Despairingly Dull Election Campaign

This Scottish election campaign is despairingly dull.  It’s an insult to the intelligence of any Scot worth his salt.  With a few occasional exceptions, the party leaders have failed to inspire and the much-heralded television debates have consistently resembled the sixth year debating society.  The debates were devoid of engagement and questioning and amounted to little more than proclamation and sniping.  How can BBC Scotland hype up its election coverage as if it is going to be the most exciting thing to happen in ages?

Parliamentary democracy in the UK was designed to work by electors voting for individuals of calibre and worth, regardless of party.  That way we end up with a parliament capable of debating things with the benefit of experience and wisdom, and the result is strong, effective government and the advance of the national interest.  In the UK that, regrettably, has gone down the pan and we now vote for parties and not for worthy individuals.  Thus the focus on the leaders, like some gladiatorial contest.  The result is a downward spiral with low calibre politicians more concerned, given a maximum term of 5 years, to win power or, if in power, retain it, instead of working to create conditions which will advance long-term strategies in the national interest. Add to that the party managers with an eye to their careers and financial security, and an electorate motivated by self-interest, and you have the perfect recipe for national decline.

I had hoped, two years ago, that the Scottish referendum would have resulted in an opportunity to break away from that outworn and discredited UK politic.  I had hoped for an opportunity for imaginative folks of wisdom, acumen and experience to take a lead in forging a new dimension for Scotland.  We know however how that turned out.

Where is Scotland now?  Ever more centralist, ever more left-leaning.  This is not good.  All I hear are politicians focussed on what’s wrong and proclaiming what they want to do to resolve it.  Without real debate and cross examination these are just meaningless aspirations.  They smack of an appeal for votes from an uninformed and naïve electorate.  I hear no acknowledgement of Scottish successes and vibrant innovative economy.  This is a lamentably immature approach to politics and progression of the national interest.

If resources are directed into improving social housing provision, for example, or education, then it is transparently obvious that cash will be diverted away other programmes.  Either that, or taxes will need to rise.  What we need to know, Mr or Mrs politician, is not what you pledge to achieve but how it is to be achieved.  We need to understand the downsides, for downsides are inevitable.  We need to see a costed business plan which has been subject to due diligence.  Think of us, the electorate, as potential investors in your proposal.  You need to convince us that it stands up.  Are we Scots so gullible that we’ll vote for whichever party tells us it will give us what we’d like to see, without any reasoned path to delivery?

And where are the folks of wisdom in Scotland in the run up to this election?  I hear precious little acknowledgement of the vigour and success of the small business sector in Scotland which generates about half of the country’s GDP (source).  Ultimately business is the sole source of government finance (if we except cash coming from external sources).  It’s thriving business that creates jobs, and consequently tax revenues.  It’s the corporation tax, VAT and employees’ income tax flowing from business which funds government expenditure programmes, and it’s telling indeed that we’ve heard nothing in this facile election campaign about how to nurture and grow that source of revenue.  Where are the folks behind those businesses in these days before the election?

Is it the case that they feel it doesn’t matter because ultimately their interests are fostered by UK?  Do they feel, as I’ve heard folks say, that polite people don’t talk about politics?  I hear plenty of huffing and puffing about the perceived nastiness of the SNP - huffing and puffing by Scots who seem blindly hefted to the UK.  But, with a devolved Scottish parliament, those who are politically vociferous are having disproportionate influence, the political dynamic derives its power from that sector, and we’re moving steadily to a centralist regime which fails to acknowledge and encourage the dynamic localism and economic vigour essential for a healthy thriving democracy.

Which of the local candidates, which of the Scottish parties, will be capable of redressing this imbalance?    How should I vote on Thursday?  For the first time ever, I truly don’t know.  This is not a good state of affairs.