So the British Government has decided to stop being - and declared elections.
There was a picture in the newspaper of the not-really-prime-minister-anymore standing in front of his maybe-not-my-house-anymore with his team - and I have to admit they looked too-old-to-be-doing-the-job-anymore.
In England the Prime Minister always used to be an elderly statesman, or maybe it was just that I was younger and they LOOKED older but now if you ain’t young you ain’t going to get the job.
The cult of youth strikes again.
I went to vote here in France the other day; it was the regional elections - my letterbox was full of prospectuses (I’m sure we should allow prospecti) and the village, population 10, would talk about me for two years if I didn’t.
I walked into the mayor’s office, the election official excitedly started gathering the necessary bits of paper to give me, but the Mayor said - “sorry, you can’t vote.”
He continued –“you can vote in the local elections and the European ones but not the regional.”
Actually I already knew this; in fact I had drifted in that morning because it was raining and because I wanted to cause trouble.
I mean, how ridiculous is that? I can vote for the local representatives, who are part of the region but I can’t vote for the regional ones who are part of Europe who I CAN vote for.
It seems voting is never more interesting than when you AREN”T allowed to do it, once you can doesn't it looses it’s edge? When I was 14 I thought it was outrageous that I couldn’t vote for the people who were making my life at school an obligation – the fact that my parents voted for them confirmed my sense of injustice.
I read in an article about the British election that opinion is so delineated that about 600 people, who are so stupid that they don’t know what they believe in, effectively decide the result.
It was the same thing here in France at the last Presidential election when, which ever way you looked at it was a choice between a right wing capitalist pandering to the national front or a soft socialist.
At least half the socialists were walking around saying – “I can’t vote for her she’s not socialist enough.”
I don’t know, call me an ignoramus but surely they were missing the point?
It’s age that counts!
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16 comments:
Sorry to be so in-yer-face-comment-y, but what does the sign read at the penguin's feet, do you happen to know? Came for snowgeddon but missed the flight home?
Got stopped on my doorstep by local Lib Dem counsellor asking me whether I'd consider voting Liberal in the election. Had to check myself as I was about to divulge my choice/preference.
I find it highly rude when people ask who you're voting for or 'would you consider voting for party x?'
It's interesting - I've received 3 letters recently from the Tories. They've never felt the urge to write to me before. Strange, eh?
Anne - i'll go and check, but i think your suggestion is maybe better.
Opportunity for a caption contest maybe?
Hi Mike - it's funny isn't it - political opinion seems to be taboo.
I remember when i lived in England how, at election time, people would put posters up in their windows, back of the car etc.
I even remember as a kid shouting slogans from the tree top in the avenue at the people passing by.
I think in France it is highly controlled - each village has a row of notice boards put up and you can stick your poster here and only here.
So you see all of them in a row.
Very safe and democratic.
I guess if someone asks you "would you consider voting for...."
You could answer "well, i would CONSIDER it, what are you offering?"
Maybe it's not that we mind giving our position , it's that we mind giving our time?
Anne - in your face is good.
I wonder about that, too.
Can't believe how abstract the French are in their politics. Maybe it's because they're in love with the process and rarely with the result of political debate.
Last week I had the absolutely impossible task of writing an unpartisan article about Cameron. Don't think I could have done it if I'd grown up in Britain. So I actually picked up on class, rather than on age, as he#s got age going for him, class against him. And loads of people sort of giving up on politics as a consequence.
Is there anyone who can Keep Old Eton Out?
well in theory the people could, but they wont, there is a depressing stench of inevitability about the whole thing AND he rides a bike!
Mike (and everyone) - I wonder if asking which way we're voting might be more of a no-no for Brits, an intrusion into our private states of minds, perhaps? Not sure.
Vicki (and all),
Yes I think so, tho I can only speak for myself. I just feel so disconnected with politics unfortunately at the moment - it hasn't been a good time in terms of politicians behaving any way like they should in the UK. I'm finding it hard to justify voting for any particular party.
I'm surprised, i thought the English were the ones who talked about it openly.
Mike - whoever you vote for the government will win.
Anne, the label/notice just reads - l'empereur - and the price - 200 euro - and the name of the artist which i have forgotten between there and here.
Sorry to him - it was Alan someone.
Have you come across this site? http://www.voteforpolicies.org
Vicki - I tried numerous configurations of that website but now joy =(
Chris - Youthful or not, I don't want this man to run the country
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBlDfp85gP8
Oh I am so sorry Mike. I think I missed a 'uk'. It's http://voteforpolicies.org.uk/
Ah, that's why I had problems.
Vicki's link - http://voteforpolicies.org.uk/
is really good folks
click, take the survey, do it.
Really interetsing results - i'm really happy i didn't get any blue spots, it would have been hard to live with.
But i'm left with, as always the problem of idealism and realism when it comes to vote.
So, as before, i think vote for the shade that goes towards your ideals then fight the bastards tooth and nail every single day.
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