Jordaxia
01-05-2005, 13:10
Is anyone else, in or out of Britain, completely bored and sick of the personality politics that takes up all elections? I refer specifically to the British elections as they are the most relevant to me and will be the source of any examples I use, but really, this is open to everyone. I'm specifically annoyed about the complete ignorance that a lot of people, myself included, have regarding the three parties cabinets. See, on the Question time special, we have the three party leaders taking questions. Fair enough, it's good that it happened, and it'd be pretty silly if it was a generic minister/shadow minister taking the questions instead, but really, that program was just a 2 way slanging match between Michael Howard and Tony Blair, with Charles Kennedy deliberately abstaining because so far he's the only one observant enough to notice that insulting the other candidate costs the party you support votes! Michael Howard sits there and calls Blair a liar for concealing any number of things from reasons for the Iraq war.... to reasons for the Iraq war, ok, only one thing. This despite the fact that Howard supported the war!
But what, I ask, about the cabinet? When do they get their say? This was recently pointed out to me. I have an intense distaste with Blairs policies and his political "friends". But he is only one of a group. Admittedly the most powerful member, but he is not in sole power of the country, and he does not handle every little detail. I like Gordon Brown. I especially like how he has handled the economy. Blairs cabinet isn't that bad. I have no idea, however, about Michael Howards cabinet. I'm fairly sure that Oliver Letwin, the shadow chancellor, is not going to be as skilled as Brown at handling the economy, and that for me is a reason not to vote conservative at the election. How do I know that the cabinet I elect in will be as good as the cabinet I already have. I can make a judgment about the leaders, but in all truth, that's me making a decision with only a fraction of the information I really need.
What, too, about the proposed lib-dem cabinet? I know they are not the shadow government yet, but wouldn't it be prudent for Charles Kennedy to assign his shadow government, especially with the increased likelihood that the lib-dems will be the shadow government after the elections.
Am I the only one sick of hearing about why Tony Blair is just going to land us in another 18 wars if he gets in again, or why that's a better alternative to Michael "THE DEVIL HIMSELF" Howard? Or do the other people who will actually make up the majority of the government not actually matter?
But what, I ask, about the cabinet? When do they get their say? This was recently pointed out to me. I have an intense distaste with Blairs policies and his political "friends". But he is only one of a group. Admittedly the most powerful member, but he is not in sole power of the country, and he does not handle every little detail. I like Gordon Brown. I especially like how he has handled the economy. Blairs cabinet isn't that bad. I have no idea, however, about Michael Howards cabinet. I'm fairly sure that Oliver Letwin, the shadow chancellor, is not going to be as skilled as Brown at handling the economy, and that for me is a reason not to vote conservative at the election. How do I know that the cabinet I elect in will be as good as the cabinet I already have. I can make a judgment about the leaders, but in all truth, that's me making a decision with only a fraction of the information I really need.
What, too, about the proposed lib-dem cabinet? I know they are not the shadow government yet, but wouldn't it be prudent for Charles Kennedy to assign his shadow government, especially with the increased likelihood that the lib-dems will be the shadow government after the elections.
Am I the only one sick of hearing about why Tony Blair is just going to land us in another 18 wars if he gets in again, or why that's a better alternative to Michael "THE DEVIL HIMSELF" Howard? Or do the other people who will actually make up the majority of the government not actually matter?