Public jury campaign launched to take power away from UK's 'feral' elite

[bridge too far]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2011/jul/31/public-jury-campaign-feral-elite

 

For debate, discussion and, no doubt, insults and barbs.

[pap]

Agree with the sentiments of the campaign.

 

Let's face it, representative democracy isn't working, can't work and can never work. Something like this would be a real upgrade to our democracy.

[dune]

What a wonderful idea.

[jjsaint]

I prefer the 'feral elite'.

[Minty]

What a wonderful idea.

 

Dune agrees with a Labour/Lib Dem/Green party backed idea. Wowsers. ;-)

[bridge too far]

Dune agrees with a Labour/Lib Dem/Green party backed idea. Wowsers. ;-)

 

And with a Guardian article that also credits Ed Miliband with some of this train of thought

 

"The declaration's main critique of Britain - that power is concentrated in the hands of a small elite - echoes the thinking of Ed Miliband. The Labour leader, who has been praised for shaping the public response to the phone-hacking scandal, recently said that too much power in the media and other industries is concentrated in the hands of too few people."

[dune]

Dune agrees with a Labour/Lib Dem/Green party backed idea. Wowsers. ;-)

 

Having witnessed the bigotted views of the incumbent TSW Liberal Elite on the Travellers thread one feels that one must do ones best to fill the holier than thou void.

[trousers]

Those Romans have got a lot to answer for. What did they evr do for us?

[locksheathsaint101]

And with a Guardian article that also credits Ed Miliband with some of this train of thought

 

"The declaration's main critique of Britain - that power is concentrated in the hands of a small elite - echoes the thinking of Ed Miliband. The Labour leader, who has been praised for shaping the public response to the phone-hacking scandal, recently said that too much power in the media and other industries is concentrated in the hands of too few people."

 

By who? All he has done is use it for political point scoring. Predictable but sad nonetheless.

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By who? All he has done is use it for political point scoring. Predictable but sad nonetheless.

 

Err - that's what politicians do. In fact, that's all they CAN do because every time they utter something, it's construed as making a political point. They sort of do what it says on the tin (sorry!)

 

However, he did have the temerity to ask searching questions of the government, and, time and again, Cameron followed Miliband's lead and suggestion. An example of this is when Miliband demanded that Parliament sit for an extra day (to consider Select Committee findings and to receive a Prime Minister's statement). Cameron eventually agreed to this.

[hypochondriac]

Err - that's what politicians do. In fact, that's all they CAN do because every time they utter something, it's construed as making a political point. They sort of do what it says on the tin (sorry!)

 

However, he did have the temerity to ask searching questions of the government, and, time and again, Cameron followed Miliband's lead and suggestion. An example of this is when Miliband demanded that Parliament sit for an extra day (to consider Select Committee findings and to receive a Prime Minister's statement). Cameron eventually agreed to this.

 

Having some mock outrage and trying to suggest it is the fault of the current government, when both Labour AND conservative are at least partially culpable in some form is pathetic. It needs sorting whoever is in charge in the future.

[scotty]

Having witnessed the bigotted views of the incumbent TSW Liberal Elite on the Travellers thread one feels that one must do ones best to fill the holier than thou void.

 

Admirable thoughts. That said, the travellers thread was possibly the biggest plsstake I've ever seen on here, and I've seen a few.

[bridge too far]

Having some mock outrage and trying to suggest it is the fault of the current government, when both Labour AND conservative are at least partially culpable in some form is pathetic. It needs sorting whoever is in charge in the future.

 

Where did I suggest it's the fault of the current government? Everyone with an iota of common sense knows it was endemic for about 30 years with ALL governments.

 

I was simply pointing out that politicians are damned if they do and damned if they don't raise an issue. That doesn't qualify as mock outrage in my book.

[Jonnyboy]

Having some mock outrage and trying to suggest it is the fault of the current government, when both Labour AND conservative are at least partially culpable in some form is pathetic. It needs sorting whoever is in charge in the future.

 

Is that you Natasha?

[CB Saint]

I think the feral elite have always been there, the Internet and 24hr news just highlight their existence more effectively these days.

[hypochondriac]

Where did I suggest it's the fault of the current government? Everyone with an iota of common sense knows it was endemic for about 30 years with ALL governments.

 

I was simply pointing out that politicians are damned if they do and damned if they don't raise an issue. That doesn't qualify as mock outrage in my book.

 

You didn't. Milliband did.

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You didn't. Milliband did.

 

Oops! Humble pie

[trousers]

This media led back patting of Ed Miliband pre-empting Government decisions is getting a little tiresome (in my opinion of course).

 

It's a whole lot easier and quicker to suggest a path to follow in opposition than it is to commit to such a move when in power. It's something that every party does in opposition - get in first with proposed ways forward so they can claim it was their idea despite the government (probably) mulling over the very same idea at the same time.

 

In opposition, there is usually little or no consequence of tripping rapid fire solutions off the tongue. In power, however, you have to dot all the i's and cross all the t's to avoid jumping the gun (and even then they can get it wrong...)

 

So all Miliband is doing is what all opposition leaders do - look for opportunist moments to shout out proposed ways forward before the government has had chance to analyse the best solution.

 

All Miliband has done recently is a good job of being in opposition. That's what I'd expect him to do, just like all opposition leaders of all parties before him.

 

In the example of recalling parliament for an extra day, if Cameron had made a snap decision to recall parliament, and then some logistical reason why that couldn't happen came to light, people would have criticised him for not thinking it through first and doing (another) u-turn...with Miliband no doubt leading the charge of the band wagon brigade...

 

But, these observations aside, one thing I do agree with is that Miliband is shaping up into a capable opposition leader...

 

:-)

Edited 2 August, 2011 by trousers

[dubai_phil]

Err - that's what politicians do. In fact, that's all they CAN do because every time they utter something, it's construed as making a political point. They sort of do what it says on the tin (sorry!)

 

However, he did have the temerity to ask searching questions of the government, and, time and again, Cameron followed Miliband's lead and suggestion. An example of this is when Miliband demanded that Parliament sit for an extra day (to consider Select Committee findings and to receive a Prime Minister's statement). Cameron eventually agreed to this.

 

Phew, with all the pending global economic doom & gloom around, it is such a releif to know that the leader of the Opposition can come up with great ideas such as asking for an extra day at work.

 

Burn the lot of them I say, between them they got us into this mess (The Ferals & the Politicos) and seem to all be doing a pretty p1ss poor job of getting us out of it.

[Special K]

Nice idea, but wholly unworkable.

[bridge too far]

Phew, with all the pending global economic doom & gloom around, it is such a releif to know that the leader of the Opposition can come up with great ideas such as asking for an extra day at work.

 

Burn the lot of them I say, between them they got us into this mess (The Ferals & the Politicos) and seem to all be doing a pretty p1ss poor job of getting us out of it.

 

I think you'll find, if you read the original article, that politicians ARE included in the 'feral elite'.

[dubai_phil]

I think you'll find, if you read the original article, that politicians ARE included in the 'feral elite'.

 

I was including those who are employed in "Public & Private Sectors" who do nothing all day except Politics - you know the types, they never produce, just fill in excel spreadsheets and tell others how clever they are or why they cannot do something or "possibly mislead Commons Select Committees.

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http://action.compassonline.org.uk/page/s/public-interest

 

Thanks DSM