How can we hold politicians accountable? - Part 2

I first asked this question in the run-up to the recent General Elections and got a few responses.  The general conclusion then was that voters only have the power to hold their representatives truly accountable when they stain their fingers in a polling station (or to a lesser extent in internal party elections, e.g. UNC, or leaving to form your own party, like COP).  This power becomes diminished when we revert to traditional voting patterns of supporting the status quo despite their poor performance.

A recent discussion on facebook has added to this discussion, so I'm throwing it back out for response.

The Original Poster (OP) on facebook said: "I have always supported accountability and transparency in public office.  My question to all who are now so rigid in this belief is: where was this strong requirement for accountability and 'holding government to their word' crusade during the last 8 years when the previous government was running this country with none of this?  Did anyone attempt to make a complaint?  Ask a question and got a satisfactory answer?  Approach a Minister or MP for answers or demand action?  Actually got in touch with a Minister or MP to ask a question or demand an action?  We must all hold the [People's Partnership] very accountable for their actions and promises, but be honest and remember this is something that no other government offered in the past."

The first response was: "[OP], this is nothing new.  I hope you are not only now aware of it.  [OP], the last Government was criticized to the hilt, fairly and unfairly.  Didn't we hold them accountable for the Flag?  Didn't we hold them accountable for the Church? Didn't we hold them accountable for [Mr] Calder Hart?  Didn't we criticize their spending?  [OP], were you sleeping all this time THEY WERE BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE.  ... They were even criticized for things this new government now find starting to make plenty sense. ... Like a Prime Minister living in a diplomatic Center, Water Taxis, The Blimp..."

OP responded: "I think we have different meanings for accountability.  Accountability to me means that when questions are asked, they are answered directly with proof to support any position.  If something is amiss, either it is corrected, or one accepts blame/fault and is then punished and fired.  Accountability for me, is not people making hullabaloo amongst themselves and having the persons who should be bringing clarity to the situation brush aside all concern and allegations.  In the previous regimes (not only the last, but all), the government treated the population as though they were doing us favours!  Remember all the clamour and objection about smelters, rising cost of living and crime only to be brushed aside by our 'leaders'?  Remember the famous words, 'you all have problems with one, then I will give you three!'  Where is the accountability in that?  Nothing that you indicated is holding them accountable.  What we did was voice our disgust and made allegations, which were ALL brushed aside.  If they were being held accountable, where is Calder Hart to answer allegations against him?  Why did Mr Manning dodge the PM issue with the Guanapo church?  If they were being accountable they would have responded clearly with evidence to show everything was on the straight and narrow or pleaded guilty and accept their punishment. THAT IS ACCOUNTABILITY.  But eventually what goes around comes around, and from the evidence of foul play against Mr [Patrick] Manning and [Mr] Calder Hart, they will soon be accountable in a court of law."

Second Responder said: "... [Regardless] of who sits at the 'round table' they are to be held accountable, not just by way of a few or even the voices of the masses stating their dissatisfaction on an issue but by ensuring that when any issue is raised, it is investigated and treated with in a manner that would dispel any and all intent of dishonesty in government!!"

This led me to make the following comment.

Proper accountability means there is some ramification for not addressing the questions about certain actions. So if we were really operating in an environment of accountability, then past Ministers couldn't say to journalists in a post-Cabinet press conference that 'The Prime Minister has spoken!' and expect all-man-jack to shut-up and move along.

I think we still don't have true accountability, because legally *nothing has changed*. [Our right to recall our MPs between elections hasn't been implemented, and probably won't be for some years].  We still rely on the personal honour of the new members of government. There is nothing to stop any of them from developing the same hubris the ex-government members developed, except how much they value being re-installed at the next election.  If the security services continue to take suspiciously long times to investigate corruption allegations and handover to prosecution, then even the legal accountability OP referred to will be stifled.

We only have the power to hold our government (and Opposition MPs) properly accountable at election time.  Outside of that, we can just ask the questions and hope they feel honourable or shamed enough to answer.

However, I have noticed a difference since the election in that more avenues for folks asking questions are opening up - through facebook, blogs, and the Ministry of the People (I am waiting to see some success from this proposal, because in the run-up to elections I thought this was one of the more vacuous promises - now I think it has potential).  I expect to see more new names writing into the newspapers, in addition to the traditional ones from before. I hope folks will begin to write more directly to their MPs - either via facebook or letters. When something gets folks angry, then I expect more of us to come out physically and protest (doesn't have to be burning tyres or violent - just vocally significant). I expect more use of online petitions. If more folks ask questions directly than before (when it seemed only a few and the journalists did), then it would add to the perception of there being an environment of accountability, and it may influence MPs/Ministers to respond more appropriately.

So we may still be some distance away from holding our representatives truly accountable.  But if this increase in personal activism I described becomes a reality, we'll be that much closer.