tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4486641877026778105.post695686138736948462..comments2024-03-18T19:21:49.666+00:00Comments on All That Is Solid ...: Anti-Politics and the Problem of ListeningPhilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06298147857234479278noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4486641877026778105.post-43892255096848092342013-10-24T09:23:53.666+01:002013-10-24T09:23:53.666+01:00Thanks James.
I agree with you Speedy. I know the...Thanks James.<br /><br />I agree with you Speedy. I know these factors well because they sum up exactly how I felt for the majority of my political life. Which is why I spent so long on the far left.<br /><br />Thing is anti-politics is now a diffuse ideological stance in its own right, drawing together a series of observations and "common sense" assumptions. The best way to tackle it is through politics - Labour at least now grasps that. But those of us who want a better politics need to critique anti-politics instead of holding up our hands and saying "you've got a point" or "don't blame you". Anti-politics has material roots, but its reasoning is often shoddy - therefore it needs putting on the spot.Philhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06298147857234479278noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4486641877026778105.post-37615731053396533052013-10-20T08:34:18.548+01:002013-10-20T08:34:18.548+01:00I think you are missing the point(s) here Phil - I...I think you are missing the point(s) here Phil - I believe people are disillusioned because: <br /><br />- a series of outrageous, largely unapologetic abuses of power<br />- a political culture in which hypocrisy and deceit has become routine (Blair's Iraq/ LibDems neo-liberal coalition/ Cameron's everything)<br />- an electoral system designed to quash dissent: it is virtually impossible for the true will of the people to be reflected or react to change. Like UKIP or not, their national election vote will in any way reflect their support.<br />- this helps explains points 1 and 2<br />- the loss of power (and therefore a sense of empowerment) to supra national bodies, from Europe to the WTO<br /><br />No wonder people are pissed off. The electoral system I think is the key however because if it was more representative then many of the other issues would not loom so large. <br /><br />Like democracy itself, the electoral system was developed to control the people not to empower them. In no other European country is this so starkly illustrated.<br /> Speedynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4486641877026778105.post-43219206211552660502013-10-19T20:48:11.855+01:002013-10-19T20:48:11.855+01:00Definitely agree that anti-politics is a very dang...Definitely agree that anti-politics is a very dangerous thing, especially as it allows career politicians hundreds of miles away in Westminster to literally ruin peoples' lives.<br /><br />Electorally, it's also interesting. There's a huge untapped base of disinterested voters, and engaging that audience will really be key for the success any working class party in the future - a role that the Labour Party could very well be taking on over the next decade.<br /><br />I'm glad to see that Labour's campaign/strategy office is now thinking about focusing on grassroots activism and community politics. This is what need. This is the type of thinking that brought Labour into power post WW2.<br /><br />Great article as always Phil.<br /><br />James O. Gibsonhttp://www.leftwards.co.uknoreply@blogger.com