By: Zala Klopčič
Before every election, we hear many exaggerated and utopian promises of candidates and their political campaigns. If we vote for them, everything will be different, even better, because a new face is coming, and a better and more beautiful future awaits us. The average voter likes to hear such promises in the hope that they will be fulfilled but seems to be disappointed again and again. If we also consider the skilful rhetoric of political speakers who almost manipulate us, it is quite difficult to resist the urge to vote for them, as they will undoubtedly ensure general improvement and prosperity in all areas. But do we maybe sometimes wonder about the meaning and coherence of these often-empty promises?
The elite who leads our country bear a great responsibility and take care of both their own reputation and the reputation of the country in which they hold an extremely important position, be it as president, prime minister, foreign minister, or if you want, the president of the parliament. These are the people who represent us in the world and the majority chose them as their representatives in the elections, and they should therefore be an example to us. An example of a sovereign, independent and empowered person, extremely capable in his field. Popular politicians should therefore provide stable government, laws and a working environment in which people can create and build for our society. They must create the best possible conditions for career, social and entrepreneurial engagement. However, in order to encourage people to create, the state must provide stable legislation and a tax system that must be predictable in the long term, so that there is of course no excessive risk of joining the active and creative working class of the population, which is undoubtedly indispensable for our society.
When an individual realises that he is able to support himself and others through his own creation and diligence, this will bring prosperity to our country. If all of us who are capable of any kind of creation realise that we are capable of surviving on our own without systematic help from the state, this will be a solution for the entire society. More and more people rely lightly on state or social assistance, despite the fact that they are actually capable of doing a lot of work. Unfortunately, the minimum net wage and welfare are not differentiated enough for this financial aspect to entice our passive citizens and tear them out of their comfort zone. This is a very bad example for our descendants, who should be raised to be innovative and hardworking people who will know and want to take care of themselves and their families and at the same time not rely too much on the state. In actuality, we are entering unpredictable and unstable times and, as a result, unstable governments, which is the reason for the nation’s fear and passivity.
It is no surprise that the loudest and most persistent always get what they ask for. Politicians fulfil their various wishes and thus buy themselves peace, while at the same time securing the electorate. Unfortunately, we are not the most honest and fair people by nature, and that is why we often demand something that we do not really deserve and, rationally speaking, it simply does not belong to us. I would like a more critical attitude of our voters towards the promises made by politicians during their election campaigns, be it parliamentary or local. Do we really want to have people in power who fulfil our promises, so to speak, at our expense? After all, we, the citizens, are dutiful payers into the state treasury, and we should be more interested in and control where our money goes and how it is distributed.
Let’s ask ourselves why we applaud the one who promises higher wages and at the same time shorter working hours, if this means that less money will flow in and more will go out of the state coffers. If the state gives somewhere, it must take somewhere, and every individual with the right to vote should somehow be aware of this. According to some unreasonable logic, state institutions always take even when there is nowhere to take, i.e., they take on debt, and with this money they buy a new electorate and thus repeat the process. Meanwhile, the debts keep getting bigger and bigger in this vicious circle. So, think carefully about which number you circle on the ballot paper, because the final payers of this debt will be us, the taxpayers and one day our children, and I do not think it is fair that we should have to pay loans that we did not take on ourselves.
Therefore, ask yourself once again if you really want to have someone in such a responsible position who just irrationally promises to raise wages and pensions, shorten working hours and the like. The recipe for prosperity is hidden in creativity and in a working person who knows and wants to take care of himself and is encouraged by the state with stable legislation and moderate taxes. At the end of the day, a successful and hardworking person is proud and satisfied with himself because he contributed something to society and thus ensured success for himself and his family, and we must not allow honest work to cease to be a value and a reason for satisfaction in our society and peace of mind.
Of course, every reasonable citizen questions the meaning of elections and voter turnout, because in the first half of the year we witnessed a very unusual turn of events, namely the two biggest losers of the April parliamentary elections made their way to ministerial positions despite the fact that the voters made it clear that they no longer want them in the political space. Long live democracy! This move by the current government was very disrespectful and ignorant towards us voters, but on the other hand somehow understandable, because the respective losers somehow had to be rewarded and paid for leaving the electorate to the winner of that election. I also find it fascinating how much support the current presidential candidate has received from the political left. Her purely capitalist-oriented values are in direct conflict with the values of the average left-wing voter, who rejects such multi-capitalism and encourages “small” people.
In this place, I would like to encourage people once again to think critically and look for a long-term solution when deciding which people, they want in important positions. We are going to the polls a few more times this year, and it is our civic duty to consciously inquire about the given candidates and examine their experience, knowledge, and values, and focus a little less on their empty promises, which will cost us dearly. Let’s not repeat past mistakes, we will have a make-up exam only in a few years.