As regular readers will know, I rarely make any serious political comments here, except to take the proverbial out of our local Jurassic junta on occasion. It's probably because, as the only Lib Dem in the village, there never really appears to be any point. However, with Cllr Moores' 'popular but beseiged' Tory Thanet Life blog comatose, the chances of me being labelled a 'paedophile', 'welfare sponger', 'living gloating metaphor of all that's wrong with society', or a 'left wing c*nt' just for expressing an alternative political view seem to have diminished, so I'll take a chance and pop the old barnet above the parapet.
There is currently a mass debate going on elsewhere in the Thanet blogosphere about who's who in the zoo, which independents did what to who and when, and whether they were wearing brown shoes or Hush Puppies at the time, etc etc. Whilst this is all no doubt very interesting to the, er, mass debaters, it will do nothing to unseat the rabble who currently run our island, who will happily continue lunching with the Big Three (you know who they are) and bowing and scraping to their every whim, secure in the knowledge that it's not the electorate they answer to but their own and others' pockets. Yes, they chuck us the odd Big Event or Water Skiing Week occasionally, but that's bread and circuses to keep the masses happy, while they get on with the much more important business of feathering their not insubstantial nests.
I'm not saying the other mob would be any better. Years of pendulum politics have scarred Thanet and got us to the position we enjoy today - deprivation, underinvestment, and dereliction. Any independents that surface invariably seem to be the Tories, UKIP, or (heaven help us) the BNP in disguise, so we are effectively living in a two party state, where the incumbents feel at liberty to bully, intimidate and threaten voters and petitioners in a way that would make even the vile Mugabe blush.
Over in Hooray Henley yesterday, the Lib Dems ran the Conservatives a not very close second in the by-election precipitated by my old chum BoJo's elevation to the London Mayorage. But at least they gave them more of a run for their money than poor old New Labour, who limped home fifth and lost their deposit. The moral being that, if we really want a change here in Thanet, we have to start thinking seriously about a realistic third way. I'm not suggesting the path necessarily lies in the direction of the Lib Dems. After all, I for one can't even remember who their leader is these days, and I support them! But for the sake of this potentially lovely little island, someone, somewhere has surely got to come up with a serious alternative?
Now click here to call me a 'patronising pratt' and 'left wing c*nt'
Update: My thanks to regular contributor Mr X for sniffing out this clip from BoobTube which demonstrates quite aptly the kind of frustration many Thanet voters must feel!
18 comments:
Richard, of course I would not stoop so low as to name call. I do object to being called a rabble(or at least a part of a rabble).
I do not lunch with anyone bigger than me, on account of the fact I like to get my fair share of the meal.
In all seriousness, the Labour group are doing a good job in opposition, the conservative group are ok in power, the lib dems were just pretty poor at anything when they had a seat on the council.
Why do you not stand in 2011?, although that would be difficult as a fictional character.
And, perhaps, you would have to explain your 'Millions'
I'm not saying everyone has their snout in the trough or is a bully, Cllr Gregory. But you seem to be a decent chap, you must surely be embarrassed by your leadership? They really do give your party a bad name, so what is the advantage of keeping them there? Unless you've been bullied into keeping schtum?!?!
As for me going into politics I'm not sure anyone would have me!
Richard, I can assure you neither friend(or should that be fiend?) or foe bullies me, only the current Mrs Ken is allowed to do that! Ps how is the beloved Mrs O Richard?
I do not comment on my feelings toward the leadership of any club of which I am a member, other than to say that I am sure I would do a better job in their position, much as all of us would. (you can also dispense with the Cllr title, I may be one, but prefer not to to have 'airs and graces'
A year or so ago I overheard one of the 'gruesome twosome' chuckling with a developer after a public Turnip meeting and saying that he stood to make a fortune out of the Turnip and the regeneration it would bring. So now you know why we're getting the Turnip. I would not be surprised if similar gravy-training inspires other development plans around the isle.
Ken you've spoiled our fun by coming on the blog - we can't slag you off! hope you've seen whats been written about you?
Sorry to spoil your 'fun'. But people can write what they like, as long as it does not affect my family, I'm easy, except where libel etc is concerned.
At the last local election, looking at the voting paper, there was only the two partie's candidates and an independent. This lack of choice for voters is not healthy, and local democracy suffers, and also ultimately affects the decision making process due to lack of competitive politics. I was supprised the Lib Dems were not respresented more strongly in Thanet. They would do well with the current local disatisfaction with Tdc.
You'd get a better selection of candidates if the electioon was properly advertized in adnance and if there were a straightforward way of putting your name forward. As it stands, by the time you find out about it, the deadline for putting your name forward has passed and you would have struggled to fill in all of the cr*p they ask you to write donw anyway. As far as I'm concerned they should have to advertize a forthcoming election widely and you should be able to put your name forward by way of a simple E-mail or letter with your name and address.
I agree, The system is rigged in favour of the parties and their byzantine rules.
Ahh you should stand, than you would learn about the system.
You would be right that its complex and leans toward the current and worthless political parties.
The electoral commission is utterly useless for independents to deal with and that the "none of the above" as party is banned by them?
I equate this countries politics (at all levels) to that white frothy stuff that exists and lives near sewage outfalls, alledgely.
Anon 7.19.
The next Thanet District Council elections will take place on THURSDAY 5th MAY 2011 between 07.00 hrs and 21.00 hrs, so you best make a note in your diary now, then you will have no excuse.
3 years is a long time in politics!
Rick old bean, I've told you before to save your comments for your own blog as these lengthy diatribes kill any debate here.
It has now got to the stage where I will have to delete any more of your ramblings that appear on my blog.
If anyone is interested in what Rick/Irritating Bloke has to say, there's a link to his blog in the sidebar on the right.
PS: And you're limited to one poem per post!
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