We Cannot Outsource Our Welfare To Politicians While We Sit On Our Hands!
Dear Nyaaba,
In a world where political discourse often dominates the headlines and divides communities, there is a critical truth that is frequently overlooked: we cannot afford to outsource our welfare to politicians while we sit on our hands. While politicians are elected to represent us and manage our public institutions, the responsibility for our well-being, social, economic, and environmental, ultimately lies with each of us as individuals and collectively as a society.
We must be actively and deliberately involved in shaping the policies that affect our lives, for without our input and interest articulation, we risk losing control over our present and most probably our future and allowing others to dictate our reality.
One of the greatest challenges we face in modern democracies is the illusion or misunderstanding that voting once every few years is enough to safeguard our welfare. Many citizens believe that by casting a vote, they have done their duty. But voting is only the beginning of civic engagement. Politicians may promise change, but the promises often end with winning the election or become distorted by the influence of special interest groups, political agendas, and partisan conflicts. The interests of the people routinely get lost in the noise of political maneuvering, leaving us with policies that serve the few instead of the many.
True democracy isn’t about placing all our hopes in the hands of elected officials; it is about continuous, active participation in the democratic process. We must demand accountability, ensure transparency, and engage in the conversation, not just once every election cycle, but every day. Our welfare depends on it.
The danger of remaining passive is clear: when we step back and disengage, we allow others to shape our present and our future without our voices. In a world where policies around healthcare, education, housing, and the environment directly affect our quality of life, we cannot afford to be bystanders. When we abandon the responsibility of staying informed, speaking up, and participating in the political process, we allow decisions to be made that may not serve the common good. History abounds with examples of societies that have suffered due to apathy or blind faith in political leaders. From economic crises to environmental disasters, these events often occur because the people failed to demand better, failed to hold those in power accountable.
The solution is not to blindly trust politicians or political parties to handle our welfare alone. Instead, we must recognize that the real power lies in our collective action. The people, when organized and empowered, are the true drivers of change. Grassroots movements, community organizing, public protests, and even conversations at the local level are powerful tools to influence policy and push for the change we need. Each voice matters, and when we stand together, we become a force too powerful to ignore.
Moreover, we cannot ignore the fact that many of the issues that affect our lives are best tackled at the local level. Often, the decisions that impact us most, whether they are related to the welfare of our children, local infrastructure, or public safety, are made in District, Municipal and Metropolitan Assembly Halls, school board meetings, and Unit Committee meetings. By staying informed and engaged at the community level, we are better positioned to influence policy that directly impacts our everyday lives.
Being involved is not just about complaining or pointing fingers at politicians; it’s about taking responsibility for our future. It’s about acknowledging that we all play a role in shaping society and that no one can be passive in the fight for better policies. It’s about participating in the democratic process, engaging in meaningful discussions, and, most importantly, holding politicians accountable for their promises.
It is essential that we build a culture of civic responsibility, where involvement is seen as an ongoing commitment rather than a one-time event. This means educating ourselves on issues, engaging our Assembly men and women, writing to our member of Parliament, supporting causes we believe in, and most importantly, voting not just in presidential elections, but in all elections that impact our communities.
The welfare of our communities, our families, and our future cannot be entrusted solely to the hands of politicians. We must be vigilant, involved, and proactive in demanding change. We are the ones who will feel the consequences of political decisions, so it is our responsibility to ensure that our voices are heard. Our welfare is in our hands, and the only way to secure it is through sustained, active participation. We cannot afford to sit back and wait for someone else to fix it. We must be the change we wish to see in the world.
Source: Kasise Ricky Peprah
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