Building a “Better” Politician

Politics has always interested me and I have watched it closely over the years.  My observations of politicians and how the system works, here in Canada and around the world, has led me to believe that we need a new way of “doing government”.  But, before we make changes to the political system we need a better politician.  Here are some of my ideas that would make for better politicians.

 

First of all, a better politician would be someone who is self-aware.  A true leader should know who they are, what they value, and why they do what they do.  They have examined their thoughts and emotions and are mature enough that they do not govern from a place of fear and hurt.  They are not sexist, misogynistic, or racist nor do they rely on stereotypes to make their arguments.  Politicians should genuinely want to be of service to their country and want to do the best thing for all of their constituents and their country.

We need to elect leaders who are polite and kind.  It is frustrating watching our elected officials bully each other, yell at each other, call each other names, and generally descend into deplorable behaviours.  Instead politicians should be the best of us.  They should speak and act politely and respectfully.  They should be able to listen to understand and think critically about differing opinions without the discussion turning into an argument. Not all issues are easily solved, and they can recognize that.   Acting as a role model for all citizens should be paramount.

Mature leaders know that they can change their minds and that they will never be able to please everyone.  A better argument, new technology, or new research can all affect how we view a situation or issue. There is always more than one side to an issue and a good leader will balance out their decisions.  Also, your party affiliation should not matter.  A good idea is a good idea no matter where it comes from.  We need to get partisanship and hypocrisy out of politics as it serves no one.

   

Elected officials should also be well educated.  In order to govern effectively they are going to need to know about many different topics; health care, immigration, climate change, education, woman’s issues, natural resources, business, trade agreements and on and on.  They should know the history of the country they serve.  They should know what their country values and why and be well versed on the issues of the day.  The culture and issues of other countries, especially those affecting Canada, should also be known.  They need to surround themselves with other well informed and educated people and continue to learn while in office.  You cannot make good decisions without having good information.

Honesty and transparency are other traits that should be evident in politics.  Politicians should not spread disinformation and fake news to cloud an issue or distract from what is really going on.  They must give their honest opinions and do as they say they are unless a compelling argument or new information makes them change their mind.  If they make mistakes they are able to confess, learn from the experience, apologize, and move on.

A better politician is also one that represents the population, not just old, white men.  Representation truly does matters.  Men cannot fully understand women’s issues because that is not their reality and, therefore, should not be solely responsible for legislating issues relating to women.  I applaud Prime Minister Trudeau for making his government more proportional and we must work to ensure that this trend continues.  But we also need more representation from indigenous groups, people who immigrated to this country, and people of colour.  All of these groups make up Canada and all should have a voice that understands their unique issues.

Last of all, no person can be an effective leader without good communication skills.  They must be able to articulate their arguments and decisions clearly, concisely, and in a way that their constituents’ will understand. They must be good listeners and work to comprehend the concerns of those they serve.  Social media also dictates that leaders today must also have good written communication skills.  Whether on Twitter, Facebook or other platform of choice, your spelling and grammar are on display and critiqued as never before.

Do you agree with what I think would make a better politician?  What traits in a leader are important to you?  I would enjoy hearing your thoughts so please leave a comment if you are so inclined.