The Political Lie: 7 Reasons Nothing Changes, No Matter Whom You Vote For

Over 17 years ago, USA President Barack Obama burst on the scene with a stirring "Yes, We Can". Many of the American population, especially the youth, were galvanised into action, having been in some despair about the Bush years. They saw Obama's vision, they could feel the possibilities, they loved his speeches and jumped on to his bandwagon. The rest is history as he stormed the White House.

Towards the end of his presidency there was some talk of voters being 'disillusioned', of him lacking 'leadership', of the president being 'weak', of falling approval ratings, and all such negative perceptions. But was that really the case, or did some people just expect too much of a mere mortal? 

More interesting, are we operating in entirely different times which need a different political approach and reaction if any leader is to be perceived as achieving anything of value? Worse still, can any future politician cut the mustard and please the people all the time?

Politicians now have to appeal to a BROAD church of voters, and that hasn’t really happened yet, juding by the mantra of the Reform Party with their exclusionist approach. Current politicians appear to be seeking easy answers and are also blissfully unaware of the seven other hidden factors in operation that are working against them. 

1. Wider access to Information

This has been the biggest and most influential change in the world of politics. The ready access to information by voters - especially through the ubiquitous Internet - means that politicians can't make silly promises anymore because there is too much scepticism, and too many ‘receipts’ available to challenge their hypocrisy. The Internet has singlehandedly changed the way we view politics, politicians and the whole campaigning process, especially with everything available in one place to view or interact with. The power of anything to go viral immediately - and to stay there in a mocking way - has chastened many a politician, or even deprived them of their seats! 

Politicians now refuse to say anything spontaneous and tend just to resort to boring, or predictable, sound bytes so that they are seen to be saying the 'right' thing, but not necessarily the truth, or the most appropriate. The emphasis is now on form over substance and a genuine fear of giving the ‘wrong’ comment. Moreover, people are not so easily taken in by false promises, or exaggeration, because they can fact check details for themselves.

2. The Empty Cupboard (Debt) 

Politicians are constantly fighting over how to spend your money, but the truth is that the cupboard is bare. The UK is currently spending more on interest for its debts than on most government departments. No matter who wins, they’re just "managing decline” - as the Labour government has been struggling to combat the effects of the Brexit fallout- not building a future.

3. The "Ghost” Architects (Civil Service) Politicians come and go, but this steadfast army of people who actually run the governments departments stay forever. If the system doesn't want change, a new face won't make a dent. They’re just the decoration on a building that’s already been built. Politicians also only think four years ahead because they want to get re-elected. Real problems (like housing and the NHS) take 20 years or more to fix. They’d rather give you an “NHS app" today than a functioning country tomorrow.

4. The Rise of Globalism) Whether it's energy prices or trade, big decisions are often made in rooms where your politician wasn't invited - like in Brussels, Washington, or by global markets. Your local MP is often just a middleman with no real power to change the price of your bread.

This effect of globalism is the least understood and often denied, yet is is growing more in influence day by day, thanks to the Internet. One only has to see what is happening in Europe and the euro to appreciate just how much countries control the fortunes of each other nowadays. No one country can exist by itself anymore, mainly because of the shared banking system and the increasing dependency on trade with others, as Donald Trump is proving with his foolhardy tariffs. 

5. Changing Social Values

A most dramatic change in society is that politicians are not treated with the deference or automatic respect they used to command. They have to earn their respect and attention almost every day, as the public become impatient and frustrated with the seemlngly ‘flawed’ ones. Furthermore, what used to be social priorities in the past: like community cohesion, the family, serving the nation, chivalry, integrity, the protection of women, character etc., are not at the forefront of our lives anymore. Our increasing independence, women now leading lives of their own without recourse to men, and, above all, politics being regarded as a cynical activity engaged in mainly by people who are hungry for power, has put paid to such values holding sway. 

Instead individualism is encouraged and people wait to be convinced by the emerging political hopefuls with big dreams and little awareness of the political reality.

For example, the negative perception of President Obama, especially by Republicans, stemmed from the rude awakening he had as his vision of ideal government, in which 'change' can come easily, clashed violently with the partisan powerful reality of obstructionism. This often left him helpless and adrift, at the mercy of a cynical opposition party with two heads.

In this category is also identity politics. Politicians have learned that they can distract you with "culture wars" and "diversity boxes" so you don't notice the economy is flatlining. They use people as shields to avoid answering why the potholes on your street hasn't been fixed, or the lack of facilities for the young. 

6. Lobbying: Most politicians aren't looking at your life; they’re looking at their next job. Why upset a big corporation today when that corporation is going to give you a £200k "consultancy" role the day you leave office? 

Today's world has so many vested interests one only has to see what happens when a new Congressional or Parliamentary Act is in progress. The stakeholders come out in force to either try to block it or to give it support. Like the drinks lobby in Britain. A lot could have been done much earlier about the awful binge drinking among youngsters. But that would have upset the powerful brewing industry, so lip service was continually paid by various governments in order to keep business happy, while our youngsters stumble along helplessly, increasingly blighted by alcohol. 

In fact, corporates are now like little countries themselves: with jobs to protect, massive budgets to manage and goods to deliver. Their main motive is of course, profit. But many of them now get extra power through being community conscious and even interfering with government policies. It also means that they will strive to keep their market share and position by fair means or foul. 

Money is power for the big magnates and that also means political power for the politicians they back (cue Elon Musk), so there's no such thing as a 'free lunch' in this new world of corporate influence. Hence politicians will always be in hock, be obliged to give something in return for such largesse, which ultimately takes away their independence, rob them of the scope to act, and keep business and its privileges as their priority instead of their voters.

Image by Capcut

7. Historical Shift: Politicians keep trying to fix 21st-century problems with 19th-century ideas. They are stuck in a ‘linear trap’, doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. Until we use a different mindset, that equals advancing technology, to redesign the system, we’re just swapping one political captain of a sinking ship for another.

After all, we have moved inexorably from an authoritarian society to an authoritative one, where everyone is now an expert on everything!! It means that power has been wrested from those who govern to the public at large, who are able to assess the situations for themselves and pronounce on them too, even without evidence! Everyone takes delight in fact-checking and disproving everything! Gone are the days when governments could make cock-ups and hide them for years, or lie about policy and not be found out for ages. 

For example, Britain was in desperate trouble immediately after the second world war, especially when America refused to help without a reciprocal gesture, and the country almost went bankrupt! Yet that was not revealed until 40 years later!! Today we know the economic state of the countries on a daily basis. Now governments are having to rule by consensus than by dictat because they really can't hide much anymore. Wikileaks has seen too that!

In view of those factors, anyone thinking that they'll get better results from government just by changing politicians are in for a rude shock. NO politician can really deliver anymore because voters are not in the dark or naive about politics, and greater information have merely boosted expectations to well nigh impossible levels, while corporates are flexing their economic muscle. Voters can also see a lot for themselves but, worst of all, they no longer have any respect for political office. And where there is no respect, there is no desire to listen or to learn.

So what is the answer for voters?

You vote for the politician who seems willing to at least act differently: to try new approaches with some genuine common sense, and then lower those expectations to something more realistic and achievable to avoid being too disappointed.

(Main image by Gemini)