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November 18, 2008
Democracy and the credit crunch
Democratic reforms and accountability are just as important now as they are in times of economic boom and stability. Jack Straw made this point well in a recent interview with epolitix's Parliamentary Monitor magazine:
"People may say that now is not the time to make constitutional change because we’ve got a great financial crisis. But my answer is that a time like now, when people feel buffeted by events beyond their control, is precisely the time to improve the way our constitution operates, so that people feel better connected with their government – and it is their government – and clearer about their rights in relation to their government in a democracy.�?
And Salma Yaqoob (a Respect councillor in Birmingham) also makes the same point, rightly tying economic and political justice together:
“Just as our financial system needs an overhaul, so too does our political system. A vigorous campaign for proportional representation could well be one platform around which the diverse groups committed to peace and social justice could unite. Time after time the British public has shown itself to be more progressive than its supposed representatives - whether on foreign policy, climate change or public services. The democratic deficit between the British public and their political institutions demands urgent attention.�?
Posted by malcolmclark on November 18, 2008
Comments
Reforming Democracy is not the problem or the answer. Westminster and Whitehall have completely lost the plot. Not only have they abandoned OUR Sovereignty but the poor old Taxpayer is even paying Brussels "some 2,000,000,000". Just in case, that is Two Thousand Million £Pounds Each Week. WEEK.
The Profligacy of this Government sinse 1997 is breathtaking. The Tax take has risen from £290 Billion in'96/97, to over £600Billion 07/08.
Douglas Carswell might remember me from a year or two ago, when I was on about Taxation and the EU. But Westminster just carried on spend spend spend. Now there is nothing left. The cupboard is bare.
All of this started in California in 1993 when Bill Clinton was President. Don't take my word for it, look at the Spectator, 4th. October 2008. Page 14, an article by Dennis Sewell. And then every week until this week.
That was then, this is now, today. We are now at the point of total melt down. There is no money available in the "Global Economy". The silly buggers have almost destroyed the idea of liquid assets. People are once again keeping their money under the mattress, Banks cannot be trusted.
The only practical answer is for the working population to remove the power over Taxation from the Centre and fund the Public Services you require Locally on a County by County basis. I will guarantee one thing, for every £1. you pay today, it will cost you only 10pence or 20pence at the most. Ever.
Westminster and Whitehall have lost the plot so it is time we put them out to grass.
Regards, ATFlynn, "Norfolk's Mutineer"
Posted by: ATFlynn "Norfolk's Mutineer" at November 19, 2008 06:51 AM
I do not know who AT Flynn is, but I am in any case puzzled as to why the above submission, which appears to be nothing more than an ill-informed tirade against the EU, was ever allowed to be published on this blog. We are about ELECTORAL REFORM which clearly is not AT Flynn’s concern!.
Incidentally, On a RELEVANT issue: Jack Straw seems to have unwittingly provided us with some ammunition.
Posted by: Joe Patterson at November 19, 2008 11:30 AM
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