Towards value-based politics

We join the public in hoping that the current round of public sector-based strikes would not develop into an ugly rash of wild cat strikes which would make the masses writhe in deep agony.

At the time of writing, railway commuters have been left in the lurch by striking locomotive operators for nearly a week. Reports said that Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse had met some key members of the striking locomotive operators' union and we hope his intervention would see an end to this crisis.

With another election drawing near, worker "unrest" could be expected to register a rise, but it does not reflect well at all on these trade unions if it is their intention to win exacting demands at the cost of the public. In times past, some public sector trade unions acted with what is called a sense of social responsibility but this hallowed norm seems to be no more. Sectional, group and individual interests seem to be emerging triumphant over the public interest. In fact, as elections draw near and the possibility of greedily exacting concessions from governments becomes increasingly distinct, these industrial unions seem to be giving no thought to the adverse impact their actions could have on the people. Only self-interest seems to matter.

While it could prove comparatively easy for governments to end such strikes by meeting some of the demands of these unions, such a policy would only yield some political gains for the governments concerned but leave unresolved the larger issue of public accountability by organisations claiming to represent, particularly public sector workers.

Over the past few days we have been calling in this commentary for a holistic vision on the part of the rulers and would-be rulers, to the resolution of conflicts of this kind. Rather go in for piece-meal solutions which would wear-off with time, what should be aimed at is a total moral rejuvenation of society, based on the installation and solidification of humanistic values and norms. This would be facilitated by the ruling establishment committing itself to societal moral rejuvenation based on humanistic principles. This is no easy task, given the gradual moral degeneration which has overtaken Lankan society, but one which must be compulsorily undertaken by our Presidential hopefuls in particular, if the exercise of political power is to be guided by ethical considerations. In other words, our Presidential contenders need to have a moral vision for Sri Lanka and should aim at creating in the Lankan heart and mind a sense of social responsibility.

It is our view that a social compact is essential between the rulers and the ruled of this country. Election pledges and programmes should go well beyond short-term political survival and aim at establishing a value-based society where the rulers and the ruled would always act out of a sense of social responsibility. In other words, we should aim at founding a polity where the public good would determine the actions of the rulers and the ruled.

Reform needs to always come from the "top". If disinterested, public-spirited action does not emanate from the rulers and the ruling class, one could not expect the ruled to act on the principle of public accountability. We, therefore, hope that these considerations would be borne in mind by the country's political establishment in the days ahead.

No purpose would be served by the so-called political moderates crying "foul" at the rise of political extremism. If political extremism and ultra-nationalistic forces are on the rise, it is because the so-called political moderates are being seen as having "failed" the country. The moderates could occupy centre stage by proving that value-based politics are possible.