It’s that wonderful time of year again when I select a favourite festive film and ask you to indulge me as I try to bend a theme around it. In this case the film is very dated and highly problematic but there is of course a lesson here too. In the interests of minimising waste, no part of the festive film or its creation has been ignored in the writing of this column. Taken in the context of when it was released, this film does still have its charms and I truly believe it was doing its best at the time.
In Trading Places, Eddie Murphy is Billy-Ray Valentine, unemployed and homeless. Dan Ackroyd is Lewis Winthorp, a wealthy stockbroker. After a misunderstanding over a briefcase on the steps of their terribly outdated gentleman’s club, the Duke brothers, Winthorp’s boss, make a bet that they can switch the two young men around and transform them into each other. The film is poor on representation and highly inappropriate on many occasions and so pretty reflective of life in the 1980s.
Cringe.
It does tackle some very basic beliefs though. We find it hard to imagine someone who got a good start in life might one day turn bad and we find it hard to conceive of someone truly transforming themselves from nothing into a great success. Friends do in fact come and go very quickly when we find ourselves unwell or hard up, in different circumstances or struggling. We also don’t consider the consequences of meddling in other people’s lives.
The experimental movie caper is a successful one but the brothers get more than they bargained for in the end.
Not only do all parties gain a real insight into what life is like for someone else, they also learn some valuable lessons. When we stay in our own lanes, don’t mix with each other and never challenge what we understand as normal life, we miss out on entirely new perspectives and clever ideas. We fail to appreciate what we have and we don’t always share our gifts with others or make the most of our skills.
When it comes to Guernsey and how we are governed, it’s easy when you have been part of something for a long time or lived a certain way for many years, not to see where it’s failing, not to see how it could be better and not to see what’s missing. Consensus government is challenging and has weaknesses as well as strengths. It’s easy to blame individuals rather than the system and attempt to maintain the status quo, ideally with a set of more amenable politicians to debate with.
It’s harder to put yourself in someone else’s shoes, in this case the people of Guernsey’s shoes, and see the problems as they see them. It’s harder to accept that change is long overdue and that an uncertain future is better than a predictable one.
What worked for Guernsey past isn’t working for Guernsey present and certainly won’t be fit for Guernsey future. Over 20 years ago now, in 2002, the Harwood report flagged the need for structural change within our political system. This was followed up by Professor Phillip Morris’ report in 2008 and yet here we are, it’s almost 2024 and little has advanced in that regard.
The political think tank GPEG is among the groups calling for structural change. They’ve done the research and consulted widely and have a list of proposals which along with others would form a great basis for decisive debate on this topic.
In the broadest sense – as this column is not the place for a policy paper – suggestions for change include a two-tier structure with paid representatives from both the parishes and the island as a whole. Although the numbers and proposed approach might differ, the idea is not wildly dissimilar to the Jersey model where they have 12 parish connetables as well as 37 deputies. How much of a move towards an executive government we want is something to be discussed, but few will disagree that more local representation should improve outcomes and voter engagement.
The more I think about it, the more I believe that a fundamental change to how we run Guernsey is long overdue. It might just be the key to solving some of the biggest concerns we have at present; namely representation for the parishes and diversity and inclusion within government. A devolved and differently structured parliament could accommodate more flexible working schedules and individual needs. It would also encourage participation and reconnect local and island-wide politics while still allowing us all to have a say in both.
It’s easy to assume that those who don’t participate in politics don’t do it because they can’t and to assume their contributions are not worth having. However, using Trading Places as my festive guide, this rarely proves to be the case. We thrive when we embrace how different we all are and we make this possible when we shake things up, when we take risks and try something a little different. Who knows how many Billy-Ray Valentines are desperate to make their valuable contributions to our island, if only they had the right support.
I understand why some deputies and islanders want to keep things how they are but there is value to listening to those inside and outside of government who think things can work in other ways. A fresh perspective can be just what’s needed, whether you’re trading in frozen orange juice on the New York Stock Exchange or running a picturesque island in the English Channel. Let’s start 2024 off on a positive note, championing change rather than fearing progress.
The international film industry has come a long way since 1983. It has made huge progress since Trading Places was made to change how things are done and ensure films tell all of our stories respectfully and sensitively from many new perspectives. It has done this while making millions and it will continue to evolve as society evolves and representing us all in better and more honest ways.
If they can do it, I am pretty sure Guernsey can too.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
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