In exploring how we ‘Create Conscious Societies’ we must also consider how we do Conscious Politics, because the two go hand in hand. In doing so we are brought into a new focus of how we respect and value people. Just as in how we create, live in and share our communities with each other, mirrors the type of societies that we manifest. So too a conscious society with a conscious political system ensures that each person is valued, included, treated with respect and has equal opportunities to develop their unique potential. The opposite applies to an unconscious society and to unconscious politics and government.
We are seeing and hearing each day here in Ireland through the lived experiences of people, how wide the gap is between the rich and poor which is directly connected to the level of inequality that exists.
After 70 days of tweedle dee and tweedle dum politics, a new government in Ireland has been formed. To many of us the suprising and indeed bewildering thing in looking at who makes up this motley government crew of politicians, is who is included. Among those who make up the numbers of this minority government are those from the previous government who introduced austerity measures and new stealth charges that imposed immense hardships on people, many of whom were already hard pressed in trying to make ends meet, thus increasing even greater societal inequality. And other politicians who previously, from opposition benches, bitterly opposed the previous government and such cuts and imposed charges.
At this time this new government set-up poses far more questions then it gives answers. And it is answers and solutions that people desperately need. Because it is the people who are having to deal with the fall out from the unconscious decisions made over many years by successive governments.
This Irish Government cannot govern and continue to do politics in the way it has previously been done. It cannot continue to speak of ‘recovery’ as many amongst it’s ranks have in recent times been doing, as something that is being felt and experienced by the majority of people across Ireland, because this is not the case. Until it engages with the true extent of the issues of poverty, homelessness, unemployment, chronic health system and gross inequality, that exists in communities in both urban and rural areas, it cannot say that it is governing for and on behalf of ALL of the people of Ireland.
The jury is out as yet on what lays ahead. WE Await developments… and keep a watchful eye on things and on those who have stepped across from opposition benches, who, up to now, stood under the banner of ‘Independents’ but who now share government seats and government positions. For it is in these people that specifically trust was placed at the ballot box in the last general election to call to account and oppose the dreadful unconscious decisions made previously by those with whom they now share the inner sanctum of government. Three quarters of the people who voted did not vote for the administration that has just now been formed. The Jury is still out on how this new government, made up of such a diverse mixture of politicans will operate.
However, what is absolutely clear, is the necessity that the promises made to the Independent TD’s involved to get them onside must be 100% honoured and delivered, along with all the other promises made to the Irish people, and that all involved are held accountable. How this government deals with the broad range of present social issues, complexities and challenges facing it, both at local and national levels, alongside the major European and Global influences, will both form and inform the direction, emergent trends and possible outcomes that Irish politics takes for many years to come.
Bernadette Phillips is Founder of NEW INSIGHTS FOR CHANGE and a Social Scientist, with experience over many decades as a Motivational Speaker, Conscious Educator, Social Activist, Social Entrepreneur, Poet and Writer, and with over thirty years experience working with and in, Community, Business, Leadership and Education.
Website: www.newinsightsforchange.com / www.bernadettephillips.com
(My recent video here with interviewer Richard Hatton looks at what a conscious society and conscious political system needs to ‘Include’)
The way many of those elected politicians have behaved recently shows their total disrespect and disregard for the majority decision of those who took the trouble to vote. Enda Kenny holding the threat of another expensive election over the heads of his fellow TD’s is a typical example of how this country is being governed today. Great post, Bernadette, and video.