Rt Hon Stephen DorrellWe are sometimes told that people – particularly young people – are “no longer interested in politics”. I don’t believe it.
Of course people are not interested in the machinations of party politicians. They never were.
But the issues which politicians deal with are of real importance and real interest. It isn’t difficult to persuade people that decisions are about war and peace in Iraq are important.
Nor is it difficult to understand why decisions about the future of international trade which affect every business in Britain – as well as the lives of countless millions of people in countries which remain poor because of their isolation from the world trading system – are important.
And it is not just our generation, and not just the people of Britain, who will care about the decisions we take on depletion of oil reserves, environmental pollution, greenhouse gas emissions and so on. These are decisions which will shape the environment in which we live, and which we pass on to our children and grandchildren.
Similarly, although the political debate can often seem petty, we can all agree that decisions about our pension arrangements, the shape of our education and health services, the transport infrastructure and law enforcement – as well as the associated questions of tax levels – are decisions which concern us all.
So it isn’t true that people are “no longer interested in politics”.
It is politicians that don’t interest them.
If you think these issues are important – and who doesn’t? – why not get involved and help us do it better?
|
|
| |