As often as possible, The Real ANC Today will try and put below each post the DA’s alternative to the particular situation or problem addressed that week. Sometimes this will take the form of a policy proposal, other times it involves identifying and explaining the ideological difference between the ANC’s vision for South Africa and that of the Democratic Alliance.
As these alternatives are scattered throughout this blog, this page is dedicated to collating each idea and hopefully, together, bringing you an overview of some of the key positions and ideas that define the DA’s vision for South Africa: that of an Open Opportunity Society for All. Sometimes a word needs to be read together with the story from which it is drawn, for a better context and fuller understanding. Thus, if you click just below each word, it will take you back to the original post from which it is drawn. As often as possible, we will aim to add a new word with each new post.
THE OPEN OPPORTUNITY SOCIETY VOCABULARY:
• ACCOUNTABILITY
• DEBATE
• DEMOCRACY
• EXCELLENCE
• GOOD GOVERNANCE
• THE JUDICIARY
• LEADERSHIP
• REASON
• SELFLESSNESS
• TOLERANCE
• TRANSPARENCY
THE VISION:
ACCOUNTABILITY
This word is from the article: A Curious Case of Self-destruction
A key attribute of the Open Opportunity Society for All is the principle and value of accountability.
It is a principle because the reason for its role in any democracy is well established and justified by powerful argument: as the representative of the people, any government must be able to explain its every action and decision to its constituency, for its acts on their behalf and serves at their discretion. It must be able to do so honestly, promptly and willingly.
It is a value because the principle that underlies it (outlined above) should be embraced by the leaders of a democracy – in order for the principle to be understood, upheld and accepted, it must be lived and practiced by those to whom it applies. In this sense then, it must also be a value.
Accountability is not simply about explaining policy and practice (although those are of course essential elements), it is also about fulfilling a promise. Inherent in the idea of leadership is a contract between the leader and those who elected him or her to office: that they will act to implement a particular agenda. And inherent in that, is the agreement that, if they fail, they must either be able to explain that failure or step aside in favour of someone else.
In an Open Opportunity Society for All, accountability will form the cornerstone of any administration. It will also be a value lived by those leaders who direct and influence the nature of that particular democracy.
DEBATE
This word is from the article:Strengthening South Africa’s Public Debate
The French moralist and essayist Joseph Joubert said that “the aim of debate should not be victory, but progress” and that sentiment nicely encapsulates the motivation behind the notion of a “marketplace of ideas”.
Indeed, from the Mill quote cited in the introduction to this piece, it becomes clear that progress – the development of human thought and knowledge – was the very intention behind his argument. And meaningful, open debate is essential to this; for it is how ideas are tested, their merits assessed and their potential improved upon. It is also how those ideas harmful to a society are dismantled and dismissed. Nothing is achieved through suppressing ideas.
Turning once again to the work of British moral philosopher Anthony Grayling, he has the following to say about debate:
“True debaters are not, therefore, partisan. They share a concern to arrive at a truth, or sound judgement, or the best result, or an increase of understanding. When they criticise and disagree, it is the opposing argument and not the opposing arguer they address, for they know the reverse technique is a cheap fallacy of logic. And wherever they find an opposing argument strong, they rejoice to have learned something thereby.”
The DA believes that such an attitude should define public debate as a marketplace of ideas and, in an Open Opportunity Society for All, it would fight to create and maintain such an environment.
DEMOCRACY
This word is from the article:Little-by-Little
There is a strong argument to be made that democracy, as we understand it today, is intrinsically linked to history; indeed, that it is only because various historians were able to capture what was best (and worst) about society through the ages that we are able to define democracy in such a precise and intricate way today.
Yet for all that precedent and for all the ideas and values that we have come to embrace – and the reasons why we have chosen to reject others – any given democracy is only ever as good as the service it delivers to its citizens; and central to that is the attitude of the party which controls the democratic state.
