A FEW REFLECTIONS.

Waikato Times, Volume 118, Issue 19663, 24 August 1935, Page 9

A FEW REFLECTIONS.

I ■ I(To the Editor.) Sir, —The preliminary rumblings of 1 the pending general election give rise to various speculations in the mind of one who is trying to look at life from the outside, having already played his part and all but left the stage. I trust that these reflections of mine may be the cause of reflection | on the part of others. [ Disraeli defined politics!: “Politics is the art of ruling mankind by deceiving them." I think a review of our political fleld will show that there . is as much truth as cynicism in that definition. The fundamental difficulty in democratic universal suffrage countries is the impossibility of getting many, if not most, of the electors to see that the State cannot make any free gifts, I either to the whole body or to a class. Whatever the State gives, the people I buy. Yet we constantly find politicians on the hunt for popularity and votes trying to convince the that an abstraction like the State is a sort, of deity gifted with the miraculous power of calling, not being, into being. Thus this silly superstition of the unlimited power of the State is widened and strengthened. As long as this superstition prevails so long will it be necessary for politicians in search of place and power to pander to at by promising all sorts of free gifts from the State, for which the people will be subsequently called upon to pay. English writers have pointed out that it was this fatuous policy that was largely responsible for the British financial crisis of 1931. The political parties had outbid each other for votes to such an extent that the nation could no longer bear the consequent burden. •' Another method, favoured chiefly by the Socialists, is to rob Peter to pay Paul; to promise Paul all sorts of benefits at • the expense of Peter. Peter Is ruined and Paul seems no better off. A nation cannot prosper by shifting Its money from A’s pocket to B‘s.

Then there is another myth that has always seemed to me a pure farce — namely, that elections are necessary to obtain public opinion, the general will, the thought of the electorate, and so on. That might have some force under certain conditions — namely, if the electors had a sound and adequate knowledge of the subjects upon which they were called to give a decision; if they were not bought by propaganda under the influence of mob psychology; if they really took a lively and intelligent interest in their own public business —which they do ndt do. They accept their opinions ready made, swallowing holus-bolus the propaganda that makes the strongest appeal to their passions and prejudices; which offers (hem the most for nothing, or the least; and the result is supposed to be the quintessence of the national wisdom —but is rather of its folly. With your kind permission I shall give some more reflections in future issues.—l am, etc., BYSTANDER. Ngaruawahia, August 22, 1935.