GUEST BLOG: Ross Meurant – Political Donations
In my view, it’s not a question of – a donation. The question is, why?
Why does a dollar or a hundred thousand dollars, traverse to the coffers of a political party?
Is it for, “democracy to flourish”?
Is it for support of a “party’s principles”?
These motivations I suggest, are, “acceptable”.
Or, is it in expectation of influencing a particular policy or MP?
These motivations I suggest, introduce the potential for ulterior objectives.
The problem is however (in my view), defining the latter category. For example, does an annual free dinner or a round table closed session, promoted by an industry group or a corporation, where mix and mingle with MPs is designed to win their support for changes to legislation or worse, regulations, constitute, “attempt to influence” and therefore a bribe?
Ross Meurant; a former high-ranking police officer, former Member of Parliament, formerly with commercial interests in Syria and Iran and currently Honorary Consul for an African state.
Ross
The issue of when a cheque addressed to a political party, ends up in a trust and not where the donor thought the money was going, must also be a point of consideration.
There should be very little doubt that the vast majority of those who voted Labour Greens in 2017 expected benefit rates to increase as per the Welfare Working Groups recommendations which is a very wonderfully naive ideal to have.
After everyone exceeds themselves in the art of unmasking the true motivations of politicians. All I say is donations isn’t something that happens privately but is something that is at the core of every politicians art.
Why then should we listen to politicians, do they not stigmatise us? So is it out of attachments to politics so these secret betrayals can remain?
I don’t think there is some true ultimate truth that can be unearthed that reveals a politicians true motivations and Revolutionize democracy. Even when corruption is discernible in a politicians work the art is to undermine it and acquire a distance towards it. It’s true that it’s a very artistic practice and maybe the most striking example is NZDF covering up war crimes in recent times.
It’s so interesting because all politicians display aggressive truth and above all we should never forget that private interest funds political campaigns with the public is being marginalized.
I think it is commonly thought that Sir Peter Talley is even-handed in his donations, nearly anyway, and all regarded as worthwhile will get something.
It is time for donations to be regulated. Money should be paid into a central fund which will be entirely transparent. The intention will be to support democracy. Much of it can go to schools so that children get out on polling booths and entertain throughout the day, along with buskers. Get voting connected with the people and celebration and beforehand have a wish fulfilment day where people put their wishes down in 5 words and then the politicians fish them out on stage and talk to them in turns so all put their bit in, down the hall on Friday night.