Fundamental to an Open Opportunity Society for All is a respect for the laws (epitomised by the Constitution) that define it and an understanding that they exist not merely as guidelines – suggestions as to which path one might take – but deeply significant markers which can only be moved with the express consent of the citizenry and in harmony with those other markers that define the nature of democracy.
Every encroachment on democracy must be reasonable and justifiable and society must be empowered to recognise a threat and veto any action which it deems damaging. At the same time, the ruling party must respect those laws which limit its powers and, indeed, the reasons they do so. In short, there must be an understanding that the laws of a democracy exist to determine the behaviour of the ruling party, and not the converse. In an Open Opportunity Society for All, the DA would strive to create such an environment and foster such an attitude.
EXCELLENCE
This word is word is from the article:Nationalism Breeds Mediocrity
Inherent in the relationship between excellence and politics is the idea of betterment. It is only by furthering advancement that any society can improve the condition of its citizenry. And advancement is achieved through the pursuit of excellence and the protection and promotion of merit. Excellence concerns an attempt to raise the bar and to achieve.
If, however, the goal of a government is to lower the bar, to reduce everyone and every institution to the lowest common denominator, this is not possible and progress is replaced by compromise and inertia.
In his book The Meaning of Things (a quite excellent guide to liberal values and principles) A.C. Grayling puts it like this:
“Although there are few is any true democracies in the world – most dispensations claiming that name are elective oligarchies – the democratic spirit nevertheless invests Western life for good and ill both. The good resides in the pressure to treat everyone fairly, the ill resides in the pressure to make everyone alike. The latter is a levelling tendency, a downward thrust, which dislikes excellence because it raises mountains where the negative-democratic spirit wishes to see only plains. But democracy should not aim to reduce people and their achievements to a common denominator; it should aim to raise them, ambitiously and dramatically, as close as possible to an ideal. And that means, among other things, having institutions, especially of learning, which are the best and most demanding of their kind.”
It is this value, understanding and appreciation of excellence and the role it has to play in society that comprises a central pillar of the DA’s vision of an Open Opportunity Society for All.
The DA believes that excellence should not only be rewarded and promoted but fostered and protected, that it should be one of our defining values as a society and that its pursuit should, in turn, define our institutions – public and private – their purpose and their administration.
GOOD GOVERNANCE
This word is from the article:The Judiciary on the ANC
The relationship between a ruling party and the state is critical to good governance. Importantly, it is not a matter of policy but is defined by the Constitution, which demands their absolute separation. Nevertheless, it remains open to abuse. Former French President George Pompidou once remarked that, “A statesman is a politician who places himself at the service of the nation. A politician is a statesman who places the nation at his service”. This distinction captures nicely the way in which the relationship between party and state should be conceived. And the nature of a particular administration will be defined by the emphasis it places upon it.
The desire to subvert this principle and to use the state to one’s own political advantage is a consequence of a lust for power. And for those who seek absolute power, what could be more appealing than the possibility controlling society in its entirety. And the threat in that desire is the corruption and abuse of the state at the expense of its citizens. As Edmund Burke put it: “The greater the power, the more dangerous the abuse.” The appropriate checks on a ruling party’s access to power is thus also essential for good governance.
The other theme running through this week’s article is poverty and the way in which the state acts to counter it; both in terms of its policy and with regard to the bureaucracy with which citizens interact. Both need to address the concerns and needs of the poorest of the poor. And an ability to do that properly is dependent on the ruling party’s attitude in this regard. In South Africa, poverty is acute and, in turn, the state should be empathetic and its administration caring, helpful and, particularly where the destitute are concerned (for their needs are more pressing and immediate), efficient and competent. The ability to do these two things, conceive and administer policies than improve the nature of the human condition, constitute two defining characteristics of good governance.
In an Open Opportunity Society for All these two elements would form the cornerstone of governance: a definitive break between party and state (accompanied by the appropriate checks on power) and a policy program that responds appropriately to the needs of the citizenry; and, in practical terms, an administration that is efficient and compassionate so that any interaction with the state is, in turn, one defined by competence and empathy.
