Notice that I have entitled this post as the "political class", not the "political elite", though our politicians appear to consider themselves thus.
In Scotland despite the opposition of some 64% of those who cared enough to take part in the government's so called consultation, a bill to permit gay marriage was passed almost unopposed! Politicians appear to think they know best.
I am all for equality, but marriage is an institution that stands for more than mutual love. If the only criteria for marriage is a deep and abiding love, as seemed to be the view of the gay leader of the Scottish Conservatives, where does this end? Should siblings not be permitted to wed? If not why not?
That is a serious question - unanswered by the politicians. 100 years ago same sex marriage would have been unthinkable, so why not sibling marriage. Arguably there is a need. Siblings living together lack the tax protections from, for example, inheritance tax, enjoyed by a married couple. Is that fair?
A line has to be drawn somewhere. Politicians are either our representatives or merely those we imbue with the power to rule us. If not the first then what is democracy? Increasingly we bow to the dictat of unelected bureaucrats , in the EU an out of it. Does it even matter if those we elect ignore our wishes?
There are other examples than gay marriage, such as foreign aid perhaps? unfettered immigration? or even EU membership. When we bow to the view of a politician we give up a lot. It behooves the politician to, at least, listen to those who elect him, and if they disagree to explain why, not simply to declare "it is the right thing to do", as was stated by the Scottish deputy First Minister. Such a declaration implies a higher level of - intelligence? - morality? Do we honestly believe either of the foregoing statements applies to our political class?
Is it any wonder that more and more people are disenchanted with politics? I think not. It is past time that those who, evidently see themselves as our moral an intellectual guardians exercised some humility and started listening.
Thanks for reading.
