Cynicism destroying our democracies

THE discourse around politics, politicians, our expectations of politics and politicians — often confused with imagined rights — is riddled with scepticism and very often deep cynicism. 

Performance is derided, motivations questioned and framed in the most dismissive, counter-productive way. The online version of that discussion is nearly always poisonous and relentlessly negative. This discourse seems as much about destroying politics as we know it as it is about analysing politics and the possibilities that process offers.

Once upon a time, in the old gods’ world, social pariahs were put in stocks and physically abused by anyone brave enough to kick a man when he was tied down. Today most politicians are subject to abuse, especially on the wildest frontiers of online petulance, and though criticism is, sadly, too often justified and ignored these attacks seem the self- perpetuating, self-fulfilling ruin of participatory democracy.