THE JUDICIARY
This word is from the article:An Idiot’s Guide to the Erasmus Commission
Very often this section of The Real ANC Today is used to discuss an ideal or value; that is, it focuses on principles, which are intangible but important because they inform practice and policy. However, in light of the High Court’s judgment, today we are able to illustrate the Open Opportunity Society for All in action – i.e. in practical terms – because the DA’s approach to this issue epitomises exactly that.
First, very briefly, let me set out some of the principles that govern the judiciary in an Open Opportunity Society for All and which are relevant to this example: One of the chief benefits of a properly functioning and independent judiciary is that it acts as a safeguard against the abuse of power by the state. By existing at all, it acts as a buffer – a well-established system between the state – or other sources of power in society – and individual citizens. As such, it also levels the playing field – by reducing even an entity as powerful as the government to an equal standing with that of any given individual.
Returning to our practical illustration; by attempting to set up an unlawful Commission and to cloak it in the ostensibly neutral colours of judicial office, what the ANC was doing was acting to warp this buffer, to introduce unfair advantage into a system of due process and, ultimately, to nullify the space between the government and the judiciary. The buffer was supposed to be the Erasmus Commission of Inquiry but it was deeply flawed and, instead of maintaining that space between state and judiciary, it brought them closer, even blurring the two.
Thus the DA’s intervention and the High Court judgment powerfully illustrate the importance of this principle: The DA’s action as the City of Cape Town – in being prepared to fight for this value by going to court – and the Court’s ruling – in enforcing this principle in the face of executive abuse. Here we have both parties, on either side of the buffer, acting to ensure it is not abused but respected. There was recognition, by both sides, that the space between state and judiciary is sacred and under threat by the ANC, that it must be properly constituted, respected and that any unjust encroachment on it must be defeated.
That, is the Open Opportunity Society for All in action.
LEADERSHIP
This word is from the article:Defending the Indefensible: Zuma on HIV/AIDS
Jacob Zuma’s behaviour on HIV and Aids contradicts the basic tenets of an Open Opportunity Society in two important ways: first, he was unable to take individual responsibility – he refused to contradict his President or the ANC and the consequence was that a crisis was allowed to unfold, unchecked; second, he failed to uphold the values of the Constitution – the well being of individual citizens was subjugated to the (bizarre) whims of the ruling party.
In an Open Opportunity Society for All, strong political leadership is a prerequisite for and necessity of good governance. And by strong one means principled, consistent leadership that makes decisions in accordance with a particular vision. Obviously, that vision is of an Open Opportunity Society for All, a society where an individual’s well-being is not subjugated to the will of the ruling party, but the very purpose behind any policy decision or position. It is also a vision consistent with the values enshrined in the constitution. But, perhaps the biggest difference is that both the leaders and the members of an Open Opportunity Society for All are required to take individual responsibility for their decisions.
REASON
This word is from the article:A Numbing of the Public Mind
Euripides said “reason can wrestle with terrors, and overthrow them”. He was quite right. Reason is one of the most powerful weapons we have. Respect for it and its proper use is essential to a functioning democracy. Indeed, reason is the very language citizens should use to negotiate with the state. And its role in the relationship between the state and its citizens has two components to it.
First, at all times, the state (and those political parties that control it) must be able to justify the decisions it makes in a manner that is easily understood and which can be defended and explained. If they cannot, or a better, more convincing argument to the contrary is established, the state’s decisions must change accordingly.
Second, there must never be a situation in which a well founded argument is dismissed on grounds which have little to do with its content and everything to do with its context. Reason must be an empowering tool in the hands of all citizens. Its nature and form should not be subject to political considerations or the pressures of a dominant orthodoxy.
In an Open Opportunity Society for All, reason would play such a function. Its role in society would be elevated, its use championed and promoted and, even when it led to a conclusion which might run contrary to a particular party political agenda, that outcome would be respected. Indeed, the DA would fight to make these three elements the foundation of the dominant orthodoxy, so that reason acts to keep the prejudices of the ruling party in check and sits in harmony with its objectives.
