Lib-Lab Insanity?

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Thu, 2007-06-21 22:16

Lib-Lab Insanity?

So Gordon wanted Paddy in his cabinet. What are people's opinions on this: well-intended attempt to get all the best political brains on the same side, or just plain lunacy?
For myself,, two things strike me:
1) It's anti-democratic - nobody voted Liberal, so they shouldn't get anywhere close to government, and
2) It speaks volumes about Gordon's opinion of the current crop of Labour heavyweights.

Fri, 2007-06-22 03:31

archergirl

I think it would be *far* more sensible and useful if the British government *did* allow cross-party involvement. If you're smart, you want the most capable people on board with you (not saying Paddy *is*, but you know what I mean), and it shouldn't matter what flippin' party they belong to, if you have the same or at least compatible objectives. The British-style government is phenomenally adept at shooting itself in the foot, in its current incarnation.

Fri, 2007-06-22 11:31

bobblehat2023

"1) It's anti-democratic - nobody voted Liberal, so they shouldn't get anywhere close to government, and" That's not true. 5,985,414 people voted Lib Dem at the last election, compared to 9,566,618 for Labour. Neither came anywhere near being supported by most people but a government including some people from both wouldn't be any less democratic than one only containing Labour people. Not that I actually support this specific idea. I think it was a deliberate ploy by Brown to screw up the Lib Dems. There was no way they could've accepted it and maintained their credibility.

Fri, 2007-06-22 12:27

ggggareth

I agree with the point about Gordon's motives; but Buks - proportional representation is not presently in our constitution. I think the principle of disregarding our "First past the post" system and having "PR-by-the-back-door", or even worse, an "any-crony-I-care-to-nominate-on-a-whim" system should not be contemplated. As it happens, I've voted Liberal more times than I have Labour, and I'm generally in favour of PR, but not in this obscure unofficial way. Perhaps I'm just being swayed by my deep unease with Gordon Brown being Prime Minister.

Fri, 2007-06-22 13:11

bobblehat2023

Proportional representation isn't the issue - as it happens, I don't support it. If you're going by the constitution the Prime Minister is the person who the Queen asks to form her government then he/she can ask whoever he/she wants to be in the government. By convention, these people are either in the House of Commons or the House of Lords but they don't have to be. Constitutionally the voters have no say over the government, we just elect MPs.

Sat, 2007-06-23 11:32

pepsoid

Dunno really... but I do support PR - it seems the most democratic of "democratic" systems. Not that any existing or concievable version of "democracy" is actually that democratic... pe ps oid ... What is "The Art of Tea"? ... (www.pepsoid.wordpress.com)

The All New Pepsoid the Second!

Mon, 2007-06-25 11:30

ggggareth

The Greeks invented democracy and they did it properly. Every citizen of Athens (providing they weren't unfortunate enough to be a woman or a slave)was allowed to vote on everything. So they basically had a referendum every day.

Mon, 2007-06-25 11:41

markbrown

It's worth checking out the definition of citizen for the above ggggareth. I'm not sure that it WAS everyone. I think that it was a collection of the great and the good, not hugely different from our parliament Some people representing the interests of others and making decisions on their behalf. Cheers, Mark

Mon, 2007-06-25 12:22

ggggareth

It's a long time since I did my A-level Classics, so I'm happy to be proved wrong; however I'm pretty sure it was every adult free male. This was only possible because they had slaves to tend the farms while they were off debating. I'm pretty certain that some would have been more interested in politics than others, though, and as the population of ancient Athens was approx 50,000 I doubt they weren't all there every day!

Mon, 2007-06-25 12:29

#10

patmac

I think the offer to Paddy Ashdown was a publicity stunt to make Brown appear all-inclusive. The same might be said of Stevens, although Stevens isn't even a politician. Exhibiting the desire to create a meritocracy isn't necessarily a bad behaviour. My webpage is at: http://www.bookscape.co.uk

My latest killing is:
http://www.bookscape.co.uk/short_stories/human_sacrifice.php

Mon, 2007-06-25 14:42

#11

Enzo v2.0

Weren't the Athenian parliment chosen in groups at random a bit like our jury service?

Tue, 2007-06-26 10:59

#12

ggggareth

God, I can't remember. Or I might have been at the pub that day!

Tue, 2007-06-26 13:50

#13

pepsoid

Well the Greeks made some nice buildings and said some interesting stuff... but they a propensity for obscenely curly hair! pe ps oid ... What is "The Art of Tea"? ... (www.pepsoid.wordpress.com)

The All New Pepsoid the Second!

Tue, 2007-07-10 17:02

#14

styx

Beware the Geeks, even as they bear gifts.

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