Pongoo Politics

After Professor Pongoo won more first preference votes than the Scottish Liberal Democrat candidate in Pentland Hills (Edinburgh City Council) wards we approached him to write exclusively for Bella. Pongoo said the Lib Dems and Labour both “talk the talk”, but that “as a penguin, I can show them how to walk the walk”.

 

I stood as a candidate because I’m confused. You see, I’m a penguin called Professor Pongoo. On the planet that I come from humans do things differently and us penguins, polar bears and all living things have the food we need and the humans leave us alone by respecting our rights to co-exist alongside them in harmony.

When the humans want to sort out problems they don’t choose people from‘ parties’ who go off somewhere else and pretend to debate and then decide according to what the party says.

They talk to each other and work out what makes everybody happy or content with their lot because that way less people feel excluded and annoyed.

They try to listen to what people living in the middle of the problem think and try and accommodate their needs rather than parties or lobbyists. By listening and discussing things they find they can better represent local people rather than have arguments elsewhere which are competitive and confrontational.

That way they don’t get distracted by grand schemes that cost money, damage the environment and fail to provide the services that people need. Need and not greed is their philosophy and they have an economic system which is based on respect for each other and their planet which recognises equality and the limited resources available. And, funnily enough, by working from the ground up rather than from the top down, that gets people involved because they know their opinions will be heard. Everybody gets what they need. On this planet people and some organisations are selfish and self-interested and in the current set-up they tend to have the loudest voices. By making the councillors down here talk to the people they are supposed to represent it can ensure they get a better idea of what they need and make that a priority for setting agenda and that helps to work against the cynicism about politicians that discourages the people here from getting involved.

When I talk to people about politics at a local or national level people grumble and shrug their shoulders, saying, ‘It’s never going to change.’ They always blame “Them”. That’s understandable but not very helpful. By helping people to realise that they can make a difference by choosing councillors who keep listening between elections and want to represent the social needs of the electorate and the environmental needs of the planet that can achieve two things. It takes councillors’ attention away from big expensive things and novelty toys that entertain for a little while but add little to the real prosperity, well being and happiness of people and it can lessen the frustration of powerlessness that discourages people from improving their community. At the same time, it means that councillors never forget what they are supposed to be doing and know that they will have to explain the decisions made at Council meetings to the people who they are representing. Now, although I’m a penguin, I’m not daft. I don’t come from a totally perfect world so I’m not suggesting that everyone will be completely happy but greater participation in local politics tends to improve the way councillors work. It takes their interest away from party politics and grandstanding within the closed club of councillors and turn to the more important issue of local services and amenities, of the everyday lives of the people who choose them and the environment they live in.

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  1. John Souter says:

    Damn – now we have the bloody penguins making more sense than our politicians.

    How quickly can we get a parliamentary load down to Westminster?

  2. Dave Leslie says:

    I wish I’d read this manifesto before the election, and I’d have voted for it

  3. You would have p-p-p-picked up my vote.

    Pity you couldn’t talk to the morons in certain councils who now have Lab/Con coalitions because the SNP is the common enemy!

    You just could not make this stuff up.

  4. duncan says:

    Pongoo power is not about exerting influence at Westminster.
    They are deaf, blind and would promise you the earth, to stay in control.
    Pongoo power is about placing penguins in at grass roots level … change rarely comes from above … its the ‘you’ and ‘me’ that will make it happen… we all need to start ‘walking the walk’ !

    If they wont ‘talk’ with each other and the communities they serve …. DON’T elect them.

    At the end of the day much of the responsibility for the woes we suffer in this modern world can be laid squarely at our own feet! … If you really care about the future for you children and the sustainability of mankind on this fragile planet……. act now .
    Work towards placing your favourite penguin into local community service … they do an excellent job!

    Pongoo Power!

  5. Siôn Jones says:

    Do you think that if you had worked harder on attracting the notoriously fickle Puffin vote, you might actually have won?

  6. Ken Mac says:

    I can understand someone voting for the penguin but I can’t understand why anyone would vote for taxi man.

    1. Siôn Jones says:

      Why on earth would ANYONE vote for a LibDem?

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