Democracy is worth fighting for, if only politicians knew how
But their childish antics in Legco do not inspire confidence in their ability to govern
Hell, as the place of eternal torment and punishment, repeats itself endlessly. If there is something hellish about the chamber of the Legislative Council building, it is because what takes place there day after day - the filibustering, the name-calling, the swearing, the pelting, the glass-breaking and the use of the silliest of delaying tactics - begs the question: is there no end to this?
If this is political theatre, it is time to bring down the curtain. The pan-democrats and radicals act like children determined to give everyone hell because they cannot get their favourite toy. This would be just childish if it didn't affect the lives of so many people and jeopardise the future of the city.
When lawmakers fail so miserably to do their jobs and make such an embarrassing spectacle of themselves in front of the entire city, what results is not just a stack of bills and funding requests. Public confidence in the government's ability to do its job erodes.
Citizens begin to lose faith in their political representatives, as well as the belief that their own actions have a positive effect on political outcomes. As this happens, some may vent their frustrations by taking to the street.
Most people, however, simply withdraw from taking part in the now thoroughly discredited political process.
This is the worst possible way I can think of to prepare Hongkongers for democracy, a goal that the pan-democrats and radicals seem intent on achieving, apparently at all costs.
Democracy is not just about choosing the government through free and fair elections. It is also about the active participation of the people, as citizens, in politics and civic life. How can we encourage people to take part in politics if we make the process obnoxious and hopelessly inefficient?