Who's afraid of democracy?

5.40.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 8th May 2006

Young Alliance Chairman Cllr Ian James Parsley

Young Alliance has called on local politicians to stop running scared from democracy.

Chairman Cllr Ian James Parsley stated: "An Assembly will be established on Monday and this is politicians' last chance to prove they believe in democracy.

"Democracy consists neither of majority rule, nor of sectarian carve-up.

It consists of local politicians taking decisions collectively on behalf of local people collectively. It means local politicians have to take a leading role in ending the scourge of sectarianism and segregation and stop pandering to populism. It means local politicians have to take responsibility for a better deal for young people - and if they don't, they must accept the people's right to remove them from office.

"Yet the parties who would form the Government in a new Assembly are afraid of democracy. They are afraid of any system which might see them placed in opposition. They are afraid of any system that would make them directly accountable for their actions. And they are afraid of having to work together properly to implement tough policy decisions.

"Just watch how often the same politicians oppose funding cutbacks, and then oppose water charges and rates hikes. Assuming they support the continuance of segregated schooling, housing and leisure centres, they cannot have it both ways. Either we collect more money in the form of water charges and rates hikes to pay for services, or we accept inferior services. Which is it?

"There is another way. We do not have to accept segregated schooling, housing and leisure centres. Instead we could take the tough decisions to deliver integrated services across the board - and use the savings to improve the standard of services and facilities while lowering rates and abolishing water charges and tuition fees. If that means spending money on books not buildings, if that means better public transport to take people to shared leisure centres, if that means more effective health service administration, so be it. Integrated services are a moral and financial imperative.

"To oppose rates hikes while opposing funding cutbacks, while at the same time opposing the moral and financial imperative to unite this society, is nothing other than populist hypocrisy which has no place in a proper democracy."

ENDS