When the States was composed of independent members only, there were demands for political parties.
When the Committee system operated as a chums business there were calls for “something “ different.
When States members were unpaid there were calls that they should all be paid in the interests of fairness and democracy.
But now there are strong public voices in favour of undoing the reforms of the past.
Yet the real cause of the failure of Jersey’s governmental system rests with the huge majority of the public who do not even vote.
Just once every 4 years cannot be too onerous a task.
Even if spoiling the ballot paper is the only option for some of the “electorate” at least we can demonstrate that we do have an interest in the processes of government and that we do care.
It is not the candidates that are to blame – it is “us” the general population who need to reform our own attitudes in order that a better “system” can be nurtured before it dies completely.
Submitted by Tom Gruchy.
