Today I went out to vote and on my way I still couldn’t decide what to vote for. Here’s the dilemma: the people of Switzerland are voting on the so-called «1:12-Initiative». Coming from the left, the initiative, in a nutshell, wants to oblige companies to not pay higher salaries over 12 times more than the lowest one. This subject has been fiercely debated over the last year. But instead of getting to the core of the matter – the growing inequality and its corrosiveness to social cooperation – there has been a war of sham arguments on both sides.
Although the initiative makes a stand for social change, it will merely have symbolic effect. The approximate 1000 – 1300 companies, that would be effected by the initiative, would easily find loopholes to avoid the rule. In the end, it would have changed nothing – apart from creating a lot of noise.
So is symbolic politics merely bullshit? Yes and no.
Yes, because they wasted a chance for real change, or at least, for a constructive discussion. There should have been a discussion on the value of work in general. Who contributes how to the functioning of our society and how can it be rewarded adequately? Does our system still make sense, when there are bosses who win a 1000-times more than some of their employees? If not, how would we want to change this?
No, because it’s not over yet. Because the fight over social equality and moral justice has gained momentum, and there is still a chance for change. But people need to get involved.
Voting YAY would endorse the idea for social change – but also the (increasing) trend of bullshit-politics. Voting NAY would be punishing bullshit – but also sending a signal, that social inequality might not be a problem.
If you had the chance to vote, what would you vote for?