RamRage

The story of my fight for the good of the planet and all on it...

Friday, February 12, 2010

Q.E.D

The day after my rant it seems the news breaks that Goldman Sachs are accused of rigging an online poll on Robin Hood tax

R.

Thursday, February 11, 2010

"We live in a culture characterized by what Benjamin DeMott called 'junk politics'...

"Junk politics does not demand justice or the reparation of rights. It always personalizes issues rather than clarifying them. It eschews real debate for manufactured scandals, celebrity gossip and spectacles. It trumpets eternal optimism, endlessly praises our moral strength and character, and communicates in a feel-your-pain language. The result of junk politics is that nothing changes, “meaning zero interruption in the processes and practices that strengthen existing, interlocking systems of socioeconomic advantage.”

Chris Hedge, 'Zero Point of System Collapse'; Adbuster Magazine 11.2.2010

When I read this, my immediate thought was of David Cameron, particularly the 'personalisation of politics' part. I will give you an example to explain what I mean.

Recently, following an immense grass-roots campaign by people like '38 Degrees' and 'Vote for Change' proposed introducing a reform on the voting system. In the future, it now looks likely that candidates will be voted for in order of preference rather than simply voting for one candidate. Sure, it isn't the proportional representation system Democracy sorely needs but it is a step forward.

David Cameron opposed this idea, calling it 'crazy'. He accused the Prime Minister of not fixing what was wrong in Westminster and of hypocricy. He then stated he would outline his proposals in a speech this monday. I then listened to his speech and it FAILED to offer any alternative to electoral reform, but it SUCCEEDED in personalising the issue with lots of flowery rhetoric implying that he could change these things and making it about him versus Brown.

So what do I propose, well if the current Power2010 votes are to be believed the thing people want most are Proportional Representation and to scrap the ID card scheme (but more on these another time). If I do not advoce Cameron to get rid of Brown and the failure of Labour government, who do I? I would advise voting Liberal Democrat. Nick Clegg, perhaps like many others beside him really seeks change for the better and would enact that change.

However, I am forced to immediately spin on my heel and point something out to the democratic neophytes that think it is all about voting the right person in. It isn't on the larger scale and hasn't been for some time. If the first year of the Obama administration has taught you anything, it should be that even electing someone as great as him changes nothing.*

As Adam Curtis pointed out on Charlie Brooker's Newswipe this week, even if someone who wanted to enact great change for the better was brought in, they would be so savaged by the media and therefore the public that they would never succeed. This, coupled with the fact that the Corporatists have now gathered so much power to themselves that they are able to refuse government calls to regulate themselves mean that a wider policy of reform is needed. But that reform goes beyond simply a Political one, but requires an Economic one. Take for example how quickly the banks were able to secure money to shore themselves up compared to how much money in aid is given to those dying of curable diseases throughout the world, how Boris Johnson barks back at his OWN PARTY on the banks of London's behalf compared to how he lets the public transport fall to ruin (because I might add seems to have no power over the Privatised companies that run the tube).

I seem to have strayed away from my point a bit. Politicians need to be
a) Accountable - Another rant for another day on expenses
b) Able to be recalled - The recall bill is on the cards
c) Strong enough to enact the changes that are needed for the better and not powerless against Economic giants that put money about people.

The public then need to be
a) Informed - It is all very well being able to recall MPs, but if they are recalled based on the biased media opinion then this only reduces the amount of power Government has
b) Proportionally represented - People will be less dissillusioned with politics if they believe their vote matters
c) Not spied on by their government to the point of living in a vaccinated orwellian state of terror.

Honestly I fear it. But don't believe me, don't believe anyone just because they sound convincing, find out for yourself.

Rant over.

R.

*That might seem bleak and I am not sure how MUCH I believe that but there is a grain of truth in it. I am favouring a Spider Jerusalem approach with my rant today, that of kicking you in the balls with a steel-tipped boot and vomiting truth into your earhole. Deal with it.