‘Teflon’ politics bad for democracy

Re: NorthernLife.ca president Michael Atkins’ March 5 column “It’s all about poplytetraflouroethylene.”

Contrary to Michael Atkins’s assertion, Teflon-coated politicians and heavy-handed tactics, while they can be thrilling to watch, especially if one agrees with whatever they happen to be furthering, are actually very detrimental to the long-term health of a democracy.

How can someone repeatedly getting away with improper or even illegal behaviour, especially when that person is in a position of power, be a good thing?

For one, it fosters conceit and can further embolden such individuals to even more brazen conduct. It allows corruption to take hold and spread unchecked in government.

And, for those people sane enough to see through the allure of the Teflon-coating, it can only serve to foster frustration, cynicism, and disillusionment with the political process, the media, and the electorate in general.

Not to mention that it sends just about the worst possible message to our youth: that it is actually better to be bad than good, provided one can make it look good.

The use of heavy-handed tactics - that is, the manipulation of the governmental machinery in order to achieve certain ends — is also very harmful to a democracy. Not only do these manipulations result in (or require) a gradual but cumulative erosion and distortion of the procedures, conventions and institutions which ensure the proper functioning of a democracy, but their use also tends to be highly polarizing and inflammatory.

This makes the reasoned discussion of issues and collaboration between parties even more challenging, which only serves to further degrade the functioning of government.

No Mr. Atkins, Teflon, and its antidote, are bad for democracy. Just plain bad.

J.P. Rank
Sudbury