A focus on happiness and a citizen’s assembly
It is very common to distrust politicians and leaders. Faith in institutions and the is elite falling. In order for people without power to have a say and temper the excess of repeatedly poorly used political power within parliament, ie the scandal of extremely profitable contracts to sell medical equipment to the NHS being given to friends by Matt Hancock and the Conservative party, there needs to be a righting of power. In addition, newspaper’s are run by the elite, and so can’t be relied upon to give impartial news which serves the interest of the general population. The newspapers have been too often used to distract from issues which would improve the quality of life of the common man, woman and family. Wealth of the richest is growing, people in the middle class, in skilled professions and working people are falling behind and it is expected that technology and falling prices of some consumer goods will make up for the falling purchasing power of average people. However, this assumption is rubbish, many cannot afford reasonable housing and are living in increasing isolation because of reliance on digital technologies. Community is decreasing and public houses are closing, the high street is diminishing and public places are needed now as forever for people to coalesce, develop and maintain relationships and for social cohesion to thrive. In order for people to trust each other and live with feelings of safety, people have to be able to look each other in the eye, as relative partners in society. For this to happen they have to be content with their lives, be able to live reasonably and voice their concerns with effect, should they be reasonable. Happiness of people has been sidelined almost globally at the expense of economic growth, with effects on people’s spiritual & emotional well-being and ability to make friendships, namely as as people seek to achieve higher and higher incomes, individually, as directed by culture and governments, and by media. Social cohesion and interactions with others, I suggest, are more important than material wealth, and wealth can never make up for lack of trust created by large differences in material ownership. The excess of the latter leading to jealousy, more material aspiration and lack of love and seeing people as people, important in themself, rather than objects to a goal.
For the a movement towards inner and social well-being, two things should happen, material differential should be measured, such as using the gini co-efficient, and a goal should be proposed for where to take it, such as 0.25, where the happiest nation, approximately has theirs. Secondly for people to have a chance at political power, to discuss their ideas and pass them onto parliament in a safe and individually confidential space, the should have a citizens assembly.
A citizens assembly may benefit from a panel of experts sitting in and discussing with members of the public. The experts could come with expertise in ethics, commerce, the debated subject and current policy. Motions could be passed to the House of Commons. Through debate scientific and public knowledge could be synthesized into something greater than the sum of it’s parts. Giving politicians a different perspective to consider. At it’s peak it may identify areas of policy where there is relatively strong scientific consensus and a gap in current policy. In order to ensure the public understood the scientific theory they would be obliged to obtain 70% on the subject being debated. The motions would be only concerned with the countries internal politics. An idea might highlight a possibility to help fishermen and store carbon through planting and protecting seagrass. Politicians could set the agenda, ie ways to grow the economy. They’d receive some ideas knowing they could be rejected or refined/considered in parliament. The main benefit to parliament would be a firmer insight into the public’s opinion’s. A secondary benefit would be greater knowledge on the subject at hand. A third benefit would be a more informed public.
In order to stop excessive politics with too much concern on current affairs, the meetings could be bi-annual. On the possibility than this is considered, all points could be conversed based on merit and beliefs.