A Political Sandpit
Undoubtedly novel for an author to hope her readers will understand nothing, but the circumstances are distinctly specific. Not, regrettably, unusual, but specific.
Ukrainian voters did it again in September 2007 and the world congratulated them on their democratic choice. After two painful months, a democratic coalition was formed uniting the two “orange” parties.
Happy ever after it was not. Since January the opposition has been blocking parliament. Last week, they chose to do it in friendly style, with balloons. On other occasions, the fistfights indicate less peaceable sentiments from those National Deputies elected by the Ukrainian people and empowered to represent their (the peoples, not their own) interests.
We sincerely hope that you have never seen anything like this in your own country! You might like to inform our National Deputies of as much.
A Political Sandpit
You think that there are no rules hanging above a kindergarten sandpit because the kiddies cant read? Not at all. Children are very different. Take Vadik, for example, he reads quite fluently. Its just that when he feels like a go on the scooter, and Vitka stubbornly refuses to understand how much he feels like it, forget the rules. A quick bash on the head, and the scooter is his.
Rules appear in school and then at work. You dont feel like getting up, damn the boss. Only there is somebody standing over you, and however grubby and trivial it may sound, there is your pay which you can forget if you yet again dont turn up. So up you get.
Until that longed-for day arrives when Vadik, sorry I mean, Vadim Oleksandrovych, lands in the Verkhovna Rada. Boundless joy! Now he can punch peoples head in, give them what for. OK, for proprietys sake you can only pull some deputies plaits, but thats no big deal. Answering for your actions - thats for nerds, not for us!
Ill be honest – I got totally lost in all the clever hypothesizing about who benefits from a political sandpit in the place where parliament should stand and function. Thats also not a big deal, after all nobodys inviting me to play, Ive long grown out of balloons, and I dont really feel like jumping into a fight (or even pulling a pigtail or two).
Its something else that worries me. Youre all discussing the likelihood of early elections, although according to the Constitution, no way. Much too early for that, esteemed Deputies! You should work more, mouth off less.
A lot is also being said about the urgent need for a new Constitution. It probably is needed. However thats a long haul, and judging by the makeup of the newly created National Constitutional Council, we shouldnt expect much.
However theres not much point for quite another reason. There is a constitution, after all, which states that “The people are the bearers of sovereignty and the only source of power in Ukraine. The people exercise power directly and through bodies of state power and bodies of local self-government “.
And if they dont give a monkeys about the will of the people, then what? I can continue to quote the Constitution. Ill be told they just ignore it, and thats it. And were supposed to believe they wont ignore the new one? They wont fly balloons instead of getting on with business?
How long are you going to put up with it? At work can you do your job or play cards, as the mood takes you? Can you openly tell the bosses where to go when they dare to demand that you carry out your duties? And according to the Constitution, who is in charge?!
Im not saying that its easy. But when were offered one thing and get something else, we are totally within our rights to be annoyed. We go back to the shop, take them to court. When we dont work, we dont get paid, and sooner or later we get fired.
How long will we let them prance about with balloons in breach of their contract with their voters (forget their wheeling and dealing among themselves!)
You elected them and they answer to you.