
every single Briton a stake in their destiny. Democracy is a
fundamental aspect of our way of life. Democracy is a gift from our
ancestors. Honour their memory – cherish, use and protect your
vote.
Rule Britannia
*I fully appreciate the irony of
promoting democracy with regards a European entity that isn't
democratic. I will be talking about this in my next blog.
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