Green Shoots: How powerless are we really?

I like democracy. I think. It is supposed to be a system that allows my voice to be heard in deciding how I want my society to work. Sadly, the political elites seem hell bent on making sure that our voices are not important, except at election time. And the madness that is the USA at the moment deepens our disaffection with democracy. It is increasingly a world where it seems we have nothing to say, to do, no power to shape our own lives. Politicians, with the backing of rich men, do as they please.

Trump and his ilk have taken the camouflage off a system that deep down is not really about poor people, or even ordinary people. It’s about getting their grubby little hands on power. They have successfully infiltrated the minds and hearts of ordinary Americans, and like elites in so many parts of the world have managed to demobilise the people. Instead of solidarity with each other, we see the enemy in our neighbour if they are different to us.

There’s an image I encounter now and then of three men sitting at a table. The rich guy in a suit has a pile of cookies in front of him, the worker in the overalls has a plate with one cookie, and the bedraggled fellow looking rather downcast has an empty plate. The rich guy offers a warning to the worker: ‘Watch it. That immigrant is going to steal your cookie’.

This is Trump’s America. But it is also our South Africa, and Europe, and Australia, and anywhere else where the market resigns supreme. It is an economic system that pits ordinary people against each other while the rich elite make merry.

I must confess that I got excited by the show of bravado of the Canadian Prime Minister and the Ukrainian President when they appear on TV speaking out against the bully. We talk about it over drinks and in our lounges, and for a while we feel strong as we belligerently voice our opposition to this hateful behaviour. I will carry on shouting at my tv, or voicing my outrage at the bullies that rule our world. But if that is all I do, then I am destined to a life of despair borne out of helplessness that I actually can do nothing to stop the monsters.

So my challenge this week is to seek out opportunities to actually do something. If we get involved in any form of action, a couple of things happen. Firstly, by simply being active and not passive, we dispel the disempowerment our political and economic elites want us to feel. We’ve all experienced a mood lift when a friend insists that you go out even though you feel down. Activity is good for the mood, and activism has its roots in activity so it must be good.

Secondly, we may become part of a movement for real change. I remember the marches against xenophobia in Johannesburg in 2008. There was a strong sense among people that we could beat the hatred. We have to get active. And it isn’t as hard to do as we think.

We all have a ward counsellor that should be worried right now about getting elected in the next local elections. Mine is pretty good at communicating what’s happening where I live.  We can get information about the different forums for participating in the life of our communities. There are ratepayers’ associations that are often well organised. Let’s do a bit of research and see if our neighbourhood has these. Again, our local politicians should know, and we can find out if we really are committed.

South Africa has a vibrant history of community advice that goes back to our pre- democracy days. These organisations are at varying levels of strength, but they are tapping into a need that people are feeling. Look around for one in your community, and you can ask CAOSA for help.

Your kids’ school would benefit from your activism, and you get a chance to not only moan about our dodgy education system, but to mobilise others to help you change things. And there’s the churches that are a great space for action. We can find out what our local parish – or temple or mosque or synagogue – does in support of the community, and get involved.

We cannot give in to helplessness and despair. You never know what your small action could lead to. At the very least, you’ll feel better for getting off the couch. At best, who knows – we could be part of the movement that changes the world.