Pettek Manifesto

Pettek places itself outside the political definitions and is not a part of any left-wing, right-wing, or central stream. Pettek's campaign does not directly relate to the burning issues which, under the guidance of interest figures, blind the public's eyes. Pettek intends to divert the attention for a moment and allow for a different and wider point of view of Israeli (and any other) society, as artists always do.

Pettek presents an idea for an alternative or additional existence in the politics and art world. With a sense of mission and social responsibility, from distress and mistrust in the existing system and a will to do better, Pettek proposes a new form of action in politics and parliamentary conduct, in which Pettek establishes new rules and acts accordingly. Thus Pettek maintains the idea and sets an example for its own proposal to society.
Some of the values which Pettek proposes and maintains in its actions are the doubt and the question, awareness and creativity, positivity and love.

Questioning, as a point of departure, is vital to the possibility of independent
Thought and to the development of social consciousness and personal freedom. Curiosity, doubt, questioning and independence from the "stock answers" are positive values which lie at the foundations of art, philosophy and science. It is self-evident that these fields, essentially all concerned with the study of life and of tangible reality, grow out of and are made possible by human curiosity. Total and absolute statements, together with the presentation of curiosity or doubt as harmful or negative, set free the evil and violence in human nature.

Curiosity gives birth to The Question, which gives birth to The Search, which gives birth to Study, which gives birth to Consciousness, which in turn gives birth to The Will to Action, which gives birth to Positive Creation, which leads to Amending and Healing.

'Good' for one person might be 'bad' for another. How can we define 'Positive Creation?' How can we correct what is wrong without destroying what exists? Is destruction necessarily bad? Since both good and bad are two sides of the same coin; both are subjective interpretations, humanity attempts to define 'the good' and 'the bad', describe and codify rules for learning and implementation. Both the religious and political systems have defined and continue to redefine the concepts of 'good' and 'bad.' Doubting and skepticism are vital tools in the examination of these definitions. To ensure that the values by which we live are as free as possible of violence or injustice, we must add another instrument to our search: Love. A loving relation to what is different from me, to the other, is the complement to a stand based on questioning and doubt. When Love is a consideration, the definitions of 'the good' and 'the bad' will be as broad as possible and take into account both humanity and the environment. When our judgment is based on love for every person, for everything in our environment, on the desire to affirm, create and heal - not destroy and negate; when our judgment is based on the greater good rather than on some sectorial interest, it is possible to strive for a larger "good" to ensure a better life the ones we are used to live.

Nowadays, ordinary citizens, without benefits of official political power, can bring meaningful changes. There is an enormous and untapped social potential in the individual. Pettek is aware of this potential and to precedents in which organized individuals managed to defeat huge institutional powers. Pettek is interested in showing what is possible to those who feel helpless and insignificant.

Pettek's campaign will function on several levels. It will be an art action in the sense of the new, different and creative approach to the political game. It will critique the established political methods and institutions and offer a positive alternative as part of Pettek's philosophy. It will use humor, cynicism, wit and sentimentalism. It will be blunt. It will use anything that will get people to stir and react. Since Pettek is not anxious for being elected, and since the reason for its existence is the campaign itself, a vote for Pettek will carry two messages: a vote of no-confidence in the established order, the established politicians and in 'the way things are done' on the one hand; and on the other, a vote of satisfaction and support for the Pettek's ideas and campaign.

Since Pettek takes its public responsibility seriously, it will offer (if elected) an alternative method which can exist within the present system. Pettek proposes parliamentarians who bring a creative, curious and questioning approach to politics; an approach which strives for positive and creative solutions. The members of Knesset will not play the "parliamentary game" as the others do. Of their salary they will retain only the average wage, while the rest of the money (thousands of dollars) will go into an account which will fund monthly projects in the spirit of Pettek. The projects will embody Pettek's world-view and support art and culture out of a sense of social responsibility.

Pettek's parliamentarians will take part in the political game only in close coordination with its voters and in full transparency to them. In order to facilitate this, there will be a Pettek site called the 'Pettek Parliament.' All those who expressed interest in the project and contributed to its establishment will have access to the site and will be able to express their thoughts, propose projects for Pettek to take on and vote for or against the actions of the parliamentarians or the party.

By earning only an average wage, by its transparency, and by funding projects at its own expense Pettek will function according to a different set of rules within the given Israeli democratic system; offering itself as a critique of the system and as a model for a more creative and positive way of doing politics.

Pettek is an experiment and a process. Pettek is a stage open to creativity.
Pettek is looking for creative people who want to change the way things are done.