BBC NEWS | Magazine | Power to the people?
The present government is in power thanks to the votes of little more than a fifth of the electorate. And think of the authority and intrusion of a modern British government.
This is not a few elderly clerks pushing pens in Whitehall to send dispatches to Hanover. This is a powerful bureaucracy with ever-growing technological skills, that has assumed a mighty embrace on our lives. And says, with obvious sincerity, that to keep us safe, well and happy it needs ever more facts about us and ever more control over our impulses.
That’s the most depressing bit of this article. Go ahead and read the rest of it, rather interesting. Lots of suggestions to reengage ppl with politics – including
just concentrate on the idea that if two million signatures can be collected a referendum must be held.
Do you think we could collect that many about the last post? 😉
This is an article about that bill by one of the libdems who is trying to fight against it.
To summarise though, this new bill gives the government the power to alter laws without going through parliament. There will be no debate, no scrutiny, no chance for back bench revolt, no check placed by the house of lords. They say it is to use to simplify business regulations, but there is nothing in the bill that limits the powers to that area. The conservatives are against it. The libdems are against it, and passed an emergency resolution at their spring conference this week.
Their suggestion is that ppl who wish to support the fight contact David Heath MP and David Howarth MP (both libdems) or write to your local paper.
Think I’ll do that tomorrow night. Tonight I’m writing to ask what the conservatives suggest 🙂
Comments
14 responses to “Today's more positive news.”
It would be worth trying.
Walden asserts that people no longer trust the workings of the House of Commons.
He implies that this a fault of the House of Commons and Government. He ignores the medium through which the majority of people obtain all their information about politics – the TV. And he ignores the apparent lack of desire of the general public to test whether the TV tells them the whole truth.
I don’t know which is cause and which is effect, but the resultant sound bite, hyperbolic reporting of any political process fails the British public and its parliamentary system. The suggestion that the British public will only vote if there are dramatic differences between opinions insults our intelligence and the great political traditions on which our country stands. Nothing is black and white.
If you want to change the situation, you could shout ever louder, and use ever more hyperbole. You will get the result you deserve – as soon as someone shouts louder or comes up with a more fashionable cause then you lose.
Or you could ignore the TV, the newspaper opinion pieces [who are only trying to compete] and actually go to the source of the information. We have a glorious tradition of democracy that has inspired many countries. We can educate ourselves about what that it actually does and what it allows us to do and then we really hold power.
Can I suggest for a start Hansard and They work for you
Jax said:
I’m far more interested in what you suggest. How far can a Government’s powers be extended before they go too far? It is a taxing problem. 🙂
Liberta said:
Hear, hear!
Anyone who wishes a help up the learning curve of understanding our democracy is welcome to come to me. I’m pretty secure where I’ve got to, and although still not particularly high, I’d be delighted to haul anyone else up here to enjoy the view,or accept a hand from higher.
Google sells:
ROFL. I gotta click through.
Jax! Sorry! I didn’t intend the quoted ad to link. Could you disable it for me, please? Then delete this comment? Ta.
quick fix – deleted link 🙂
Libertus – what democracy?
Think I might get a Boris hoodie to outchill in.
Jax,
Ooooh. You want to start from the beginning?
This democracy: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Screaming_Lord_Sutch
Tim,
If they do furry underpants with Boris’ face on them I might get some. The idea of having an irritating c**t close to my sweaty b******s just appeals. 🙂
Had a reply back from my Tory MP re Legis and Reg bill. Very brief:
*I share your concerns about this bill and can assure you that my colleagues are working hard to ensure the necessary safeguards are built into the bill and that parliament is not sidelined.*
Still haven’t had a response from the generic conservatives, other than the form saying thanks for mailing us. 🙁
Not sure I’m impressed with the *don’t worry your pretty little head about it* response you’ve got there. What do the conservatives deem to necessary safeguards?