Election time is upon us
How does the situation of the Common Good stand among the jiggery-pokery of election campaigning.
Most of the parties (who are not Labour) say they will reverse the privatisation decision. But what usually happens when those, not in power, get in power? No party is going to go out on a limb on this, just in case it's to much bother for them to reverse - or it may prove useful to them, if things stay just as they are. This isn't controversial or anything, for those in the know, have known for ages that - it was going to happen. Why didn't they act then? And why are they not making noise even now?
"I don't understand why this hasn't been a major feature in the media as a local election issue, it's by far the biggest recent story in Glasgow city politics yet nothing has appeared in any of the regional newspapers for the last two weeks" www.glasgowlost.org
Elections are always pitched as a opportunity for renewal, change and the exercise of democracy but can just as easily be interpreted as the reshuffle of more Crooks and Liars. One thing is for sure folk are getting sick of the deceit. But democracy is as much to do with responsibility, as it is to do with choice.
The onus on preserving the Common Good, is in the hands of Glasgow's citizens, not on Glasgow City Council, or any future party elect. The fact that this move [privatisation] is a surprise to most Glaswegian's, is evidence enough, of a complete lack, or not enough attention to our common interests by any of the parties.
The Common Good is not the preserve of government administrators, but the citizens themselves - if we don't use it, we lose it. The biggest loss to the Common Good, if it is taken from the public, is not the physical assets, but the social interaction that these assets make available, to everyone. This is what has deteriorated and allowed the theft to take place. If we lose the Common Good, it will not be because of what the Council do, but what we [public] haven't or don't do.
We shouldn't spend to much time in wondering why the council do such things. We should be thinking of why we let them and how to stop them doing these things.
Glasgow's City Parks were privatised last year, (probably still news to most folk) under a fanfare of near silence. At least then, when this part of the Common Good was privatised, there was an "attempt" at consultation - if you could managed to search out the consultation document to fill in. It's as if this time the colonisers have just said. "Ahh just do it, nobody will be to bothered" and they were not far wrong. No matter who gets elected, no mater if the decision is reversed, the Common Good will always be under threat - if not from predatory councilors and business - then from a public culture of indifference
The Common Good is not just dead matter, but should also encompasses the spirit of resistance - of a hurt to one - is a hurt to all. Without this it is worthless.
No mater how much we love it: As Picasso said: "It is not enough to love, you must prove your love by action"
P.S.
We are never short of a few ideas for "activities" down at City Strolls.