Politics should be for everyone, but it isn’t always. Though there have been big leaps forward in the past hundred years, it’s also true that there is still a long way to go. Fortunately, we have a pretty good understanding over some of the issues that are facing the political process; and if we’re aware of the issues, then we’re in a position to do something about them if we’re galvanised enough. Below, we take a look at a few hot topics which could make politics fairer – and the world better and safer.
Look at the Money
Money has always been in politics, and no-one’s suggesting that money should be eradicated altogether. However, it would be ignorant to think that it’s not something that has to be addressed. In some cases, corporations can give money to two candidates running for office; whoever wins the election, the corporation wins, because they’ve supported the person that’s now in office! Research has shown that giving money to a candidate is one of the best investments a company can make; they usually get a handsome return on their money in the form of tax breaks and other favorable legislation. While it won’t be an easy battle, getting big money out of politics would make it fairer!
Hold Politicians Accountable
Politicians have to put a lot of effort into their campaigns in order to win their election. But once they’re in, some politicians seemingly forget everything that they said during their campaign, instead choosing to break some of the promises they made. While many fight for their policy changes but ultimately fail, others seem ready to switch positions as soon as they’re in office. Would it be the worst thing in the world to make politicians accountable, so that they can be called out of office if they fail to live up to the promises they made during their campaign?
Prevent Cyber Interference
We’re living through massive changes in society. Perhaps the biggest change is the rise of the internet, which was barely a factor little more than two decades ago, but is now anywhere and everywhere. While the internet has been good for some aspects of politics, it’s not without its troubles. Take political cyber hacking, for instance. The Secretary of State of Arizona, Michele Regan, says that outside parties were ‘trying to get into other people’s’ data and voter files’; it’s clear to see how this could undermine the political process. Hopefully, with new security systems in place, we won’t see more of this in the future.
Tackling Fake News
Facebook and other social media websites have helped people share their political viewpoints and has, all around, shown that people are engaged in the political climate. But it’s not without its troubles. Fake news, which is easy to share, seemingly took over Facebook during the last presidential election – in many cases, by the Russians. Facebook has vowed to stop that happening again. In the future, there’ll hopefully be guards in place to ensure that only the facts make it on to people’s screens.