Wednesday, October 12, 2005
Reasonable Politics
I have never doubted that the reasonable politics which Jacques is advocating should be the way forward.
However, I often ask myself whether what people actually want is a bit of excitement - the fire-and-brimstone approach, the controversies, the marches, priests knocked off pedestals, the insults. As DCG put it this week, a bit of street theatre. The MLP's "reasonable stance" on Europe must have left a number of people (from both sides of the fence) feeling bewildered, let's face it. The rapid shift from confrontation and insults (remember Verheugen's tongue?) to embracing the former enemy could have left a vacuum which is now being filled by the "more exciting and immediate" Lowells and Beatties of this world. It's far from certain that the "reasonable" AD has benefitted in the same way from the fall-out.
These snippets from this BBC report on the elections in Norway throw an interesting light on what "boring politics" might look like:
The UN has ranked Norway as the most prosperous country in the world for the fifth year running. But, as Lars Bevanger suggests, there is always a downside to paradise.
Norway is the third largest oil exporter in the world .The election official from the governing conservative party looked a bit bewildered. I had just asked him why his party was trailing in the opinion polls a few days ahead of the general election here, when everything in this country is going so well. His blue eyes searched the cloudless sky for a possible answer. "Unemployment is low," I prompted him, "interest rates are at a record low, the UN keeps telling us we live in the best country in the world. Yet people say they want the Labour party back in power?"
When the heavens failed to provide him with an adequate answer, he looked back down, shrugged his shoulders and said: "Well, maybe people just want a change." I do not think anyone can possibly understand how boring a general election in the world's best country really is.
There simply is not much left here to fix and, for one tedious moment earlier this week, it seemed the main debate between the political left and right would be the price of petrol, which is higher than normal in this country, too, these days.
Well, maybe when I have had enough of politicians arguing over the price of petrol or the queues of baby prams belonging to mothers enjoying their 10-month, full-pay maternity leave.
For now though, I am enjoying my extremely expensive pint and, like a typical journalist, hoping someone might uncover a political scandal in time for Monday's parliamentary election. ¶ 4:08 AM
However, I often ask myself whether what people actually want is a bit of excitement - the fire-and-brimstone approach, the controversies, the marches, priests knocked off pedestals, the insults. As DCG put it this week, a bit of street theatre. The MLP's "reasonable stance" on Europe must have left a number of people (from both sides of the fence) feeling bewildered, let's face it. The rapid shift from confrontation and insults (remember Verheugen's tongue?) to embracing the former enemy could have left a vacuum which is now being filled by the "more exciting and immediate" Lowells and Beatties of this world. It's far from certain that the "reasonable" AD has benefitted in the same way from the fall-out.
These snippets from this BBC report on the elections in Norway throw an interesting light on what "boring politics" might look like:
The UN has ranked Norway as the most prosperous country in the world for the fifth year running. But, as Lars Bevanger suggests, there is always a downside to paradise.
Norway is the third largest oil exporter in the world .The election official from the governing conservative party looked a bit bewildered. I had just asked him why his party was trailing in the opinion polls a few days ahead of the general election here, when everything in this country is going so well. His blue eyes searched the cloudless sky for a possible answer. "Unemployment is low," I prompted him, "interest rates are at a record low, the UN keeps telling us we live in the best country in the world. Yet people say they want the Labour party back in power?"
When the heavens failed to provide him with an adequate answer, he looked back down, shrugged his shoulders and said: "Well, maybe people just want a change." I do not think anyone can possibly understand how boring a general election in the world's best country really is.
There simply is not much left here to fix and, for one tedious moment earlier this week, it seemed the main debate between the political left and right would be the price of petrol, which is higher than normal in this country, too, these days.
Well, maybe when I have had enough of politicians arguing over the price of petrol or the queues of baby prams belonging to mothers enjoying their 10-month, full-pay maternity leave.
For now though, I am enjoying my extremely expensive pint and, like a typical journalist, hoping someone might uncover a political scandal in time for Monday's parliamentary election. ¶ 4:08 AM
Comments:
<< Home
"I do not think anyone can possibly understand how boring a general election in the world's best country really is."
I can. Luxembourg just had commune elections. No noise. No issues just many posters. On the tv the adverts for the different parties looked like estate agent adverts.
You do not need to ask yourself if people want the confrontation... the answer is there in your festa, your football support, your xarabank - partisanism is a frame of mind.
U ghadna bla link.
Post a Comment
I can. Luxembourg just had commune elections. No noise. No issues just many posters. On the tv the adverts for the different parties looked like estate agent adverts.
You do not need to ask yourself if people want the confrontation... the answer is there in your festa, your football support, your xarabank - partisanism is a frame of mind.
U ghadna bla link.
<< Home
