Thursday 3 November 2011

Question of the day

From Douglas Carswell we learn (apologies, but video won't embed):
"People in the eurozone can vote on the tax and spend options that they want"
And if we were an independent nation under our present 'democratic' system of 'democratised dictatorship', we could? The system Douglas Carswell - and every other politician, regardless of party - wishes to continue, is one whereby we vote and then obey.

I have come to the belated, although obvious conclusion, (and forgive me, dear reader, its a Senior Citizen 'thing' whereby the older one gets, the slower the brain engages hence the use of the word 'belated') that so-called eurosceptics are, in reality, MPs who are now 'miffed' that the role of elected dictator has been removed from their remit.

Just asking/saying..................

10 comments:

Mark Wadsworth said...

What is he talking about? Very few people can vote for the tax and spend policies they want.

The very powerful can influence this slightly, but what it boils down to is the pol's spend just enough on the people most likely to vote for them, cream off as much as they can for their mates, and then they raise as much as they think they can get away with in taxes in the stealthiest way possible, and the balancing figure is put on the never-never.

PeterCharles said...

You are quite right, they don't believe in democracy any more than any other politician. They are wedded to the party system and so is Farage and UKIP as a commenter in a previous thread indicated.

The reason is clear and I have mentioned it before, remember the comment from the Swiss politician? It's the buzz of being at the top table, or a crony sucking on reflected glory from those that are, of seeing their vision, their ideas implemented that drive them, just doing what voters want is no un at all.

It strikes me that this is also one of the tools the EU uses, or hopes to use. As national governments enjoy less and less scope for deciding policy, become more and more a rubber-stamping body, the people attracted to politics, those with 'real' political ambition and potentially competence will be drawn to the commission bureaucracy route and eschew national politics leaving only those who desire the trappings and perks of power and don't particularly care about real power and authority to be our national politicians. Thus the neutering of national politics would be complete, leaving a foul residue of time-servers and wasters to posture on the national stage in a parody of democracy.

Actually I think they may have already achieved it.

PeterCharles said...

" .... just doing what voters want is no un at all." should have been ".... just doing what voters want is no fun at all."

WitteringsfromWitney said...

MW: Exactly!

PC: Re Farage and Ukip - actually I believe I said that, either in my post or in response to a comment - but hey......

Agree with the rest of your comment, especially the last sentence!

Richard H. said...

@ PeterCharles Great post, you have captured it perfectly.

True thinkers and persons of genuine character are no longer drawn to public office nor have they been for sometime now.

So we are left with the "Reality Show" contestants, the talent show losers, the utterly shallow fame and power chasers who week in, week out go about their performance, flubbing their lines, missing their mark and generally making a mochery of representative leadership.

A "parody of democracy" as you so aptly put it; and were it not for the fact that their stage is the real world, I would rather just shake my head in disbelief and skip the "show". As it is, it seems we are grossly overdue for a massive "re-write" and a complete cast change.

WitteringsfromWitney said...

RH: Err, do you mind? I do the posts and PC does the comments..... :)

Seriously, PC can always be relied upon for a damn good comment! Perhaps you need to follow my wish for a participatory form of democracy?

PeterCharles said...

And your extension of my comment was also excellent and very aptly put, Richard.

WfW Don't worry, I'm not making a takeover bid!

WitteringsfromWitney said...

PC: You are of course more than welcome to do a guest post.......?

PeterCharles said...

WfW: That is very kind of you. I will give it some thought, but I am not sure I would be able to construct a suitably rigorous argument. I would hate to embarrass either you or myself.

Impotent rage and frustration with the inadequacies of modern government are excellent motivators for responsive comment, not so much for reasoned argument :-)

WitteringsfromWitney said...

PC: You too are being very kind in that I do 'reasoned argument'? C'mon...!

I 'burble' (if that is the right spelling) and try and provoke discussion - don't always succeed, but hey......