"The media, especially the London media, should also smell the coffee. Something is happening in this country outside of the echo chamber. The council elections take place in May in many parts of the country: prepare for more shocks to come as people find their voices at the ballot box and in mass, democratic opposition to an elite that is failing them."Yet again, a few questions:
- How have people found their voices when a candidate conducts a cynical, opportunistic, campaign directed at one section of society, a section which comprises a majority?
- How can people express their dissent in a mass democratic opposition to an elite that is failing them when the 'democratic system' that they are being asked to partake in is itself anything but democratic?
- How can people express their dissent in a mass democratic opposition when parties that should be speaking for them, don't?
- How can people express their dissent in a mass democratic opposition when they have been 'conditioned' not to think, but to accept that which they are told and consequently are 'uninformed'?
- How can people express their dissent in a mass democratic opposition when that which they are asked to oppose has not been presented to them in an open, transparent manner, but in a 'selective' manner?
- How can people express their dissent in a mass democratic opposition when those that they oppose care not one iota for the views of those they are meant to represent, but care only about their careers?
Just saying......................
12 comments:
It is very difficult, and all the questions you pose are valid, but one idea is to seize the cnaces as they so rarely arise. One such is perhaps the London Mayorals.
The position of London Mayor could be used by an anti-EU, pro-democracy candidate of stature, to bring considerable change to our three party system and Westminster, because the post has no real "political" meaning.
Just a thought!
M: First, thank you for your kind comment.
"The position of London Mayor could be used by an anti-EU, pro-democracy candidate of stature, to bring considerable change to our three party system and Westminster...."
And the candidate for the only anti-EU pro-democracy candidate is......?
Nuff said, especially regarding Ukip?
And if that candidate was not initially that well-known, with the right strategic campaign he soon would be!
I believe Robin Tilbrooke Chairman of the English Democrats will also be running. He has been attacking the Tory's selling off England's planning procedures for donations recently which seems good campaigning to me, see here:
http://robintilbrook.blogspot.fr/2012/03/new-city-in-england-why.html
People can express their dissent by voting for independent candidates who will represent their wards and constituencies instead of representing political parties. That is what I do.
M: At the risk of annoying you, Tilbrooke is no different to Galloway - he is a one issue candidate.
S: True, and it may well be a course that I follow - providing the caveat above does not apply.
Lawrence Webb is the UKIP candidate for London Mayor. Has anyone heard of him, seen any press releases, tv appearances? Perhaps he should go on Big Brother or make an arse of himself in some other way, a la Galloway, in order to make the headlines.
GV: Naughty step for you for highlighting yet more shortcomings of what could be the official opposition of our country!
"How have people found their voices when a candidate conducts a cynical, opportunistic, campaign directed at one section of society, a section which comprises a majority?"
A contradiction me thinks. Is that not what democracy is all about having representatives that reflect the views of the majority?
Trying to save the Odeon is top of the agenda for new Bradford West MP George Galloway.
Mr Galloway said that he would be writing to Bradford Council to get hold of the engineering report to see what could be done to save the building. He is also going to field Respect candidates in every seat up for grabs in the local May elections in Bradford with a rally tomorrow to garner support.
Also finding out why there have been no penalties inflicted on Westfield for not yet building on Broadway is also on the new Respect MP’s agenda.
Speaking to the Telegraph & Argus yesterday, Mr Galloway said he would be spending his weekends at his Manningham home and his weeks in Westminster.
He was scathing about the current Council, describing them as “incompetent”. “I think the Council is disastrous and we need a broom to sweep it clean,” he said.
“I am already suing at least one councillor for a very serious libel for £100,000.”
Mr Galloway, when asked why he emerged victorious, said: “I think there is a large well of discontent with local councillors here in Bradford.
“There has been a neglect of people and it is manifest for everyone to see.
“Voters can’t believe that this kind of political leadership is as good as it gets.
“Someone offered a different perspective and different ideas and people related to it in extraordinary numbers.
“Nobody predicted this result and I was the only person in Britain who thought I would win it.
“We got 85 per cent of the vote in the University Ward and are moving our national Respect HQ here from Manchester.
“We have one of the highest youth unemployment rates in the city of those aged 24 which has increased by 40 per cent since January, so if we put a fraction of that cash into youth services in Bradford that would help.”
Asked about his priorities, he said the Odeon was the most urgent.
“It is literally falling down,” he said.
“I am demanding access to the site and need to know whether it can be saved. I have some plans and think we should do everything we can to save it.
“The Westfield site is a much bigger scandal. I want to know who drew up the contract and why no effective penalty clause is in it. How is it possible for a foreign multinational company to take a premium piece of land and public money and not deliver and not be punished for it?”
Mr Galloway said he would make a difference in Parliament, despite being an independent MP. “I will be raising issues in the House of Commons and demanding that things are done,” he said. “Bradford needs a strong voice to speak up for the people and my voice is heard.
“I don’t want to scuffle with the Council, but I want to vote in better people in the local elections. Bradford is a beautiful place with wonderful people and a multicultural population.”
Does he think he can make a difference? “I hope so, certainly 56 per cent of people think so.”
e-mail: dolores.cowburn@telegraphandargus.co.uk
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A: No contradiction at all. If a candidate ran for parliament and campaigned on behalf of the downtrodden white majority, how far do you think that would be allowed to run?
Agreed that appealing to a majority view is what democracy is about, but not in the manner in which Galloway did. As in 2005 he was careful to choose his constituency and fought both campaigns on racial issues.
TT: I did read all that you posted, likewise I have quoted from that same source on eligibility to vote elsewhere.
It should of course be borne in mind that the turnout was only just over 50% and that according to the BBC the white population amounts to 52.6%, the remainder being other ethnic groups. Being a by-election, it would seem a large number didn't bother to vote...... Pound to a penny, come 2015 Bradford West will revert to its labour roots?
I am not certain it will. You see Labour is corrupt and Marsha Singh retired. They simply could not impose a Muslim. Singh was a Hindu.
The Constituency is 52% White but as Whites have fewer children a higher propertion of 52.6% can vote than of the 42% Muslims who are predominantly <18 years.
Galloway won 85% in University Ward - I cannot imagine students will warm to tuition fees in 2015 or to the state of the economy.
I can see Witney returning a Conservative MP, perhaps even David Cameron....but you really must know Bradford West before writing off the generational change that it taking place there - and of course do not forget that Philip Davies is losing his seat in Shipley and part of that will be merged into Bradford West
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