Funny thing this democracy lark, best left to the snotty elite
I KNOW that we live in a representative democracy, not a direct one, but it’s always amusing to see quite how far apart the concerns of the professional political classes are from those of the actual people.
As Guido is reporting Doug Carswell is one of the 20 backbench MPs who won the ballot to be able to inrtoduce a private members bill this session. Carswell then asked people to nominate and then vote upon which bill he ought to try and introduce. The winner being:
4. Repeal of the European Communities Bill: Britain joined the European Economic Community in 1973. It has turned out to be an economic and political disaster. This Bill will get us out.
But among the actual professional political classes this sort of thing is an anathema. This might be what (some, not perhaps representative portion) of the electorate want to happen but it’s not one that our represenatatives ever trouble themselves to think about.
I’m reminded of a story from a few years back and sadly I cannot remember all the details. The winner of the ballot one year (ie, the bloke at the head of that queue of 20 winners) said on a radio programme that he would bring in a bill on whatever the listeners voted on. I can’t remember his name nor whether it was being allowed to shoot burglars or the unbanning of hunting that won but it was very definitely not appreciated and so he introduced a bill on something else.
You know the sort of thing: democracy being far too important a matter to be left to the actual people.
Posted: 8th, June 2012 | In: Politicians Comments (3) | TrackBack | Permalink
