For those who have been following it
The British House of Commons's financial scandal. There are so many facets to this that I don't where to begin, but I will point readers to the commentary by the infamous George Galloway in this morning's "Guardian" George's opinion is that the establishment did him in to cover up the problem and finish the deal with a scapegoat. The Speaker was an easy target because he used to be a working class shop steward from the "Gorbals". The "Gorbals" is the notorious slum area of Glasgow. A bit of history. It is alleged, and referred to by GG, that the system of MP's expenses was developed to offset the politically sensitive subject of MP's raises. Allowing MPs to claim for a second home and then not policing the system properly was a recipe for 'fiddling'. Add into the mix that the majority of MPs have never had a real job in their lives, the MP selection system is done by Party Central, only rising to the job by virtue of being an MPs aide somewhere or being a star candidate and then being placed in a Riding. This lack of industrial integrity and the age group that most of the miscreant's came from fostered the feeling of entitlement. The fact that MPs of all parties did it shows that greed and lack of ethics had replaced the feeling of 'public service'.
The resignation of the Speaker will not quell the public demand for vengeance. The general public is on a feeding frenzy for MP's scalps. In fact political scientists and pundits are now scared sh**less that extremist parties will be the beneficiaries of diverted votes. The first test will be elections for the European Parliament this summer.
Talk about life imitating art: one of the summer programs on PBS last year was a series from England called "The Amazing Mrs Pritchard" (Wikipedia) The manager of a supermarket , fed up with the local area politicians decided to run for office and became the Prime Minister leading a feminist party. The series depicted her election and the subsequent trials of office. In the end the family scandals, unknown to her when she first ran, were too much and she resigned and went back to Yorkshire. But the parallel is going to dangerously similar when all kinds of ordinary people decide to run as independents, or join a new party yet to be formed.
In another related story, the fury is unabated over the Speaker's resignation. In a story from the Daily Mail, the establishment, led by the Lords of the Lords, are demanding that a disgraced commoner not receive the obligatory peerage given to any Speaker when they leave office. Amazing how these chinless wonders still can sway public opinion to their side - the aristocracy. Even more amazing that the Brits would even listen to them.
The principal proponent of the ban is Lord Lawson, Baron Lawson of Blaby. One of Thatchers henchmen, elevated to the Lords he has obviously very quickly acquired the attitudes of the hereditary peers - that of "we know what best for the working man, and we are here to decide for you!" The sooner we have elected upper houses the better, both here and over there!
Check out the video page - another Jesse V clip.
The resignation of the Speaker will not quell the public demand for vengeance. The general public is on a feeding frenzy for MP's scalps. In fact political scientists and pundits are now scared sh**less that extremist parties will be the beneficiaries of diverted votes. The first test will be elections for the European Parliament this summer.
Talk about life imitating art: one of the summer programs on PBS last year was a series from England called "The Amazing Mrs Pritchard" (Wikipedia) The manager of a supermarket , fed up with the local area politicians decided to run for office and became the Prime Minister leading a feminist party. The series depicted her election and the subsequent trials of office. In the end the family scandals, unknown to her when she first ran, were too much and she resigned and went back to Yorkshire. But the parallel is going to dangerously similar when all kinds of ordinary people decide to run as independents, or join a new party yet to be formed.
In another related story, the fury is unabated over the Speaker's resignation. In a story from the Daily Mail, the establishment, led by the Lords of the Lords, are demanding that a disgraced commoner not receive the obligatory peerage given to any Speaker when they leave office. Amazing how these chinless wonders still can sway public opinion to their side - the aristocracy. Even more amazing that the Brits would even listen to them.The principal proponent of the ban is Lord Lawson, Baron Lawson of Blaby. One of Thatchers henchmen, elevated to the Lords he has obviously very quickly acquired the attitudes of the hereditary peers - that of "we know what best for the working man, and we are here to decide for you!" The sooner we have elected upper houses the better, both here and over there!
Check out the video page - another Jesse V clip.
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