In any parliamentary democracy, debates are a fundamental node around which matters turn. One side presents the government’s position to explain the direction it has taken and the targets it has tried to attain. The other side criticizes what is being done and presents its alternative vision. Representatives of both sides stand up to present more of the claims that their respective party would like to make. The side that has opened the debate closes it with final arguments.
Such debates deliver new information to those who follow them, plus a form of justification both for what is being done and for the critcism to which it is being subjected. Then it is up to whoever has been listening to judge.
With time though, the value added of these debates has greatly diminished. There is reason to doubt about whether when they happen, they are being really productive. First, because debates are run according to a ritual during which wellknown political slogans get repeated while the reports about what has really been achieved are sidelined. And secondly, because communication in our times depends too much on one liners (at best two liners) which simplify proceedings while remaining meaningless.
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REFORM
French President Macron launched with great determination a policy to increase the pensionable age for his country’s workforce from 62 to 64. Other countries have implemented such a measure years ago but the French people are resolutely against. Strikes and demonstrations have been going on for weeks and months.
To get the measure through Parliament, where a majority of deputies are against, the government invoked a constitutional clause that allowedit to be introduced by decree. Only, those who were against could annul this procedure by calling and winning a no-confidence vote in the government. This was defeated by a mere 9 votes.
The whole reform seems to be caught in a jam. Political observers note that so is President Macron who made it to the Presidency by first dividing and undermining the Left, and then did the same thing to the Right. Now, everybody is reluctant to give him a helping hand.
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FESTIVALS AND FAIRS
An excellent development during recent years has been the spread of high quality festivals and popular artistic fairs. The contemporary cultural and artistic scene has consequently become more vital and interesting. Government’s policy to promote this sector -- and more importantly, the readiness to spend good money on it -- merits full recognition.
However, one now needs to keep in mind two possibilities and take care. In first place, that artists and cultural promoters end up over-dependent on the government to launch their activities. If the government fails to be there for them, they keep back. Yet, the biggest satisfaction that could be experienced through an artistic event is when it succeeds mostly as a direct result of the creativity on display.
Secondly, there arises the danger that the arts become too dependent on state aid. For if so, when this dries up for one reason or another, then too many projects would fail to mature.