The Abysmal State of British Politics
I have been an observer of politics since I was knee high to medium sized midget. I remember the day the that Mrs Thatcher entered number ten I was 14 at the time and I knew from that moment that I hated the women. For 18 years I was on the side that argued, rioted, protested and partied to get rid of them.
We thought at the time that they were an aberration and that all we needed was to evict them. I'm older and wiser now and I realise that if you want rid of some thing you need something to replace it with.
We now have in this country a Labour party whose leadership has taken us into what many think is an illegal war in pursuit of the American Business Interest. This same government seems intent on chipping away at our civil liberties on a daily basis.
The Conservatives have been a spent force in this country since being chucked out. Led by non-entity after non-entity. They behaved like an abusive partner who didn't get it. They didn't understand why they were thought of as the nasty party.
The liberal party, were for those left of center, one last hope to return the government of this country to principles that were worth fighting for. If you had asked me two years ago if any party was going to implode I would have said the conservatives
But even with an unpopular war, a conservative party out for the count and increasing threat to civil liberties the liberals managed a small rally. No more no less. There was no killer blow from them against the conservatives and so the status quo remains.
And now?
2 Days ago after months of back bench rumbling's, after several times where the leader was incapacitated and after the backbenchers made the displeasure clear Charles Kennedy the leader of the liberals goes on national TV to say that he has 'had' a drink problem but its alright now. He then offered the party a leadership election.
None of the serious candidates wanted to stand against him, they wanted him to resign - he refused.
After 2 days of denying the reality of what was required by his party he final went. He was a very very talented leader but the manner of his going has fatally wounded the Liberals. The fact that the MP's could not dispose of him earlier shows them to be lacking what is required in leaders. By refusing to go he has publicly humiliated any future leaders.
This leaves many with no natural party to vote for. When people have no one to vote for the nutters, racists, Stalinist and general despots come out to play. They promise everything and deliver nothing. I have increasing thought that democracy is ill in this country and today has only made me fear the worse.
We thought at the time that they were an aberration and that all we needed was to evict them. I'm older and wiser now and I realise that if you want rid of some thing you need something to replace it with.
We now have in this country a Labour party whose leadership has taken us into what many think is an illegal war in pursuit of the American Business Interest. This same government seems intent on chipping away at our civil liberties on a daily basis.
The Conservatives have been a spent force in this country since being chucked out. Led by non-entity after non-entity. They behaved like an abusive partner who didn't get it. They didn't understand why they were thought of as the nasty party.
The liberal party, were for those left of center, one last hope to return the government of this country to principles that were worth fighting for. If you had asked me two years ago if any party was going to implode I would have said the conservatives
But even with an unpopular war, a conservative party out for the count and increasing threat to civil liberties the liberals managed a small rally. No more no less. There was no killer blow from them against the conservatives and so the status quo remains.
And now?
2 Days ago after months of back bench rumbling's, after several times where the leader was incapacitated and after the backbenchers made the displeasure clear Charles Kennedy the leader of the liberals goes on national TV to say that he has 'had' a drink problem but its alright now. He then offered the party a leadership election.
None of the serious candidates wanted to stand against him, they wanted him to resign - he refused.
After 2 days of denying the reality of what was required by his party he final went. He was a very very talented leader but the manner of his going has fatally wounded the Liberals. The fact that the MP's could not dispose of him earlier shows them to be lacking what is required in leaders. By refusing to go he has publicly humiliated any future leaders.
This leaves many with no natural party to vote for. When people have no one to vote for the nutters, racists, Stalinist and general despots come out to play. They promise everything and deliver nothing. I have increasing thought that democracy is ill in this country and today has only made me fear the worse.
posted by gerbil at 9:45 pm
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