SELFLESSNESS
This word is from the article:The Strange Case of Thabo Mbeki
Self-interest is unavoidable and necessary. But it takes on a very particular significance with regard to the nature of public office and those individuals elected to serve in it. For public office, by definition, should exemplify a concern and empathy for the plight of others, as opposed to the narrow pursuit of personal interest. As such, it requires the ability to look beyond self-interest and, indeed, to actively promote the interests of others.
The ability to regulate one’s own self-interest will vary from person to person, but even the most sympathetic of persons will, at some point or other, be tempted to indulge their own agenda at the expense of others. It is for this reason that any truly democratic state will contain a number of bulwarks, to contain self-interest and ensure a steady focus on the well being of society at large. Respect for these institutions and rules will define the extent to which a ruling party and the people who lead it, are able to identify with, respond to and improve the lives of those they are elected to serve.
In an Open Opportunity Society for All, public office would be defined, then, by its attitude toward the public – and central to that attitude would be a commitment to putting the interests of others first and interests of those who hold office, second.
The benefits of such an attitude are twofold. On the one hand, if one’s time and energy is dedicated to the pursuit of a better life for society at large, the consequences can only be the improvement of the social condition and the welfare of the citizenry. On the other hand, if those institutions and principles which restrict self-interest are respected and promoted, democracy itself can only gain from it.
TOLERANCE
This word is from the article:Violence, Murder and Mayhem
Central to the Open Opportunity Society for All, the policies that determine its form, the principles that define its purpose and the conduct of those leaders elected to make it a reality is an unwavering commitment to the Constitution and the bill of human rights. And one of our Constitution’s central values is that of tolerance.
In his seminal book On Liberty John Stuart Mill wrote: “Mankind are great gainers by suffering each other to live as seems good to themselves, than by compelling each other to live as seems good to the rest.” He meant that any society in which one group of people seek to impose their values, customs and beliefs on others is an intolerant one and that human society can only flourish when we accept difference and learn to live with it. And, within the confines of those principles set out in the Constitution, this is exactly what an Open Opportunity Society for All would seek to achieve.
A.C. Grayling makes an important observation about tolerance in his book The Meaning of Things. He writes:
“Tolerance is… not only the centrepiece but the paradox of liberalism. For liberalism enjoins tolerance of opposing viewpoints, and allows them to have their say, leaving it open to the democracy of ideas to decide which shall prevail. The result is too often the death of toleration itself, because those who live by hard principles and uncompromising views in political moral and religious respects always, if given half a chance, silence liberals because liberalism, by its nature, threatens the hegemony they wish to impose. To the question, ‘Should the tolerant tolerate the intolerant?’ the answer should therefore be a resounding ‘No’. Tolerance has to protect itself.”
This principle too, would define an Open Opportunity Society for All.
TRANSPARENCY
This word is from the article: All the President’s Men
In the DA’s vision of an Open Opportunity Society for All, there is no space for back-room deals and political quid pro quo, because transparency and accountability are keystones of such a society.
Every government transaction would be subject to public scrutiny, and there would be no escaping the consequences for anyone guilty of manipulating the process in favour of themselves or their connections.
The upshot: first, leaders chosen purely on the basis of their ability to lead and not on the basis of what they might be able to do for the well-connected; and, second, service providers and suppliers would be chosen purely on the basis of their merits, and not on the basis of who they know. This opens up opportunities for a much broader group to compete for state contracts, and taxpayers and citizens benefit from better service and a more efficient state.
i ask with tears in my eyes, what did any south african who matriculted after the 1994 elections had to do with the institution of apartheid? oh good, so why are such citezens punished for the sins of a bygone era in affirmative action forcing them to th back of the job ques. is affirmative action not racism in reverse? and does the economic theory of best person for the best jobs basedon skills, knowledge and experience not hold any merrit here anymore? and whatdo those in favor of affirmative action think will happen to our national economy that has to compete on the world stageif they continue to sideline skilled south africans so unfairly. is skills training and education not the answer to these issues?