How do we defend against slogan politics?
As US politics kicks into high gear ahead of the November election, and the Canadian parliament remains unstable in the midst of two non-confidence motions, we may lose sight of what makes these democratic systems effective. We could mistakenly view debates, speeches, and political maneuvering as the foundation of democracy. But as a collective, it up to the people to decide which ideas and parties win out. If the people are incapable of weighing the ideas presented to them and proposing their own, considering their consequences, and understanding the philosophical underpinnings of taking those positions, democracy is no longer effective.
Consider that, according to the National Literacy Institute in the US, 54% of US adults have a literacy level below the 6th grade level. And according to last year’s National Assessment of Education Progress, only 43% of fourth graders were at or above a proficient level in reading.
Literacy is not the only way to measure effective democracy, but low literacy levels, which do not seem to be on the rise, are not a glowing endorsement of where the US is headed.
The state of the world is becoming more complex, and our political solutions are becoming more simple. I do not think it is a coincidence that literacy (and with it critical thinking) is low, and slogan politics is on the rise.
Why consider the complexities of ecology, economic crisis, and foreign affairs, when a worldview comes to you from a politician in a pre-packaged slogan like “Make America Great Again,” or “Common Sense”?
You would think that in a nation obsessed with training to a standardized test, half of which emphasizes reading and writing, literacy would be higher. But perhaps this myopic focus is not only stunting literacy rates, but also stunting effective democracy.
Strong education, which requires significant investment and reform, is the remedy to the poison of slogan politics. A basic education, which includes a grounding in civics, art, politics, philosophy, psychology, and technical skills should be explored as an alternative to standardized testing.
Political decisions are never singular. They always function as a butterfly effect. Our grounding in all areas should prepare us more effectively for this momentous task. This is the responsibility that emerges from our rights.
And higher education should be heavily subsidized or free at the point of use, to ensure economic barriers do not prevent people from continuing this path past the mandatory level. Failing to make these changes or investments means continuing on the same path we are currently on. Would you bet on the current system’s success?
Once this grounding is in place, effective democracy can flourish. Steve Jobs was once asked if Apple did market research. He responded no, and explained that it was Apple who told people what they wanted, not the other way around. Henry Ford also famously said that if he had asked the people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses.
Politics is not computers or cars. This is not a strategy we should be comfortable with in politics. An informed public should make demands of its government. The government should not tell the public what these demands should be. Education exists as a fortification against this simple thinking.
