During a Newsnight interview with Kirsty Wark broadcast last Monday (14/12/2009), Simon Cowell proposed the idea of an X-Factor style politics programme. In his proposal the great British public would be given the chance to vote referendum style on the big issues of the day, sending a clear message to the Government on how they should be dealt with.
It is easy to be cynical. You could fear that Cowell's comments are a dangerous statement of intent from a megalomaniacal control freak who, no longer satisfied with dictating the nation's music tastes, has his surgically lifted eyes fixed on running the country. Alternatively you could also dismiss his comments as naive and ridiculous, noting that very few big political decisions come down to a simple yes/no decision.
To Cowell's credit he was honest about his political naivety and made clear he would never host or even appear on such a show. What Cowell has done, perhaps inadvertently, is to tap into an ever increasing distrust of the political system and the political class in this country. More than ever, following the drawn out saga of the expenses scandal and unpopular wars in the Middle East, British people feel Westminster has lost all accountability to the masses. Unless Cameron can impress upon the electorate that he is a new type of political leader, and it will take more than a dodgy portrait, the next election will in all probability have a very low turnout.
So some might say Cowell's televised referendums are just what the nation needs but political populism is not the utopian answer it may seem. The direct democratic process in Switzerland recently banned the building of minarets in its country, despite the decision causing alarm and confusion around the world. The referendum victory for those who wanted to ban building minarets was achieved because of a low voter turnout and a very affective campaign. Despite Switzerland only having four minarets, its populous was sufficiently scared enough to believe that the construction of anymore would lead to the countries total Islamification and the introduction of Sharia law.
The problem with public votes is that the majority of those who can be bothered to take part in them often make strange decisions. Those who follow local politics will be aware of the monkey who was elected mayor of Hartlepool and those who watch X-Factor will know all about the bizarre success of Jedward. Voters can also be highly influenced by PR and media campaigns and see dangers and problems, like in minaret referendum, where none exist.
Our democracy is not built on the masses making important decisions; it is built on electing politicians to take those decisions on our behalf. Members of the general public do not need to be experts on fiscal policy, the management of local services or foreign diplomacy, politicians are paid to do this for us. Cowell's X-Factor democracy may energise political debate if it ever happens but it should not be allowed to influence policy making. If it does, Britain may end up with its own equivalent to the minaret ban.
Wednesday 23 December 2009
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