Response by a Derry anarchist to proposal for a local
alliance to contest elections
The leaflet below is a response by a Derry anarchist to an SWP/ Green
Party/Foyle Basin Council proposal for a local alliance to contest
elections.
RETRO-POLITICS
SOME POINTS TO CONSIDER
- An effective alliance of the left and environmentalists in
this town would be welcome and is necessary, but need not be
focused on electoralism. Voting is a passive act and it also
disempowers people.
- Electoral politics are the realm of political parties who seek
power. As such, the forthcoming elections will serve chiefly as a
constituency experiment for both socialists and greens who may at
a later stage abandon the alliance to stand as independent
parties. This does not mean that the issues will not be raised,
but it does mean that they will be of secondary importance to
party ambitions.
- Turn-outs at elections are consistently dwindling, and
especially at local elections. This reflects a distrust and a
disinterest in conventional (and boring) politics. The Zapatistan
uprising and global anti-capitalist protests have shown, however,
that the politics of community struggle are the way forward. The
alliance's proposed involvement in electoralism will only show,
particularly to the young, that politics still takes place in
political parties and the debating chamber, not in their own
communities.
- Even if issues are raised it is extremely unlikely that the
councillors elected will give them serious consideration. Ordinary
people will just be turned off, as they usually are by
electioneering.
- Electoral politics are essentially elitist because they are
based on the selection of political leaders who will be given
power rather than encouraging people to be involved in mass
politics. Remember, power corrupts.
IF POLITICS ARE ABOUT ANYTHING THEY ARE ABOUT ENGAGING AND
INVOLVING PEOPLE IN STRUGGLE NOT PLACING THEM OUTSIDE OF IT. PUTTING
A CROSS IN A BOX TO CHOOSE A POLITICIAN PLACES PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF THE
DECISIONS THAT AFFECT THEIR LIVES. AN ALLIANCE THAT INVOLVES PEOPLE
RATHER THAN USES THEM AS VOTES IS THE ONLY WAY FORWARD