A thin dark haired young school boy scrapped slowly at what we were uncovering, he was spouting furiously political discourse. This was the first time I had met the young lad who was to bring such political disarray to the Green Party. The place an archaeological excavation run by my then husband somewhere round Chippenham.
That lad was bright, intense and his mind tumbled with the sheer delight of his beliefs. I think he was the point of no return for the Green Party, when he smashed through with his socialist ideals, the Reds were definitely overtaking the greens. Moderates like myself were swept aside as this eco-socialist bludgeoned his way through our small Wiltshire group a few years later. He was to do exactly the same with the election of Sara Parkin. At the time I despaired of the GP and this particular band of thugs overriding decisions. Sounds a bit like the conservative party doesn't it? The long complicated form of discussing everything and most of all the voting that took place, fairness was the cry as it slowly evolved away from the childish fury of this driven man.
Well yesterday I watched a Zoom meeting, yes I actually sat for a couple of hours whilst several people tried to convince us why they should be running for office. Some were people like me who had grown old with time, the younger contenders were still vibrant, age had not whittled away their energy. Slowly, very slowly the GP has edged forward with its presence in the country, GP councillors sit on many of our town councils. Still there is only one party member - Caroline Lucas in government and two members in the House of Lords, Jennie Jones and Natalie Bennett.
Now the only way for there to be more emphasis on the problems of how we address the desperately needed plans to create a self sustaining world with a few more green ideas. It is for us to make a bold move to proportional representation. Being simple I am not quite sure how PR goes forward but I do know that democratically all problems should be solved by as many people as possible and not be an elite group of self-serving people, who just happen to have gone through the same set of schools and universities as they have.
"Another world is not only possible, she is on her way. Maybe many of us won't be here to greet her, but on a quiet day, if I listen very carefully, I can hear her breathing."
Arundhati Roy, from War Talk
Scrapped slowly? Oh, scraped. Now I understand.
ReplyDeleteThank you Tom, your eagle-eye is always welcome, were you a teacher in a previous incarnation?
DeleteI would be the worst teacher you could ever imagine.
DeleteActually Tom/Thelma - when I see what the quote is from I am not sure which is the more appropriate.
ReplyDeleteMy spelling goes wrong sometimes Pat. When Google started playing around with the programme I had a spelling dictionary on here. Than it disappeared and I now have 'predicted text' following me around which I hate.
DeleteMy word, now that was a rabbit hole to go down. Sara Parkin, what an impressive woman she is and fascinating to read about her. This led me on to David Icke and what a mine field of beliefs he is!!! I am currently undergoing a reality check (especially as I recently had a 'conversation' with a flat earth fanatic) I seem to have led a very sheltered life! Jan Bx
ReplyDeleteDavid Icke and his serpent aliens, a thought to conjure with;) Sadly he had a spell at the GP, probably because 'everyone' had to have a say. Sara Parkin knew when to quit. I would draw a parallel with today's media coverage when the Right newspaper owners use every trick in the book to bring down an opposing party, whether minor or major, that is what happened then Jan.
ReplyDeletePolitics has become a sorry mess. Opposition parties hounded by the right wing media. Misleading headlines, out of context photographs and manipulation of the truth. Sold down the swanee by Brexit and Johnson. Angry moi?
DeleteI consider it a lot of 'distraction' nonsense because the underlying problems are too great to do anything about. Johnson put in place in the cabinet a lot of..... would numbskulls be the right word I don't know..... but the media has definitely not helped. We have to get past all the apposing the other party and work together,
DeleteI totally agree. Janx
DeleteIt's so common sense to so many people, however none of them seem to be in positions that will bring about change.
ReplyDeleteLess of 'I want' and more co-operation I think. There is a fuse smouldering somewhere and it should not be lit of course.
DeleteMy reservation about PR as a way of electing MPs is that all the variants that I've seen break the link between the MP and constituents, at least in theory an MP is beholden to their constituents (and would be muchorr so with the right of recall that the current shower promised and failed to deliver). Anything putting more power into central Party machines to select candidates in my opinion would be a retrograde step. As I see it, the way in which Scottish Assembly members are elected shows some of the worst aspects of this party manipulation.
ReplyDeleteWell I know little of the mechanics of PR, but the system of government we have at the moment is creaking badly. Yesterday I watched, zoom wise, four canditates of the GP state their case for the deputy leader chair. One was out of the running immediately with me as he linked the name of one of the other with such names as Putin and Trump thinking and the young man than said but I get on with so and so. He immediately lost my vote. Bad mouthing is something I don't tolerate, PMQs infuriate me ;)
DeleteI would agree on both counts, especially the frequent recourse to ad hominem attacks in lieu of any genuine debate between senior politicians across all parties.
DeleteI thought of your post: John Gray went to see The Spooky Men. They have a song called Vote the Bastards Out. (Look for it on You-tube) A song for our time, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteThanks Debby. I did find it, very funny, though a bit repetitious. Apparently this morning, the latest of course, we should strive for an Aspirational Britain!!
ReplyDelete