Democracy

So, democracy. I suppose the first question is why democracy? Is it the best political system? Possibly, but that doesn't mean it should be imposed. The best democracy is one that has evolved, been won by the people that constitute it. Unless rights are won they are not respected. Hence the high levels of corruption in newly democratised states. Do you respect a free gift or something you have worked for?

The UK's system has evolved over many centuries with hard won rights, during the English Civil Wars (which were actually British and three in number) a greated percentage of the population died than during the First World War. Some of the ideas mooted at the time are radical by today's standards, like annually elected Parliaments. But if you want to see the real roots of British democracy just look at the Putney Debates. There Colonel Thomas Rainsborough said 'For really I think that the poorest he in England hath a life to live as the greatest he; therefore truly sir, I think it is clear that every man that is to live under a government ought first by his own consent put himself under that government;'

Goes some way to explaining hostility to the EU. How many people in this country have had a chance to vote on whether or not to be ruled by the EU? None. What moral right has the EU to rule this country and dictate our laws to us? None.

The problem with our politicians, particularly those in government, is that they have forgotten a fundamental truth about their position. They may be our Masters, but they are also our servants. We choose them, we pay them with our money, we can sack them. They placed us in our current woeful situation, we can get rid of them. Unless that happens and things change I fear another revolution. Another revolution? Yes, that's what the Civil Wars were, a rising up of the people against a corrupt and autocratic system that was only concerned with its own position and not for the people of this country.

Not that there's anything wrong with the system, just the people running it. How can a career politician be expected to make decisions in the best interests of the country rather than his/her career. Being a Member of Parliament should be about service to the country, not furthering a career. It should be a place full of wisdom and experience gained in real life, not in the politics department of a university and the no-longer smoke filled committe rooms of the party. Perhaps then we might get some integrity and common sense back in the place.

Ideas are like pebbles thrown into a pond, they cause ripples. If it's a poor idea then it's like dropping a grain of sand. A really good idea is like a house brick. With the ocean that is the www it might just be possible to cause a tsunami.

So, I am going to ramble and rant as ideas come to me, probably mostly inspired by the actions of the UK's idiot politicians. Not that they are stupid, just lost. In the days to come topics might include political correctness, the nature of democracy, discrimination and equality, what's wrong with Welsh rugby, the UK education system and my hobby of reenacting. Modest aspirations.