Some things you might want to know about me, regarding #politics:
* #ElectoralReform.
* #HumanMigration, #internationalism, and #FreedomOfMovement generally.
* Disaffection with the #SouthAfrica n #DemocraticAlliance political party.
I don't honestly do very much about these issues and I probably should but there's only so much time in one's life 😭
The #HelenSuzmanFoundation today points out that the current #ElectoralAmendmentBill doesn't go far enough. The objective of the Bill appears to be to meet the #ConstitutionalCourt's ruling about independent candidates to a minimal degree.
But the need for #ElectoralReform goes far beyond that. A lot of the contentiousness about #SouthAfrica n #politics, and its perceived degradation, starts with the poor constituency responsiveness of MPs and parties.
We need #STV.
I married a #Zimbabwe an. I'm a naturalised #SouthAfrica n. My kids have #Irish citizenship by descent.
People need to admit that #HumanMigration is a fact in our modern world, and that it offers immense benefits to countries that can harness the energy and diversity of inward migrants. I think the #xenophobia and restrictions on migration are persecutory. I'll always take the maximalist view on migration, knowing that I can't get everything.
Everyone should be able to travel everywhere.
I wasn't born into the #DemocraticAlliance - it was born into me. I was there at the founding congress, and voted it into existence. Perhaps too hopefully, I wanted a party to carry the torch for #HelenSuzman, #ColinEglin and #KenAndrew. It no longer does.
There are so many things this party should do better. The DA has perhaps irretrievably damaged its reputation.
I regret the #AntiWoke attitudes, antagonism to #opposition #coalitions, and pandering to White minority group interests.
So I might go off about these things every so often! I don't mind a dispute, but I'd like to keep it civil, or at least aim to make a realistic #progressive change, even if we can't agree on what's best.
South Africa
@malmorrow I find it difficult to square your conception of the DA as anti-progressive with the party's progressive local policies and government. Anti-woke does not mean anti-progress. Indeed, show me a more progressive South African party. There isn't one.
South Africa politics
@dimi The DA's got a progressive history and some current policies. So it's particularly frustrating and annoying that anti-woke jargon is promoted by Helen and, it has to be said, very few others.
If the party had a more deliberate, less provocative leadership, then the party's anti-corruption governing skills, and well built policies would be easier to promote.
It's not all down to wretched leadership, but leadership a prism for most of the party's problems.
South Africa politics
@dimi Yes sure. The DA has important people, policies and values.
Even now in the DA there are people doing great things: Jack Bloom comes to mind. But many of the people I most admire have now left.
The party promotes a policy for a Basic Income Grant, which is a progressive policy.
The party's liberalism and federalism is deeply felt by many, but it's quite a wide umbrella, and I think is betrayed by a very centralising and autocratic leadership system.