Voting for change and for people
Image: SChrist
“Elections have consequences!” a US trade representative said at a conference back in 2019 or thereabouts, referring to how the then US President’s forays into trade agreements were a debacle compared to New Zealand’s trend of mutually useful trade agreements globally. Donald Trump had exited from the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement, and from just about every other avenue to multinational cooperation that he could influence or have a say in, at that time.
It is something to consider if you are heading to the polls in November in the US, or indeed anywhere else. Maybe it’s more about the party over there, rather than the person, in this election. You the people have to decide, whether you’d like to continue with some kind of sensible government or revert to chaos and mayhem with a second term. Populist noise and a giant ego, versus actually doing something for the populace.
Here in the UK, the election is over, and the new members of Parliament are heading into Westminster Palace to get their lanyards, laptops and office spaces. The new PM is flying to the various nations in the UK to greet the first ministers there and will be off to Washington DC for the NATO meeting next. I’ll warn my fellow Americans now. Starmer doesn’t smile much, and often looks concerned. But there is a massive brain behind that façade.
In France, they have had two votes in two weeks, and now have a bit of a hung Parliament, where deals must be struck to ensure the country moves forward. What was wonderful to see was the move by the left to group together to ensure that Le Pen and her ilk did not come out first. As an immigrant myself, I took heart from that.
This is how democracy works. It is messy and awful at times, but it’s better than the alternative, which is where the autocrat decides the outcome, and pretends you have a choice.
The freedom to put that X in the box on the paper and pop the paper into a larger box, or to pull that lever, is one that should never be discounted or taken for granted. Too many people suffer worldwide, wishing for the same thing.
- Suzanne Christiansen, editor, Dairy Industries International.
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