malee wrote:
GwynapNud the Eccentric wrote:
I cannot wait for the next week to pass in UK politics. This is among the most exciting times I can remember (politically) since .. ever.
Um.. Hello? Black President over here. Big news and such.
Unless you guys get a Gay President nobody will give a Ratus Nates about what goes on in UK.
(Yeah I googled the Latin names, so what, wanna fight about it?) MaleE, is that like an E class model of male? Are you an eunuch?
I adore most Americans on this board. They pay attention to the news of the world and carry themselves with a modicum off respect. But everyone needs a zero, and it seems you are it. At least Varrus has an opinion, even if 'out there'.
Not only do you parade Obama like a prize toy cheapening his position, You ignore all aspects of him that make him a good president (that have nothing to do with him being black). You ignore my post about it being an excitement about UK politics, Not US.
But, to get back to the original post. UK politics has been stale for centuries. We have a system that has worked but the problems with it have been shown up in glaring technicolour in the last few years. We removed a speaker in the house of parliament, the first time in 400 years. That is earth shattering enough but real tangible reform of parliament could occur for the first time in centuries.
To list some the inherent problems that are now in open discussion and do have potential for reform.
One major problem is Gordon Brown. He was not voted for and inherited the post of Prime Minister. He is persistently referred to as "the unelected" in the news and there is a growing movement of opinion that his lame duck status should not be allowed to occur again. After the local and european elections the labour party will be stuck in a horrendous position. If they do depose their lame duck, they will force yet another Prime Minister on a public who lack any trust in the system and will most likely be irked to have no say in who sits as head of their country.
It is not possible to remove an MP. The recent crisis in parliament has shown that even with MPs who have been shown to have committed expense fraud, who have stated they will NOT stand in the next election are remaining in situ. This is leading to the ridiculous position of the house of commons containing hundreds of representatives who can vote on matters of state but know full well that they do not have the confidence or backing of their voters and will be removed at the earliest opportunity. But if the Prime Minister is not exactly setting a good example, I can half forgive them. They need rolemodels which are lacking.
Parliamentary reform. I'll not go into this too much but to say that the old boys network is facing reform. The position of whip and other legacy offices and instruments of MP control are facing questions of their very function and viability.
Professional politicians. We as a nation are now a little tired of professional politicians. There is a detachment of values from the elected and the electorate. The expenses scandel has shown just how removed from day to day life MPs are. They seemed to forget that they are our servants. The fact that they tried to protest and keep MPs expenses from the public domain shows the fact they simply do not understand the function of their office. They spend OUR money, they ARE accountable to the electorate. And now its time for them to learn that lesson by being summarily removed from office and replaced (the question is with who ... more of the same?).
Saying all this I'm just amused and wait to see with baited breath what will fall out in the coming months. The coming 2 weeks will see the completion of the local and Euro elections and I am awaiting the departure of lame duck brown. Schadenfreude indeed.
History is in the making and I'm enjoying the view
Edited, May 30th 2009 11:59am by GwynapNud