Bernie Ecclestone is no fan of democracy, it seems.
Absolutely. I get myself into so much trouble when I say these things but I don’t think democracy is the way to run anything. Whether it’s a company or anything you need someone who is going to turn the lights on and off.
Well, he’s not the first to point out that democracy is a flawed concept. Churchill told us it is the least worst system and DK has railed against it as the be all and end all that it is usually touted as. I tend to agree. Ultimately, democracy is merely another form of tyranny. If it is direct democracy, it is the tyranny of the majority. If it is, as we have, a representative democracy, it eventually deteriorates to a tyranny by a political class.
As a system it is deeply flawed. Look what happened when those of us who objected to the encroaching database state complained. The politicians made polite noises (if we were lucky) and carried on as before, comfortable with their commons majority; as anyone who has written to their MP and received the standard cut-and-paste reply will testify. Some of them decided that once out of power perhaps they got it wrong, but the damage had been done. When in power, nothing short of potential annihilation at the polls causes them to change course. Our opinions, whether we are the majority, or a minority, counts for nothing. They don’t care. They take the ballot box as an endorsement, yet a significant part of the electorate do not vote – or as in the present case, we have a government no one chose. The politicans’ mandate is at best, shaky, yet still they bleat about “democracy” as if it is some panacea that we should all desire. They will even go to war to impose it on others who don’t want it. Yet it is a system that disenfranchises whole swathes of the population.
What I desire is liberty. Democracy should merely be a means to achieve that, not an end in itself. And if someone ever comes up with a better system – or a less awful one, I’m listening.
The problem with the likes of Eccelstone is that they can’t see beyond themselves being the benevolent dictator.
OT – have you seen that The Magistrate is having a pop at your favourite animal charity?
http://thelawwestofealingbroadway.blogspot.com/2010/10/cash-in-kitty.html
Well, yeah, not sure I fancy Bernie for president…
The magistrate makes a good point.
As always, it’s the abuse of the alternatives which is the problem.
Requiring individual registration to vote would help. Not just on a list, but actively interested enough to register for the each election. If you don’t care either way, don’t waste our time by turning up and bunging an X next to the funniest name or the prettiest logo.
And I’m serious.
If anyone comes up with a better system then I’m listening too.
Democracy certainly does seem to have been taken over by a bunch of lawyers and career politicians.
I am often reminded of the old Mark Thomas skit (originally aimed at MPs with multiple directorships) about the milkman who is late for PMs question time because he got the semi-skimmed mixed up with the sterilised.
We could do with a few more milkmen in parliament.
I’d like to see an end to career politicians who have never known life in the real world of industry and commerce, who have no idea of the effects of their half-baked legislation on the rest of us. I’m not sure how that can be achieved, though.
Certain degree subjects could be made open only to those over a certain age and be full fee paying, whilst useful degree subjects could be made free. That would be a start – a bit of a blunt one I know.
The idea being that we look at which areas need more professionals and which do not.
I read somewhere that there is a lack of Science teachers, but many sixth formers seem to want to do media studies for instance. So we give full grants and tuition fees for prospective Science teachers and make the would be journalists pay full whack.
You want to do politics or social work? Come back when your over 25 (or 65 🙂 )and can pay.
Of course, it will never happen.