Ian Dunt writes on Politics that a crisis of confidence has permeated Number 10 as a result of recent 'blunders' in policy implementation.
Certain facts emerge, which I for one find most disturbing where the governance of our nation is concerned. From Dunt's article:
"No 10 confirmed that it was hiring a high-level team of unelected advisers - basically a beefing up of the existing set of special advisers - who would be able to give orders to ministers. With an average taxpayer-funded pay packet of £100,000........."
So Cameron, like Blair and Brown before him, is increasing his 'cabal' of unelected spads, on an average salary of £100k, to "give orders to ministers"? Is this the same Cameron who, as a leading article in the Independent pointed out, "was once so righteous about the Labour government's employment of special advisers"? What happened to the idea that those who make decisions which affect the people of this nation should be answerable to the people of this nation? (Before everyone piles in stating the obvious, yes it is no more than introducing into our political system the EU's idea of democracy.)
Digressing, one section of the Independent leader with which I would take exception is the statement "The risk now therefore, both domestically and globally, is that the bigger prize – of mobilising a common purpose – could be lost."; one that is far from the truth as the mobilisation of a 'Common Purpose' is too entrenched to ever be lost inadvertently. The idea encapsulated within a 'Common Purpose' is one that requires surgical removal!
Referring to American law, H.L. Mencken commented that it is a fundamental theory the average citizen is half-witted and hence not to be trusted to either his own devices or his own thoughts. If the likes of Cameron, Clegg, the Balls' and Milibands E&D - to name but a few - are examples of the best the British people can produce as a result of being left to their own devices and thoughts when casting their votes, then as a nation we truly deserve the mess in which we find ourselves.
Consider, Spelman is to be 'axed' for her management of the forestry matter - yet why did Cameron, obvious 'control freak' that he is, allow her to proceed as he must have known her plans? Consider, the two Eds, Balls and Miliband, who were complicit in the economic wreckage in which we find ourselves, are still in positions of influence - and if opinion polls are to be believed would be back in power given another general election. Consider, we have what may be termed 'yesterdays men' in the shape of Clarke, Maude and George Young, for example, still being returned to Parliament and given jobs - when in any private company their services would have been dispensed with yonks back.
Digressing again, it is a well known fact that our media 'live in fear' of our politicians in that journalists dare not write words too critical as their income and jobs would be taken from them. That situation is completely at odds with what should be happening - that politicians should 'live in fear' of the media as that would make the politicians 'live in fear' of those who elect them.
There is indeed much wrong with our democracy and the manner in which politicians interact within that democracy - the problem is where to start. Other than, of course, with the immediate use of hemp and lamp posts?
8 comments:
WfW, apologies for posting so many comments on you blog.
Still, not being deterred....
It would be understandable if the stupidity of our country's electorate rested with the lower paid sections. But, I tend to associate with more affluent people and I am continually astonished and dismayed at their lack of interest in politics in general. It is something akin to South Africa prior to the mandela moment. The politics of the country - including the civil service - was left to the Afrikaaners rather than the English descendents. I'm not saying the Afrikaaners were bad; I knew many of them and liked them a lot. But, to leave the running of a country to one segment of society is a recipe for disaster. Everyone has to get their hands dirty. The problem we have is that most of the country would rather not dirty their hands, for whatever reason. Does that make sense?
Cameron usurps the Bill of Rights, Magna Carta & other constitutional instruments in allowing mercenaries to command ministers contrary to Common Law.
Now Cameron has decided that your elected officials no longer represent you you can lawfully ignore their statutes.
I despair when I see the trash that our self serving ruling elite are, we the people have been sidelined we need a complete reversal with power back to the people.
What the UK really needs is a Constitutional Court to keep these politicians and lawyers in check.
Campaign anyone?
Ignoring the statutes makes perfect sense to me.
everything is fixed in our politics, from the way candidates are chosen to Bills they push through Parliament. As for the media, the politicians are the journalists/commentators paymasters, most are biographers of a politician and therefore write approvingly, and hide anything that may damage their image, its no surprise that they do not live in fear of the public, they are not given the facts, and most are too lazy to even bother engaging in the political process.
jic: No apology necessary - you and your comments always welcome! And yes, you are correct in what you say!
IPJ: to both comments - agreed!
J: Agreed, as I think you already know!
W: Ditto!
pj: as so often, you nail it in one!
IPJ: Campaign? forgot to say I am in - want a chat?
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