None of the above
This can be seen in the terrifying demographics of electoral behaviour. Most under-45s in Britain don’t vote, and just a third of under-25s do. The Westminster system is sustained by the generations which still regard voting as a civic duty. Yet it is a grave error to talk loosely about ‘apathy’. Polls taken among abstainers show that a third of them are nonetheless active in charities, campaigning groups or community organisations. These active citizens do not want to authorise or lend their support to the disgraced Westminster class. They see a village of corrupt oligarchs, busily lining their pockets, smearing each other in email campaigns, and accruing power. When these sceptical voters are asked in elections which of the discredited political fat cats they would like to run the country on their behalf, the answer, increasingly, is: ‘none of them’. the spectator
Much to the embarassment of the political class in the UK the upcoming Euro elections may see a member of the BNP take a seat in the Euro Parliament. Yikes.
The prospective BNP member has been given a boost by the cravenness of that political class as it has its candy bars and moat dredging (no, really) paid for as expenses. Fraser Nelson has details at The Spectator.
Meanwhile in America, Nancy Pelosi is hoping that the CIA shuts the fuck up about what and when she knew about waterboarding. “I mean they talked about it but I just couldn’t believe that they would do it” Yeah right.
In our own fair land the CPC launchs a set of the lamest attack ads ever. Yup, Iggy was out of the country for thrity five years, some of those years were in America, most were in England (which does not appeal quite so well to the UEL Ameriphobes as the USA) and so what? The stick puppet thing is just kinda strange.
Iggy’s a cunning bastard and Canadians, as Renee Stephen channeling Will Ferguson points out, like electing bastards rather than boneheads. Just the way it is.
May 15th, 2009 at 3:53 am
I just watched one of the ads and, agree or not with them, they are indeed lame TV, lame messaging, lame quality, lame politics.
May 15th, 2009 at 7:03 am
According to my acquaintances and relatives in Europe, most Europeans, particularly British, are simply jaded with the political process.
They are revolted with continuously seeing the ruling class agendas and candidates dictate public and national policy in a virtual ratification vacuum. Their term for this iron grip the political class coteries have over public popular will is “pre-ratified” democracy.
No where is this clearer than the Euro governing class creation of the EU parliament and their intent to further concentrate political and economic power in a single body with minimal public accountability. (Good thinking lads! This worked out so well for all the failed communist states.)
My understanding is the treaties needed to ratify EU centralism were rejected or made very slim majorities when or If they made it to public referendum. Certainly not the overwhelming popular support needed to justify the vast loss of personal and national sovereignty EU parliamentary agendas demand.
Perhaps Brits and Europeans have had their ideal of democratic change ground down by so much Plutocratic unilateralism from the governing class, that they feel voting will change nothing with a system so permeated with elites and their agendas. The message from the ruling class is; “If you don’t like it, revolt. But we’re ready for that eventuality in spades! You’ll never see another American or French republic.”
Low voting numbers in Britain and Europe reflect a form of wide spread public disillusion and quiet desperation confronting 21st century monolithic political systems. I suspect a growing number of Canadian and US voters are beginning to feel the same.
May 15th, 2009 at 7:41 pm
Ahh, but is Iggy enough of a bastard to keep control of the librano wing of the party? It’s been a long time since the trotters were buried in the government money trough. He wins an election the urge to go hog wild will be near irresistable.
You think someone is reading Machivelli on how a prince should rule a newly conquered province?
May 16th, 2009 at 12:33 am
“In our own fair land the CPC launchs a set of the lamest attack ads ever.”
Coming from a faggoty NDP voter who loathes conservatism and Conservatives that really, really hurts.
“Iggy’s a cunning bastard and Canadians, as Renee Stephen channeling Will Ferguson points out, like electing bastards rather than boneheads. Just the way it is.”
Ah, yes, reminds me of the days when you and your kind rapturously masturbated to Paul Martin and The Board every time they did something evil, good times.
Cunning bastard, eh? Is that what we’re calling comically inept boomer social scientists with entire fucking shoe factories in their mouths? Y’know, whenever I waiver on an issue, which is rare, I just check your blog and do the opposite, your record of being exactly wrong about everything is astounding.