Today's and (unless we do something about it) tomorrow's politicians were or will have been able to take jobs as MPs' dogsbodies in their early twenties, secure in the knowledge that their rich parents could make it possible for them to live in central London despite being paid pitiful salaries.
That is how the Political Class perpetuates itself. And will continue to perpetuate itself.
Unless we do something about it.
what would you do about this "problem" you talk about...
ReplyDeleteEncourage people to look beyond the existing party/ies, now hardly existing outside the Westminster Village, and believe instead in their own capacity to replace the party/ies at the ballot box, beginning in earnest at the General Election of 2009, and probably ending at that of 2013, such is now the weakness of the party/ies.
ReplyDeleteThink about the people you know. You are bound to know people who could make a vastly superior contribution to the parliamentary process. You might very well be such a person yourself.
So why is the present ridiculous, useless, corrupt Political Class where it is? Only because we keep it there by failing to provide ourselves with any alternative.
We can do it. We must do it. So let's do it.
surely these new MPs eventually just become the new "political class" that you bemoan.....
ReplyDeleteThey never used to, because what I set out never used to be where MPs came from. They came from wider civil society: land, business, the unions, local government, whatever. And so they must again. So let's make it happen.
ReplyDeleteI actually don't care what someone's previous job was, I actually care what their positions are on issues!
ReplyDeleteWell in that case you'll certainly vote for David. He has positions on issues. The present Political Class haven't. They just believe that they themselves have the divine right to enjoy the trappings of office and to pass them on to their descendants and proteges for ever. That's it. Nothing else at all. So you can't possibly vote for them. Can you?
ReplyDelete