My OperaThe Same Old Rubbish
Friday, October 5, 2007 10:48:59 PM
I think I'm going to be sick the next time a politician says he's going to do something "for Britain's benefit". Britain's benefit my a***! Will he? won't he? Call an election! Will the rabbit come out of the hat? Who cares?
The choice is between Brand X and Brand Y - and their both as bad as each other. Before an election politicians promise you the earth and give you the scrapings off their shoes (mind you the latter's something they know a lot about).
It's all a question of convergence. Here in the UK the politically aware vote according to their conscience while most of the rest are biased by class and/or upbringing. Give the average voter a list of policies and they can't tell you which party has made them. Apparently this is the same in the US!
So it's the floating voter - the most capricious of the lot - that decides the government of the day. Their all trying to get nearest the centre where that fickle bunch of voters will be. This explains why (Old) Labour lurched to the right to become New Labour and now Cameron's Tories have a distinctly pink tinge.
And what's the alternative? In the UK we have the Liberals led by a lacklustre old man who has no chance of ever being elected. Of course that party can promise anything - knowing they will never have to deliver.
So what sort of opposition is there? Who can pull down the establishment? Especially now that the 'powers-that-be' have done such a hatchet job on the BBC. The semi-establishment organ that criticised governments so viciously has been effectively muzzled. The public no longer believes in the honesty and probity of the Beeb. Isn't that oh so convenient for those in Whitehall?
Well the Tories have had their week and the humdrum New Labourites have whispered sweet nothings (I wonder what 'incentive' the unions got to keep quiet!). It must be the Liberals' turn next - I can barely stand the excitement!
The choice is between Brand X and Brand Y - and their both as bad as each other. Before an election politicians promise you the earth and give you the scrapings off their shoes (mind you the latter's something they know a lot about).
It's all a question of convergence. Here in the UK the politically aware vote according to their conscience while most of the rest are biased by class and/or upbringing. Give the average voter a list of policies and they can't tell you which party has made them. Apparently this is the same in the US!
So it's the floating voter - the most capricious of the lot - that decides the government of the day. Their all trying to get nearest the centre where that fickle bunch of voters will be. This explains why (Old) Labour lurched to the right to become New Labour and now Cameron's Tories have a distinctly pink tinge.
And what's the alternative? In the UK we have the Liberals led by a lacklustre old man who has no chance of ever being elected. Of course that party can promise anything - knowing they will never have to deliver.
So what sort of opposition is there? Who can pull down the establishment? Especially now that the 'powers-that-be' have done such a hatchet job on the BBC. The semi-establishment organ that criticised governments so viciously has been effectively muzzled. The public no longer believes in the honesty and probity of the Beeb. Isn't that oh so convenient for those in Whitehall?
Well the Tories have had their week and the humdrum New Labourites have whispered sweet nothings (I wonder what 'incentive' the unions got to keep quiet!). It must be the Liberals' turn next - I can barely stand the excitement!
berringdenbrow # Sunday, October 7, 2007 11:58:12 AM
well, i'm really releived there is'nt going to be a general election, it all gets so boring, I have been tuning to radio 3 in an attempt to avoid all the recent speculation on radio4. And november is the worst time to hold and election, what with the clocks going back anc the electoral roll incomplete, not tomention the postal strikes and the threat of foot and mouth still present.
but i don't think you should disparage mr.campbell, since as someone pointed out, he is only the same age as paul mccartney, and we shold not be ageist - perhpas an elder stateman would be good for the country.