I have always wondered how any politician can get his work done for his constituents when all he seems to be doing the year round is getting ready for the next election. They are either campaigning to be elected or once elected, running for re-election. Is it the political system or is it the wrong ideals that makes these people behave this way? After all, the common man votes for a particular candidate hoping he will solve their problems. While campaigning of course these candidates fall over themselves promising to move heaven and earth to do whatever it takes to find solutions to everyone’s problem whereas once the elections are over, very little or nothing is done. The next time you see him is when he’s at your door asking your vote for re-election.
Disillusioned with politics
The youth of today on the whole are not really interested in politics, calling it a game of “wheeling and dealing”. But the reality of politics is just that. It’s only the ones with a sense of idealism that are attracted to politics hoping to make a difference in the world. Before entering politics, they honestly think so and wonder why their peers cannot understand this when it’s a simple case of doing what is right and good for the people. But, as we all know, today’s politics have nothing to do with ‘ideals’ and is far more a case of “you rub my back and I’ll do the same for you”. It’s only when he gets into it he realizes that politics is in fact everything to do with “wheeling and dealing” and nothing gets done without money and power.
What happens in the end is that unless the new politician joins the band wagon, his chances of being re-elected are almost zero and if he does follow the rest, he will have hardly any chance of acting on his ideals or keeping up to the promises made to his voters. He will after all be a very small grain of sand in a vast ocean that can hardly create a ripple of any consequence. Once his backers with the same sort of ideals realize this, they in turn become disillusioned and arrive at the conclusion that once inside, all politicians are the same and this makes the present day youth move away from politics. Those who enter the game with their eyes and minds wide open and who come from a political background are the ones who survive, because they know what to expect and are ready with their own weapons to carve a niche for themselves.
But the only remedy for this disease is exercising our power to vote and discharge the duties of a responsible citizen. One has to traverse the hard way in order to bring about a change for the better. Until and unless we do not put our hands in the muck, it will stay there forever and stagnate even more. Passing the buck won’t help. Almost every field today has its bit of muck, it is just that politics is not as glamorous and convenient an option to opt for.
Changing existing mindsets
The media can play a great role in motivating the youth to join politics. Attitudinal changes need to be brought about by reporting of positive changes and developments in politics and not just negative or cynical news stories or polishing our PM image on TV every day, which is boring and disgusting for the youth to watch. By covering events where the youth has helped in shaping the course of important political issues, the media can compel changes in the existing mindsets.
Our youth should be inspired by their American counterparts who have brought about a revolution in American politics by electing Barack Obama, a young Afro-American leader as America’s President. In fact, Internet and technology played a major role in influencing this historical event. Presidential debates were facilitated by means of sites like You Tube where the American youth were given a forum to address their concerns and queries to the Presidential candidates which proved to be a huge success.
We all know that a nation's future will be determined by its youth, even the old cliché approved of that. The depoliticisation process or in simpler terms, a disengagement from the world of politics that the youth in Mauritius is facing today can be remedied. It is said that ‘In every year of history one law has invariably proved its unchanging truth: youth will always triumph over age.’ This rhetoric can surely be turned into reality if the youth desires.</span>
Krishna JADUNUNDUN
On behalf of MMM Youth Wing
L'express weekly - Friday 14 January 2011
Disillusioned with politics
The youth of today on the whole are not really interested in politics, calling it a game of “wheeling and dealing”. But the reality of politics is just that. It’s only the ones with a sense of idealism that are attracted to politics hoping to make a difference in the world. Before entering politics, they honestly think so and wonder why their peers cannot understand this when it’s a simple case of doing what is right and good for the people. But, as we all know, today’s politics have nothing to do with ‘ideals’ and is far more a case of “you rub my back and I’ll do the same for you”. It’s only when he gets into it he realizes that politics is in fact everything to do with “wheeling and dealing” and nothing gets done without money and power.
What happens in the end is that unless the new politician joins the band wagon, his chances of being re-elected are almost zero and if he does follow the rest, he will have hardly any chance of acting on his ideals or keeping up to the promises made to his voters. He will after all be a very small grain of sand in a vast ocean that can hardly create a ripple of any consequence. Once his backers with the same sort of ideals realize this, they in turn become disillusioned and arrive at the conclusion that once inside, all politicians are the same and this makes the present day youth move away from politics. Those who enter the game with their eyes and minds wide open and who come from a political background are the ones who survive, because they know what to expect and are ready with their own weapons to carve a niche for themselves.
But the only remedy for this disease is exercising our power to vote and discharge the duties of a responsible citizen. One has to traverse the hard way in order to bring about a change for the better. Until and unless we do not put our hands in the muck, it will stay there forever and stagnate even more. Passing the buck won’t help. Almost every field today has its bit of muck, it is just that politics is not as glamorous and convenient an option to opt for.
Changing existing mindsets
The media can play a great role in motivating the youth to join politics. Attitudinal changes need to be brought about by reporting of positive changes and developments in politics and not just negative or cynical news stories or polishing our PM image on TV every day, which is boring and disgusting for the youth to watch. By covering events where the youth has helped in shaping the course of important political issues, the media can compel changes in the existing mindsets.
Our youth should be inspired by their American counterparts who have brought about a revolution in American politics by electing Barack Obama, a young Afro-American leader as America’s President. In fact, Internet and technology played a major role in influencing this historical event. Presidential debates were facilitated by means of sites like You Tube where the American youth were given a forum to address their concerns and queries to the Presidential candidates which proved to be a huge success.
We all know that a nation's future will be determined by its youth, even the old cliché approved of that. The depoliticisation process or in simpler terms, a disengagement from the world of politics that the youth in Mauritius is facing today can be remedied. It is said that ‘In every year of history one law has invariably proved its unchanging truth: youth will always triumph over age.’ This rhetoric can surely be turned into reality if the youth desires.</span>
Krishna JADUNUNDUN
On behalf of MMM Youth Wing
L'express weekly - Friday 14 January 2011
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