THE H.B. TRIBUNE SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1927 POLITICAL GRATITUDE

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 1 October 1927, Page 4

THE H.B. TRIBUNE SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1927 POLITICAL GRATITUDE

AN AMERICAN university professor, William Bennett Munro, has something to say on the scant gratitude that is shown by the electors for the really good work, so far as the community as a whole in concerned, that statesmen, and sometimes even mere politicians, do for them. At elections, he says, “people are very apt to vote their resentment, not their appreciation. The average man does not vote for anything, but against something. There are exceptions to this generalisation, of course, but it is fundamentally so true that it may be set down as another law of politics.” The voter, as a rule, keeps a one-sided account with his rulers and representatives. His ledger has a debit side only—with no credit side. He makes a mental entry of anything that arouses his disapproval; but what pleases him he takes for granted and simply dismisses from his mind. If taxes go up he remembers it; if they go down he forgets. Thus, on the face of things one might imagine it good politics to offend 40 per cent, of the voters if such action were assured of approval from the remaining 60 per cent. But the seasoned campaigner knows that this is very poor political mathematics. He has no patience with a quantitative theory of votes and voting. Ballots are counted equally, no doubt; but not all voters are equally susceptible to the same motives in casting their ballots. A mayor who denies an increase of pay to the city employees may by that action bitterly offend 10 per cent, of the electorate while gaining the approval of the other nine-tenths. But does anyone imagine that this mayor, when he comes up for reelection, will profit at the polls by a ratio of nine to one 1 The great majority of the voters who have been pleased by the mayor’s action will forget all about it long before the next election edmes around. They are but mildly moved by motives of gratitude, dr not moved at all. But the small minority of employees who were grievously disappointed and embittered hy the

mayor’s insistence on economy—they have long memories. They and their relatives and their friends will appear at the polls 100 per cent, strong and to a man and a woman, they will register their resentment.

“Two and two do not always make four in politics,” says the American professor. “Majority sentiment does not always rule. Elections are determined, not by the opinions of the whole people, but by the preponderating sentiment of those who go to the polls. And this is largely dependent upon the intensity of the feeling that has been created among the electorate.” Thus it comes to pass that an administration which honestly tries to promote the greatest good of the greatest number is predestined to weaken its hold upon the people and ultimately throw itself out of power. “Utilitarianism may be sound political philosophy, but in practical politics it beckons along the path to disaster. The rulers, in a democracy, preserve their hold by the avoidance of antagonisms — even if the best interests of the majority suffer thereby. It is for this reason that an administration with a negative record often proves stronger at the polls than one which has been active, positive and constructive. A regrettable situation, to be sure, but one which seems to arise from the perversities of human nature.” Although he is dealing with the American voter, there are many politicians elsewhere who will agree with what Professor Munro has to say. Any lasting gratitude for really statesmanlike actions of general benefit, especially in connection with home affairs, is generally left for expression by another generation that sees things in truer perspective and proportion, and undistorted by considerations of individual selfinterest.