Surrey has got a new mayor and unlike the backbench wheeling and dealing that preludes appointing a mayor in the Netherlands, this one was voted by the people. Judging by the number of contestants that are mentioned on the billboards at the roadside it is quite a popular job too.
Although billboards often are eyesores I must admit, I also noticed their added value in the democratic process. The public use billboards to get their opinion across about a candidate or to make minor adjustments to the election team. And it works. Election billboards thus function as a point of contact between candidate and electorate. All that a candidate has to do is collect the remarks made and adjust the election message accordingly. No need to appear on TV anymore to be subjected to tedious interrogations. How easy would that be for a would-be mayor?
Of course it would be handy when members of the public would leave their name and address behind to make it easy for the relevant candidate to check whether the adjustments made are to their liking. For some vague reason this rarely happens though.
Linda Hepner is our new mayor. And unlike when buying a vacuum-cleaner or a loaf of bread, you do not actually get what was promised on the box I found out. Not that it matters as it is all about the skill-set she possesses and how well she will do on the job, I keep telling myself. An attitude towards elections in general
that a friend of mine is trying to make commonplace in the UK. 'Vote for policies, not personalities' is his catchphrase. He has got a point as elections more and more take the shape of stage-plays in which the actors, candidates, are trying to sway public opinion in their favor by offering 'intentions and promises'. And to be honest I would rather go to the theater to watch a stage-play. There the actors are professionals and do not stumble around on stage. Who has forgotten Melkert's appearance on national television in the Netherlands? I have not.
Although I fully support the focus on policies rather than persons, I still have this nagging feeling that I have been duped...
Although billboards often are eyesores I must admit, I also noticed their added value in the democratic process. The public use billboards to get their opinion across about a candidate or to make minor adjustments to the election team. And it works. Election billboards thus function as a point of contact between candidate and electorate. All that a candidate has to do is collect the remarks made and adjust the election message accordingly. No need to appear on TV anymore to be subjected to tedious interrogations. How easy would that be for a would-be mayor?
Of course it would be handy when members of the public would leave their name and address behind to make it easy for the relevant candidate to check whether the adjustments made are to their liking. For some vague reason this rarely happens though.
Linda Hepner is our new mayor. And unlike when buying a vacuum-cleaner or a loaf of bread, you do not actually get what was promised on the box I found out. Not that it matters as it is all about the skill-set she possesses and how well she will do on the job, I keep telling myself. An attitude towards elections in general
that a friend of mine is trying to make commonplace in the UK. 'Vote for policies, not personalities' is his catchphrase. He has got a point as elections more and more take the shape of stage-plays in which the actors, candidates, are trying to sway public opinion in their favor by offering 'intentions and promises'. And to be honest I would rather go to the theater to watch a stage-play. There the actors are professionals and do not stumble around on stage. Who has forgotten Melkert's appearance on national television in the Netherlands? I have not. Although I fully support the focus on policies rather than persons, I still have this nagging feeling that I have been duped...
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| Promise |
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| In the box... |
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