I'll do anything for love of democracy

But I won't do that

What’s that? That is, agree blindly to uber democracy. Not heard of the expression? You won’t have I’ve just made it up. Enough of the joking this is a serious subject that I feel very strongly about.

Democracy sounds fine but to me you can carry it too far so this is my take on it whether you agree or not. This refers to the democracy as administered in the voluntary sector but much of it could be applied to other sectors run by a committee.

In a democratic organisation of society you periodically, by majority vote show your support for one candidate or one person if no one else puts themselves forward. So most organisations in this free country of ours annually or periodically elect a Chairperson, a Secretary and a Treasurer and maybe other Officers depending on the organisation.

So far so good we all vote for our favoured person to show that we have faith and trust in them to carry out the job they have been elected to do.

But here’s the rub, then you get some organisations, who haven’t thought it through, they insist that the Treasurer goes back to the full committee when he wants to purchase a roll of toilet paper and the Secretary and Chairperson also have to go back to full committee before they can agree to any minor thing. So why have you elected them, as scapegoats for when things go wrong. Mugs all of us who have been put in that position. (Do like me and bugger off and let them stew). Show your officers respect and they will return the compliment.

Major matters OK need full approval but why bother appointing people to do a job then not have enough faith and trust in that persons to let them get on with it and make decisions on your behalf.

And any officer who feels they have to seek that level of assurance is not worthy of the post. Of course some have no choice as they are hamstrung by a costitution that requires this subservience (form of anarchy) and who would agree to such a thing. Myself I’m not into sadism or being dictated to when I’m not being paid. I’ll do anything for money but I wouldn’t do that, not any more but there again I’m older and wiser.

I often think of that quote attributed to Oscar Wilde, though it was first quoted in the 1902 play ‘ The Admirable Chrichton’ by J M Barrie which goes, “I’m not young enough to know everything”.

I have often wondered whether a Benevelant Dictatorship would have the edge on democracy as long as you have the mechanism to remove the dictator by bloodless means or if they disagree, by public execution if they start to get too big for their boots.

I have spoken to many people working in the volutary sector about this and I would be a rich man now if I had a pound for the number of people who have said well that’s the reason I pulled because every little item had to have the full agreement of committee. What a waste of talent, they were the brightest ones.

Come on folks have faith in those you elected and give them support to do the job you expect them to do without hindrance. Castigate them if they exceed the authority vested in them, but be a little compassionate , they are only human and we all make mistakes sometimes. Without such people you and your organisations are doomed and if not anialated then to mediocraty or death.

Lets have a bit of true democracy and occasionally show the Officers a bit of gratitude for the work they do in most organisations for nowt.

This communication is brought to you by the Yorkshire Fenix, a member of the free press, where all the views are mine alone.