O/T:- Election

[jackal2]

I think we all know Government needs some reform. The problem we have is that both Labour and the Conservatives are both soft left with more radical wings.

And yet both major parties are seeking to masquerade as right-wing-friendly as they try to retain or win over the (understandably disappointed) voters who put the Conservatives in office last time.

This election feels like a re-run of 1997 in many ways. For John Major read Rishi Sunak, an equally uninspiring and ideologically bereft politician with no concept of how to connect with the common man/woman. And for Labour there's Sir Keir Starmer, seeking to play exactly the same "we're not socialists, in fact we're actually quite conservative" game as Tony Blair did in 1997, but without any of the charisma Blair brought to the table.

To be fair to Keir Starmer it's the right game to play at this moment, even if it is only five years since he was advocating Jeremy Corbyn for Prime Minister (and he wasn't sincere about that either!).

Assuming Starmer wins a majority, it's arguable that no Prime Minister in history will have come into office with less genuine public enthusiasm behind them. It really would be a case of the public half-heartedly changing the deckchairs on the Titanic - but Starmer won't care how or why he wins. From his viewpoint, the moment he walks into No.10 Downing Street he'll have achieved the only thing that ever mattered to him as the very epitome of the modern, vacuous career politician. Just like Rishi, he'll be putty in the hands of the Civil Service and the media thereafter, and 'business as usual' will carry on for the real underlying power brokers and vested interests.

To borrow George Galloway's phrase, the public are being offered two cheeks of the same backside - neither offering anything resembling a genuine conservative or socialist ideology, or a real democratic choice. The 'Uniparty' currently has a stranglehold, and consequently nothing will really alter in the lives of those who voted in various ways for what they truly hoped would be real change over the past ten years. As a result, I can only see the anger and frustration of ordinary people growing and growing, but that's probably a good thing in the long run, because its anger that provides the kind of energy required to ultimately break the current self-serving system.

[Old_pie]

All politicians should be made to carry out the Tories plan of 2 years National Service / Community work so that they do not grow up in a self-deluding bubble of grandeur and gain an understanding of the society they are expected to serve. Any that do will get my vote.

[Lullapie]

There might be some flaw with the system and I agree with Old Pie. Apparently Soccerman completed it and it said he was a Corbyn-ite.

[Lullapie]

And yet both major parties are seeking to masquerade as right-wing-friendly as they try to retain or win over the (understandably disappointed) voters who put the Conservatives in office last time.

This election feels like a re-run of 1997 in many ways. For John Major read Rishi Sunak, an equally uninspiring and ideologically bereft politician with no concept of how to connect with the common man/woman. And for Labour there's Sir Keir Starmer, seeking to play exactly the same "we're not socialists, in fact we're actually quite conservative" game as Tony Blair did in 1997, but without any of the charisma Blair brought to the table.

To be fair to Keir Starmer it's the right game to play at this moment, even if it is only five years since he was advocating Jeremy Corbyn for Prime Minister (and he wasn't sincere about that either!).

Assuming Starmer wins a majority, it's arguable that no Prime Minister in history will have come into office with less genuine public enthusiasm behind them. It really would be a case of the public half-heartedly changing the deckchairs on the Titanic - but Starmer won't care how or why he wins. From his viewpoint, the moment he walks into No.10 Downing Street he'll have achieved the only thing that ever mattered to him as the very epitome of the modern, vacuous career politician. Just like Rishi, he'll be putty in the hands of the Civil Service and the media thereafter, and 'business as usual' will carry on for the real underlying power brokers and vested interests.

To borrow George Galloway's phrase, the public are being offered two cheeks of the same backside - neither offering anything resembling a genuine conservative or socialist ideology, or a real democratic choice. The 'Uniparty' currently has a stranglehold, and consequently nothing will really alter in the lives of those who voted in various ways for what they truly hoped would be real change over the past ten years. As a result, I can only see the anger and frustration of ordinary people growing and growing, but that's probably a good thing in the long run, because its anger that provides the kind of energy required to ultimately break the current self-serving system.

Great post. I fully agree with your Galloway quote - god that sounds awful - but all of politics now throughout the 'democratic' world offers very little change for voters looking at policy differences prior to an election. The only real changes come through during a second term. That's when the loonyness presents itself.

[slack_pie]

All politicians should be made to carry out the Tories plan of 2 years National Service / Community work so that they do not grow up in a self-deluding bubble of grandeur and gain an understanding of the society they are expected to serve. Any that do will get my vote.

Sorry but I strongly disagree. Regardless of whether the outcome of national service is positive or negative, the government should not be able to impose stuff like this on people. I don't want a bunch of suits in Westminster giving my son two options that he can choose from when he turns 18. I want him to be able to decide for himself and own the consequences.

[Old_pie]

Sorry but I strongly disagree. Regardless of whether the outcome of national service is positive or negative, the government should not be able to impose stuff like this on people. I don't want a bunch of suits in Westminster giving my son two options that he can choose from when he turns 18. I want him to be able to decide for himself and own the consequences.

You've completely read my post back-to-front and missed what I said. If you read it again you'll see that if anyone should go on the scheme it is the politicians themselves!

[Elite_Pie]

Sorry but I strongly disagree. Regardless of whether the outcome of national service is positive or negative, the government should not be able to impose stuff like this on people. I don't want a bunch of suits in Westminster giving my son two options that he can choose from when he turns 18. I want him to be able to decide for himself and own the consequences.

This National Service plan is sheer lunacy from a government that has completely lost the plot. I can only think it's aimed at the gammons, but most of them have buggered off to Reform UK long ago. It will go down like a lead balloon among younger voters, where the Tories have very little support anyway. It will be a big boost to Labour without them having to lift a finger!

[slack_pie]

You've completely read my post back-to-front and missed what I said. If you read it again you'll see that if anyone should go on the scheme it is the politicians themselves!

Apologies, by 'carry out' I thought you meant 'implement'. And I agree

[slack_pie]

This National Service plan is sheer lunacy from a government that has completely lost the plot. I can only think it's aimed at the gammons, but most of them have buggered off to Reform UK long ago. It will go down like a lead balloon among younger voters, where the Tories have very little support anyway. It will be a big boost to Labour without them having to lift a finger!

It does seem very misguided and will likely be the last nail in the Tories' coffin for this election. As you said, the target audience for such policies drifted towards Reform and other similar parties long ago.

For what it's worth, I do think there is an attitude problem in some young people, and that it's generally getting worse over time, to the detriment of society. But the answer isn't ill-advised government policies that take away your freedom and autonomy. Better parenting would be a good start, but that's not something you can legislate for.

[forwardmagpie]

This National Service plan is sheer lunacy from a government that has completely lost the plot. I can only think it's aimed at the gammons, but most of them have buggered off to Reform UK long ago. It will go down like a lead balloon among younger voters, where the Tories have very little support anyway. It will be a big boost to Labour without them having to lift a finger!

It’s a bonkers policy that hasn’t been thought through.

As someone who will end up voting for a party I don’t want however I cast my vote this election fills you with despair for our future.