Choosing is not always losing

I’m not worried anymore… Well, a little bit, but there’s hope ;)

More than forty politicians requested an advance copy of our book Connecting Decision-Making. It’s encouraging to see that candidates from different parties signed up, including candidates from typical local lists.

It’s busy. Maybe you’re still out putting up posters and flyers, or your diary is packed with door-to-door visits. So here are a few rules of thumb for future deliberations, in a nutshell:

1. Focus primarily on the values and interests you want to defend. Don’t fixate too much on that ‘one’ solution. Be strict and principled about your mission but flexible in how you want to achieve it.
2. Make concrete proposals yourself, rather than criticising the proposals of others. When you make a proposal, ask for objections. Listen to the interests your fellow council members want to defend. Make proposals that address both your interests and those of the other party.
3. If someone from another faction makes a concrete proposal and you disagree, explore which interests, needs and values they want to achieve with it. At the level of needs, there is never a problem. The problem arises when nobody is willing to budge from their concrete position.
4. Stand up against ‘bashing’ (attacking and ridiculing opponents). Don’t engage in it yourself and focus primarily on what you want to achieve based on your party’s values. Everyone is for safety, a healthy, prosperous and free world.

I wish you success and enjoyment in taking on your mandate. Thank you for working towards a society where all kinds of people feel at home, especially the people you represent. Know that taking care of your own needs and interests is more sustainable when you take the needs and interests of others into account. If you don’t, you’ll lose a lot of time and energy on struggle and conflict. I don’t wish that on you or on myself.

Erwin