General Chat

Much of government is too central. I realise there has to be a central government, especially to deal with international issues, but I really feel more emphasis should be put on resolving local issues, many of which are different for different areas. I mean Norwich does not suffer the same issues as say..Newcastle, or Liverpool, or Bristol areas.

I don't know what the future holds for 'democratic politics' but we must not step backwards..

What a sweeping statement.

Of course they are not .. no more than all policemen are crooked or all hoodies are thugs.

Good and bad in all walks of life.

Jean x.

I have always believed that when our lot reach Westminster they lose commonsense and for many of them (as has been proved lately) it is wahee - piggies at the trough!" But I have to say that , in my opinion, amongst the worst are MEPs and that the European Parliament is biggest money waster - moving every six weeks - how about that for time wasting?

Like Kate, I think most young MPs start out with genuine beliefs that they can change things for the better, but that is because their party has indoctrinated them with its policies and they havent got around to thinking deeply about it all. It is actually the money barons who rule the world. Without money the governments cannot do anything. How often have you heard a government or local body say 'Sorry, but we cannot do this as there is not enough money'? It totally ignores the fact that the materials, machinery and manpower might be available, but the only way they can be used is to borrow 'money' which the banks have created out of nothing so they can charge you an arm and a leg in interest to make themselves richer. Once upon a time it used to be the crown, on our behalf, which created the money we needed, backed up by the real wealth. It is the biggest scandal ever that the right to create money was given to private entities.

Huia on her soap box.

The Swiss use a citizens referenda system.

If people dont like something which a government is proposing they should have the right to say 'Wait' and if enough people agree to a referenda then one is held on the subject. Also a right of recall. If you are unhappy with the way your MP has voted on something you get enough signatures calling for a new election in your area. The MP might get back in, of course, but if enough people in the constituency were angry with the way he/she voted then he wont. It might make a few more of them careful how they vote.

Huia.

Yes, referenda and right of recall would cost money, but money is a man-made object and should be our servant as it was designed to be, not our master as it has become.

Huia.

Of course they're not. Apart from the fact that we'd have to know *every* politician to answer that fairly, they are just people and there are good and bad and many in between.

I can't imagine how hard a job it is but I do admire many of these people who get off their backsides and try to do something to make a difference. How many people who knock politicians have actually given it a go? Very easy to sit in your armchair and criticise them.

In Australia voting is compulsory.

You get fined if you dont vote.

What sort of a democracy is that?

Like Huia, "I stood for parliament on a couple of occasions".

So Mick -- you talkin' 'bout us??

My opponent on both occasions, the incumbent, was an honourable enough man -- although I would vote for his party only in dire straits. His party itself, the Liberal Party, is thoroughy corrupt. As is the Conservative Party.

That happened in the last provincial election here, when the need to oust the Thatcher-style Conservative government was so overwhelming that I just voted for whoever was most likely to win in my riding. The old "strategic voting". It's going to be a factor in the election we have coming up in Canada in October too now. Vote Liberal or NDP, whichever seems most likely to defeat the Stephen Harper candidate in the riding, rather than split the anti-Conservative vote and let the Conservative win.

(We can't call our Conservatives Tories these days. They're a renegade band of neo-con right-wingers who took over the long-standing "Progressive Conservative" party a few years ago and eliminated all traces of traditional Canadian Red Toryism and decency.)

So anyhow: no. Not all politicians are whatever that was.