The Basic Philosophy of CIR Explained

Over the next few weeks it is my intention to enlarge on the 14 Core Principles, explain them and reply to any criticism that may have been made.  I will do so by issuing regular press releases and in this blog.  

I do not expect much criticism from either the GSD or the GSLP initially. Each of these parties are so convinced of their respective right to govern Gibraltar that neither will engage with an upstart like me and/or the CIR.  They think that it gives credibility and raises us to the same heady heights that, in their respective delusion, they consider that they occupy. This delusional state comes about because they consider that they have attained that special status of having been elected to our Parliament. The arrogance of adopting this position is demonstrable. It ignores one basic element of democracy. They are there because voters have elected them but ignore that the electorate may reject them in future. Treating putative candidates in this fashion is an insult to democracy and so to each and every voter who has to decide who to vote for. 

CIR’s central principle is that it seeks that truth justice and democracy should always prevail. This principle has led to the circulation by email of a wonderful cartoon of me dressed as superman and surrounded by all the super heros, which I enjoyed no end. That cartoon illustrates beautifully the high hopes that I have. Without high hopes, there is no chance of any improvement. Aiming high will always deliver results even if the results fall short of the objective.

The core principles that I have published represent an accord that each CIR candidate will enter into with the voters of Gibraltar. The accord is to give Gibraltar greater democracy, social justice and in which the truth must always prevail. The first casualty in Gibraltar’s existing political system, when politicians are in government or in the opposition, is the truth. 

The CIR is an alliance of independents, free of the constraints that come about and are imposed on politicians by the self-serving existing bipartisan party political system.  This system that forces the good people of Gibraltar, election after election every four years, to choose between the better of two evils, rather than to elect the best candidates from amongst ALL the individual candidates that put themselves forward for election whether within or outside a political party. The best candidates will deliver the strongest government.

Each CIR candidate, a human being that each is, will be aware that each may have or has made mistakes in their respective private and professional lives. No doubt the “dirty tricks departments” of the dominant political parties will seize upon these. They will do so to discredit the CIR’s attempt to profoundly reform the present reigning political system that leads to a choice of the better of two evils.

Gibraltar has been held for generations in the stranglehold that is enjoyed by elected politicians, which produces a choice of the worst of two evils. Gibraltar cannot afford a continuation of this spiral or at least should not put up with it any longer. The rot that many of us complain of so frequently has to be stopped. The CIR intends to provide to voters an alternative choice of individuals to break a political system that forces voters constantly to choose between the lesser of evils.

The CIR will not campaign for a block vote, nor will it deter voters from voting for their preferred candidates from all the other main parties.  The CIR will campaign for voters to break the block vote so that each will truly use her/his 10 votes.  The objective is that the 17 elected individuals, who voter will have chosen as being the best of the candidature at the election, are forced to choose, from amongst themselves, who will provide the excellent government that Gibraltar deserves. Thus, by its very philosophy, CIR has already adopted, within its fold, the best and most capable candidates of each party.

There has been criticism, which is the mainstay of existing parties, that not voting for a party will not deliver strong government.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  The present system delivers government by ONE strong person, the leader of a party.  The leader invariably dominates the weaker elected candidates and undermines the ability of that party's stronger elected candidates from influencing the course that the one strong leader wishes to steer.  Breaking the block vote system elects the more capable and stronger candidates.  This will force leaders to seek consensus from amongst these.  The consensus government that results will always be stronger as a unity and take better and more informed decisions than one individual, however intelligent and capable that person is.

CIR candidates will adhere to CIR's core principles.  Each candidate will retain full freedom, outside the core principles, to campaign for their own preferred policies, including campaigning for minorities in our society.  They will have no obligation to become Ministers and will have a free vote in Parliament.  This is one important factor that detracts from CIR being a party.

Vote for people and not parties it is people and not parties that deliver good government.