Anger and Emotion

Dr Richard North has today posted on the subject of the Populus poll for The Times which apparently shows a lot of support for a "'radical' reform of parliament":

These included provision for a "recall", referendums on "important issues", fixed-term parliaments, more "free votes" in parliament, a cut in the number of MPs, stopping MPs having second jobs and a fully elected House of Lords. Also proposed was a change to proportional representation.

It almost goes without saying that all proposals got a favourable reception. Seventy-seven percent went for referendums, 74 percent backed fixed-term parliaments and 73 percent wanted more free votes. Even proportional representation got 56 percent support, a small but clear majority in favour.

As Dr North goes on to point out, these are opinions cast by people who, most likely, for the most part have little idea how parliament and government works.

What's more, these are opinions cast by people caught up in the wave of just anger and emotion about the actions of their elected representatives. If you asked them whether all MPs should be taken out, put up against a wall and shot, you'd probably find "a small but clear majority in favour". However, if you asked them what proportional representation has done for the world they probably wouldn't be able to tell you. Well, so far, it's given us Adolf Hitler.

The fact is, if you get people angry enough, you can get them to do anything. We found that out with the French revolution.

"Battle of Britain church service, Sunday 17.09.06"

BBC News: Labour MP Frank Cook claimed on expenses for a £5 church donation he made at a Battle of Britain memorial service, the Sunday Telegraph reports.

Evil.

We Are Underestimated

Watching Question Time at the moment (because there's nothing else on). I thought the audience was supposed to be representative, but most of the eurosceptics are being awfully quiet. Dan Hannan speaking eloquently as always about the EU, if naively about his party. Nigel Farage as always right, but now permanently cast as the ranting man in the pub, the pantomime villain for the deluded.

The Liberal Democrats foreign affairs spokeswoman is also very young (for a politician). It's hard to take her seriously. Obviously, she's advocating EU membership, along with the Green Party representative, Caroline Flint, and a French businessman. But there's a common theme in their arguments.

They argue that we need membership to cooperate on issues like terrorism and climate change. They argue that we need membership for trade. They argue that we need membership for so-and-so many jobs. They argue that we need membership for the EU social chapter.

But the question you need to ask yourself, is whether we couldn't do these things on our own. Why can't we cooperate with other European nations as an independent state? Why, all of a sudden, would all trade between us and France and Germany cease if we were independent, seeing as retaliatory action by them is against WTO rules? Why do we need the EU to make our rules for us?

There seems to be a mentality among those who advocate continued subservience that we are incapable of doing this for ourselves anymore. They lack confidence in Britain. Yet we choose them to represent us. Why? Why elect people who underestimate the British people so badly?

Escapism

Enoch Powell called the practice of bishops and other clergymen engaging in political debates as their "escapism". They've become addicted to it in recent years, and twice this week the Archbishop of Canterbury has spoken out on two linked issues:

The Archbishop of Canterbury has warned the "systematic humiliation" of MPs over their expenses is a threat to democracy in Britain.

Dr Rowan Williams and the Archbishop of York, John Sentamu, warn that anger over MPs' expenses should not lead them into a 'tragic' protest vote for far-right British National Party

Their interventions are silly and futile. With Christianity in this country in the condition it is in, any clergyman who thinks it more his business to speak about matters of state than matter of faith needs to take stock of their priorities and their passion for their job.