DEMOCRACY’S RESPONSIBILITY

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20950, 1 November 1939, Page 6

DEMOCRACY’S RESPONSIBILITY

That dangers and responsibilities as well as advantages are attached to the democratic State was emphasised by the Hon. A. Hamilton, Leader of the Opposition, in an address at Rotorua, which calls for critical analysis by all political parties. “The grave responsibility of the Government is to correct and check the flood of public expenditure,” Mr Hamilton said, and there he touched on one of the weaknesses of democracy which affects all parties in a greater or lesser degree. The system in this respect has degenerated until there is a danger that power will go always to the political party that is prepared to offer the highest bid for votes. The weakness is not so much of the democratic system as of the people themselves. Shortsightedness is a notorious failing of the great public anywhere. There is a disposition to favour the administration that promises most, regardless of whether it is in the real interests of the country. Thus a programme of lavish spending seldom fails to attract many supporters, probably in the hope that they will receive their share, or more than their share, of it. Many instances could be quoted of governments which have been swept into power simply because they have promised their supporters everything under the sun. The political party that goes before the electors with a programme of economy, reduced spending, thrift and wise caution begins with a heavy handicap, even though it may be able to demonstrate beyond a shadow of doubt that the country calls aloud '"or the qualities it expounds. That is one of democracy’s responsibilities. To prevent the mad race the individual man and woman must accept the responsibility of judging what is good lor their country from both short and long points of view. They must learn to .vote with a full realisation that the future of their country is in their own hands. In that respect a democratic government is a reflex of the people themselves. The privilege of self-government is of no value unless the people themselves have the power of discernment and the will to discipline themselves. If the people decide that any attempt at economy and prudence is old-fashioned, irksome and wholly unnecessary in the modern world, that sentiment will find expression in their government.