It’s ironic to witness a spectacle of gratitude when an elected leader performs what is essentially their duty. In recent news, an MP was hailed with immense appreciation for fulfilling a task that, while commendable, should be the standard for public servants. This scenario begs a crucial question: Why do we treat the basic duties of elected representatives as extraordinary accomplishments?
The answer perhaps lies in a troubling truth — we have grown so accustomed to the absence of accountability and responsiveness from many of our leaders that when one finally demonstrates a semblance of their responsibilities, it seems like a remarkable feat. This reflects a deeper malaise in our political culture, where complacency and disengagement from the electorate’s real needs have become the norm.
It is undeniable that the work done by this MP, in this case, was valuable and beneficial to the community. However, the overwhelming public gratitude and admiration directed toward it reveals a much larger problem. In a functional democracy, people should not have to feel overwhelmingly grateful when their elected representatives do their job. It should be expected, a routine interaction between the people and those chosen to represent them. Yet, in our society, we have come to normalize the lack of visible, meaningful work from politicians, so much so that even modest achievements seem like grand gestures.
This shift in expectations signals a dangerous trend: we are lowering the bar for public service. Leaders are no longer held to high standards of governance and responsibility, and people have learned to make do with little. When a politician shows up or follows through on a project, it creates shockwaves, as though they’ve done something exceptional. In reality, these acts of service, of listening to constituents and addressing their needs, are foundational to the very purpose of holding office.
The onus, however, is not solely on the leaders but also on the citizens. We must stop treating basic governance as an extraordinary gift. Instead, we should demand that this level of engagement, transparency, and commitment be the rule rather than the exception. Our elected leaders should be consistently held to higher standards, not sporadically praised for meeting the bare minimum.
Let this moment serve as a reminder that the extraordinary should not be simply doing the job they were elected to do. It is time for citizens to expect more, and for leaders to understand that performing their duty is not a favor — it is an obligation.