Why Is My Stool Dark Brown/black?

Article published in The Reform, Liberal Journal

We approach the coming elections to the Catalan Regional Parliament, and a low turnout seems to be confirmed, once again, the November 28 (day of FC Barcelona - Real Madrid). Far from worrying too much, lack of participation it seems like a benefit, in part searched for certain political parties. Those parties with a more disciplined electorate (generally nationalist parties) are benefiting from the low turnout, especially when, as is well known, the center-left supporters (PSC Ciutadans) are more prone to " electoral absenteeism. " For those freeloaders, " free riders" who would say the English, to throw parts of the body is a law of life. Let me explain.

Back in the Golden Age of literature in Catalan, Francesc Eiximenis wrote about society as a whole, as a body where every part of the male figure represented an estate, a sector of the Royal Society (the arms were the men of arms, eyes and ears, judges and officials). Everything is in perfect harmony in the city Eiximenis ideal. Later, Thomas Hobbes would take a similar model, represented his "leviathanic" state in a similar way.

Without wishing to emulate the wisdom of the famous Girona, compare today's society with a school of fish. Within it are thousands of individuals to form a single whole, though, on many occasions, there are other specimens interested in them "break ranks "and get the body only to deflate, casting the part of the joint. These individuals malevolent purpose could be called "social barracudas, carnivorous beings who try to pierce the body politic, for their own purposes. People who, far from prejudice, disunity are fed to feed a privileged position (under threat of damage to the real representation). Like it or not, there are those who like the "bank" democracy is dispersed, not all part of the electoral system. A massive turnout hurts the games political establishment ... What interest will be to promote mass participation in elections? Using people out from the democratic body, is a way of holding power.

I remember one of my most memorable teachers exhorted us in classes of Administrative Law to never stop participating in politics, which we did not allow the policy is not grounds for prepared minds, leaving the way open to interested parties shift. Certainly, I signed that statement then, and I do now. Political participation should not only manifest in the polls, but also participation within political parties. The work must stop militant resemble that of the union (people interested in the public realm, disconnected from reality, and not directly accountable to the people). We must adapt our representative system to the changing society it represents.

democratic regeneration is essential. Not only is required to "bank" and running again, but to do so before being carrion for barracudas (which is already happening ...). Talking about politics can not turn into a "talk of another's", "business of others." The "public affairs" must be part ourselves, we can not forget that our life as a social animal is based on coexistence, and not politics, this is impossible. We must return to the agora of oratory, relive policy, participating in everything that affects us.

Perhaps the lack of social solidarity, the incivility and other acts of vandalism have something to do with it. The state (or the Autonomous Community, the City or Province), is not seen as something belonging to everyone, but as a "social individual" foreign. Public properties are only for public entities (entities beyond our control), sneak into the Renfe train is stealing, and not to individual citizens which that our taxes paid for the infrastructure of this country ... The disconnect between reality and blatant ballot box. Will they be able to those who benefit (our "Barracuda") to find a solution to the problem? For my part I doubt it, but no longer participate or talk politics.

* take this opportunity to remind counsel of the recently deceased freedom. Rest in Peace, D. José Antonio Labordeta!