Politicians ..... "carved in stone", but will be broken anyway???

[Saracen]

Remember Ed Miliband's "Tablet of Stone" promises?

Well, here's Labour campaign vice-chair on the subject ...

On Radio 5 Live, asked why it was "necessary" to put promises/pledges on a big stone tablet, she said....

Lucy Powell : "I don't think anyone's suggesting the fact he's carved 'em in stone means he's, you know, absolutely, you know, not going to break them or anything like that"

For me, that's the QOTE (Quote Of The Election). Why? Because not only is it not shocking, it's not even mildly surprising. In fact, more of a statement from the Ministry of the Bleeping Obvious.

So, whether it's Cameron writing plegdes "into law" (which will not bind any subsequent government, including a Tory one) or Miliband letting out his self-delusions of being Moses delivering the Sermon on the Mount, it's small wonder we don't believe a single word any politician says when they're own campaign bosses clearly don't believe they're worth the paper they're written on .... or the stone they're carved in.

Guy Fawkes .... where are you when you're needed?

[b0redom]

Am I really the only one who saw the photo and thought hmmmm..... Animal Farm.... ?

[Galant]

This raises the question about what a nation is supposed to do when it's government fails in being representative. When is rebellion/revolution considered viable/just and what sort?

There's practically no accountability for government.

Take a leaf out of the Americans' book and en masse withhold taxes - no taxation without representation?

I think this issue of accountability will only get bigger with a better informed and educated population. Or at least it should. It's no longer a question of democracy vs. No democracy but rather a question of how democracy can and should function and be improved. Not a question power hungry politicians want to ask or answer, but more and more important, if elections are to mean anything.

[Saracen]

This raises the question about what a nation is supposed to do when it's government fails in being representative. When is rebellion/revolution considered viable/just and what sort?

There's practically no accountability for government.

Take a leaf out of the Americans' book and en masse withhold taxes - no taxation without representation?

I think this issue of accountability will only get bigger with a better informed and educated population. Or at least it should. It's no longer a question of democracy vs. No democracy but rather a question of how democracy can and should function and be improved. Not a question power hungry politicians want to ask or answer, but more and more important, if elections are to mean anything.

As will the FPTP system, versus some form of PR, if the election result looks anything like polls have long and remarkably consistently projected. Expect to see constituional reform a VERY hot potato over the next few years.

[Stringent]

Am I really the only one who saw the photo and thought hmmmm..... Animal Farm.... ?

TBH I think we are more in line with 1984 ...

[Galant]

Personally I think we're more Brave New World than 1984, although elements from both can be seen and should be considered. By comparison, via Neil Postman:

"What Orwell feared were those who would ban books. What Huxley feared was that there would be no reason to ban a book, for there would be no one who wanted to read one. Orwell feared those who would deprive us of information. Huxley feared those who would give us so much that we would be reduced to passivity and egotism. Orwell feared that the truth would be concealed from us. Huxley feared the truth would be drowned in a sea of irrelevance. Orwell feared we would become a captive culture. Huxley feared we would become a trivial culture, preoccupied with some equivalent of the feelies, the orgy porgy, and the centrifugal bumblepuppy. As Huxley remarked in Brave New World Revisited, the civil libertarians and rationalists who are ever on the alert to oppose tyranny "failed to take into account man's almost infinite appetite for distractions." In 1984, Postman added, people are controlled by inflicting pain. In Brave New World, they are controlled by inflicting pleasure. In short, Orwell feared that what we fear will ruin us. Huxley feared that our desire will ruin us."

[Saracen]

Aww, hell. Now not only do I have to decide which party (if any) to vote for, I have to decide (perhaps more importantly, and certainly more interestingly) .... if I'm Orwellian, or Huxleyite.

Me 'edd 'hurts.

Thanks for that, Galant. I think.

[Galant]

The pen is mightier than the sword... but neither one stands a chance against the couch.

[Stringent]

Not read Brave New World. Will add to my read list

[Saracen]

The pen is mightier than the sword... but neither one stands a chance against the couch.

You have just been awarded the RDROFL award .... Really Did ROFL.

Unfortunately, I was drinking a mouthful of coffee at the time. Anyone got a good method for getting coffee out of carpet? And off sofas? And the ceiling. Oh, and the wife's hair, and she wants "a word" with you. My advice is emigration. Mars is probably safe, but to be sure, maybe .... Andromeda galaxy?

Yeah, I know it was my coffee, but sorry dude, I blamed you. After all, I gotta live here.

[Stringent]

Making Saracen LOL like that is worthy of an award surely

[Saracen]

Making Saracen LOL like that is worthy of an award surely

If I get skinned alive for ruining her hair-do, I'm retracting it.

[Galant]

Maybe now's the perfect time to buy her a new couch?

[Saracen]

Maybe now's the perfect time to buy her a new couch?

It might calm her, down. Not a bad idea. And a generous offer. She might even let you off. I'll PM you the address, and her chosen item.

[Galant]

Fair enough. May I recommend you suggest it be coffee coloured?

[neonplanet40]

My favourite quote so far was from Boris regarding the Labour engraved stone:

"Who does he think he is? Moses? Future archaeologists will gaze with bafflement at this waste of good stone. "

I thought it was a quality comment haha!