Managing Expectations...

One of the most unusual things about modern politics that seems to have gained acceptance is the idea of managing expectations.
The ongoing build up to the US Election is a great example of this, but we there are many instances in the US.
Immediately prior to any vote both sides will be overcome with fits of depression and self-deprecation. No one is confident of victory, no one talks about wiping out their opponents- everything is said to be marginal and everyone is the underdog.
Of course there are very good psychological reasons for doing so. If you do better than expected you can gain momentum- both for future elections and in office.
No one likes arrogance and voters are often turned-off by tough talk. There is also the danger that your own voters will not bother and will stay at home.
The media too are likely to attack any campaign for being too honest about its prospects. Barack Obama's campaign has been accused of naivety in making some positive predictions in the past, whilst ham fisted lies, such as those Alistair Campbell specialised in to make elections seem closer, are usually depicted as cunning and shrewd.
The trouble with this is that we end up carrying these assumptions on into government. Talking down our prospects, talking up the barriers and finding any possible excuse to fail. All of this makes for a safe and well insulated government. Safe? Maybe. Honest? Questionably. What people want? I doubt it.
There is a certain honest beauty in putting aside all of these mind games. So what if we have to do better if people expect more of us? Let's not manage expectations- lets do better!
Let's not play the hero- let's be genuinely heroic. Let's not keep lowering the bar and congratulating ourselves for our lilliputian achievements. Let us cast the bar up as high as we can possibly imagine- We can reach it.

Straight Talking Politics

Answering the Question

It occurs to me that in one of the main advantages of blogging in politics is that it allows people to ask you questions unadulterated by mainstream media.
I really do not accept the idea that this can be a weakness. I am confident in my beliefs and believe that they can withstand in-depth scrutiny. I would much rather be proven wrong by well reasoned debate than grow complacent in a set of beliefs that have no practical value.
Those politicians I most admire- William Hague in the UK and Senator John McCain in the US are renowned for their willingness to give clear straightforward answers. Even if people don't always agree with them I think they are more inclined to respect them for their honesty.
Because of all of this and the simple fact that politicians should answer people's questions I make the following commitment:

I will give a clear and straightforward answer to any question put to me about my politics. I will not dodge the difficult ones and I will not engage in spin and jargon to conceal my meaning. I am committed to Straight Talking Politics