Why I Belong to (and Support) a Political Party...
I am a member of a political party, and I donate to it as well.
I do this deliberately, and for a simple reason.
If I expect a political party to work for me, I must first be willing to belong to it and support it.
This idea isn’t unique to politics. We accept it quite naturally in other parts of life.
If you belong to a sports club, you pay membership fees.
If you’re part of a community organisation, you contribute time, money, or both.
These contributions keep the organisation alive, active, and able to serve its members.
Without them, the club or organisation simply cannot function.
A political party is no different.
Political parties do not exist in a vacuum.
They need offices, volunteers, administration, communication, and the ability to organise and campaign.
All of this costs money and effort.
When members contribute financially, they are not “buying influence”. They are sharing responsibility.
Belonging also matters.
Membership is not just a card or a name on a list. It is a signal of commitment.
It says, I care enough about this vision, these values, and this direction to be part of it.
It also gives members a stronger voice, because real influence comes from taking part.
Not from standing on the sidelines and complaining.
We expect political parties to deliver results while keeping our distance from them.
We criticise, complain, and demand change.
But without engaging, joining, or contributing.
That approach weakens democracy rather than strengthening it.
Supporting a political party through membership and donations is a form of civic responsibility.
It is an acknowledgement that democracy is not a spectator sport.
If we want better governance, we must help to build what makes it possible.
Just like a sports club or a community organisation.
A political party works best when its members are invested.
Not only emotionally or ideologically, but practically as well.
In short, I belong and I donate because I believe responsibility goes hand in hand with expectation.
If I want the party to work for me, I must be willing to support and contribute to it.
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Other "Shares" on Wilko's Messages of Hope include:
Eskom’s Next Crisis - Why 2029 Could Bring Load Shedding Back with Chris Yelland...
We Don’t Have to Be Experts to Give Advice...
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With very best wishes,
Chris Wilkinson.
PS. I do not get paid for Sharing, so I appreciate a little help, if you can.
