A political
opposition is not and should not be about winning a debate; embarrassing the
political party in power, measuring scandals, call for resignations, commission
of inquiries or court cases, blocking or getting the proposed legislation
withdrawn, but is all about strengthening and balancing the resulting nation’s
laws. Remembering that, both the elected ruling and the opposition parties as
members of parliament and lawmakers are jointly responsible for new laws and
amendments enacted during their period of service.
The parliament,
elected lawmakers, and it subcommittees are mandated to keep the executive
cabinet in check. Cabinet decisions, made behind close doors, which require
changes to existing laws, must be brought to the parliament, and it is at this
stage that the people’s representatives have a say and in most cases their only
say. The views of constituents and special interest, who will be negatively
impacted by the proposed changes, must form part of the debate. Noting that,
the majority of parliamentarians are from the ruling party and hence will
support the cabinet changes, it falls to the opposition parliamentarians to
raise differing views.
It is widely
accepted that all politicians are in the business of winning elections, hence
out of power, they debate only to oppose. The party in power proposes only
legislation that can be passed, with the majority presently held and would only
propose legislation, where opposition support is needed, to show the public an
uncaring opposition. While, philosophically a political opposition must care
about the nation’s development and its main concern must be about protecting (the
rights of the people) the existing constitution.
The political
opposition must therefore call for the raw data, its source and collection
methodology, call for witness statements, investigate thoroughly, examine the resulting
facts behind any proposed legislative changes and propose strong detail language
into the legislation. Hence the call for all parliamentarians to support an
independent National Statistical Institute (reporting at preset
times directly to the public on statistical data; household, population
demographics, goods/services, with a Governor and board appointed by the
President) and an independent Office of Budgets (reporting as
scheduled directly to the public on financial data; aligned with approved
current estimates, forecasting on the short, medium and long-term effects of
newly proposed policies before implementation and efficiencies ratios,
especially as to cash flow, local and foreign currency public debt).
Going to the
electorate, in the future, with a manifesto listing legislative accomplishments,
which were brought to strengthen the nation’s laws, while serving in opposition,
is the only way to show a commitment to the nation and its people, in or out of
power.
Rationale
T.A.J & Associates Company Limited uses this occasion to comment on topics that have been covered, both academically and by the mainstream media, to add its opinion and point out investment opportunity, not to invoke any social action.
