Dominic Lawson: The Good Lord preserve us from the popular will
It captivated Hitler and is the opposite of parliamentary democracy
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Independent Minds
Throughout the Palace of Westminster there is no more acerbic critic of "celebrities" challenging the established political order than Lord Hattersley. The former deputy leader of the Labour Party observed that Martin Bell demonstrates his contempt for the egomania and publicity-lust of politicians by always wearing a white suit "rather as Lawrence of Arabia, according to Alan Bennett, remained inconspicuous by walking the streets of London in the flowing robes of an Arab prince".
Even the thought of Esther Rantzen carrying out her threat to stand for Parliament as an independent, says Roy Hattersley, "was driven from my mind by the horrible, and, I fear, likely prospect of Michael Winner putting his name forward. Why not? "
I too had been thinking of Michael Winner in this context. A few days ago a 70-year-old Tory MP, allegedly called Anthony Steen, furiously denounced the way in which his claims for such expenses as tree-felling on his country estate had been reported: "You know what it's about? Jealousy. I have got a very, very large house. Some say it looks like Balmoral, but it's a merchant's house from the 19th century...and it does me nicely."
When I heard this man, I was instantly reminded, in the tone of his voice, and the sentiments it expressed, of Michael Winner. Indeed, when (for this was a radio interview), the MP's photograph was published, it became clear that he was a dead ringer for the celebrated film director and restaurant critic. Have these two men ever been seen together? If not, we should be even more open to the thought that they are in fact one individual. Joking aside, there is a serious point underlying this conceit: are the public now baying for the wholesale replacement of all MPs by a new group of 'anti-politicians' really so sure that the "cleansed" Commons would be filled with men and women whose moral character would be of an altogether different quality?
They would say that they were, of course, but people vouching for their own virtue should be treated with the usual degree of suspicion, regardless of their onscreen celebrity in the guise of popular entertainers.
We should recall the most quoted words of Lord Acton, which were that "all power tends to corrupt". The qualifier, "tends", is often omitted; but there are a minority of people who remain able to withstand the temptations placed in their laps. In fact, the revelations by the Daily Telegraph of the way in which MPs treated the additional allowance system show this to be true. A large number of parliamentarians were just as aware as their greedier colleagues were of the possibilities for unscrupulous financial gain provided by the way in which Westminster's fees office operated; but their consciences would not allow them to behave in this way. In very rough terms, it seems as though about a quarter of the MPs were able to resist all such temptations. I leave it to the individual readers to estimate what proportion of a cross section of the general public would show similar high-mindedness, particularly if they were sitting in safe seats for decades.
It is, of course, true that we have every right to expect the highest standards from those who seek our backing in elections – and certainly not that they would treat the taxpayer as their unwitting personal fairy godmother, providing them with everything they could ever have wished for. Yet the almost universally expressed opinion that the present cast of the House of Commons are a uniquely wicked accumulation of individuals, who are "all at it", is a spasm of impotent anger, rather than a manifestation of reason or thoughtful analysis.
It is this mood of violent intolerance of the whole so-called "political class" from which the BNP seeks to benefit. It, and its predecessors, have always sought to tap into what ever they feel is the most readily exploitable hate-object of the moment: in one decade it will be "the Jews"; in another "the Blacks"; still later, "the Muslims". The more the usual democratic process is despised – and certainly a large number of our MPs have assisted in this through their well-publicised venality – the more powerful is the claim of the fascist party of the day that it should be allowed to sweep away this clique of careerist parliamentarians, who only pretend to be at the service of the people.
For example: "All these Cabinet reconstructions brought some positive advantage only to the actors who took part in the play; but the results were almost always quite negative as far as the interests of the people were concerned...in this connection, it is worthy of remark that when the average political party wins a parliamentary victory, no essential change takes place...in the outer aspect of public life. Public institutions are right and useful according to the measure in which their energies are directed towards [the] task ... of the maintenance of the people...If they are incapable of fulfilling it, then their existence is harmful and they must be either reformed or removed and replaced with something better."
I admit, those words are not those of the BNP leader Nick Griffin – they are altogether too articulate and well-crafted. They come from the 1937 Reichstag speech of Adolf Hitler. The then German Chancellor was a believer in the concept, originated by that monstrous Frenchman, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, of the popular will – what Rousseau called 'The General Will'.
This is the idea that there is some general will on the part of the people, that those who can not bring themselves to share it are simply in error, and that the job of government is to ensure that this 'general will' is not obstructed in any way. It is the idea that captivated Lenin as well as Hitler, and it is the exact opposite of parliamentary democracy, with all its endless compromises as it seeks to accommodate the full complexities of a pluralistic free society.
This is, in part, why we must question the idea of incorruptible independent candidates, who will end the futile, factional squabbling of political parties. Will all these independents just be translators into legislation of some ineffable general will, which, if only one listened hard enough, is completely united on one course of action in any given circumstance?
Even if society were so simple, such a political method is guaranteed to become the perpetual tyranny of the majority over all minorities. As Acton also said, "It is bad to be oppressed by a minority, but it is worse to be oppressed by a majority. For there is a reserve of latent power in the masses, which, if it is called into play, the minority can seldom resist."
The greatest conceit and error of Rousseau and his followers was to imagine that man in his natural state is in effect perfect; that this good nature has been betrayed by political and financial institutions; and that it is possible to construct a political order which would recreate that natural state of goodness.
In the past few days of Rousseau-ist popular mass delusion, it has only been the religious leaders – Dr Rowan Williams and Archbishop Vincent Nichols – who have had the sense to remind us that no imaginable system of regulations or parliamentary structure can ensure public-spiritedness and morality in the conduct of all our legislators.
Yes, many of our politicians have behaved shockingly; some may even be guilty of straightforward financial fraud; but those who think a parliament of non-aligned superannuated television stars would bring about a new golden age of government are not just angry – they are deranged.
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Comments
Whether its the Hoi Polloi or non-aligned Television stars [and I think its neither but ordinary People - and thats why Cameron was so alert when he stated he would open Politics to anyone - not to be understated that fellow] , change and scrutiny has already arrived. The c21st will be known as the 'Knowledge' Economy. Information and Intellect are the most valuable form of capital. The dynamic that governs the relationship between the Rulers and the Ruled is being re aligned and fast. The Internet, these new ultimately democraticising Platforms [Facebook and Twitter] are giving scale to disjointed and fragmented voices.
The Crowd is far more powerful than any individual Politician. Its disjunctive.
The Time of Hugger Mugger is over.
Aly-Khan Satchu
www.rich.co.ke
Twitter alykhansatchu
"are the public now baying for the wholesale replacement of all MPs by a new group of 'anti-politicians'"?
No. I don't think you've been listening. What 'the public' are baying for is to be rid of the rotten wood in Parliament and for it to be replaced by a new breed of politicians who are proficient in the art of integrity, who are prepared to act as harbingers of their constituents will, who actually understand what a 'moral compass' might be. The only 'anti-politicians' here are the decadent and decayed casualties of recent (and near-future) events.
On a personal level I am very sceptical of Cameron and his game-plan - without doubt he's judged the public mood much better than his contemporaries, and has made much political gain from his astuteness. He appears to be too good at it. I don't trust him or his motives. I suspect the Tory spin machine is overheating through over-use at the moment, and once he's in power the promised Great Cameron Reforms will be gently sidelined under cover of Economic Recovery.
On the other hand I certainly do not want the Rantzens and Lumleys of this world attempting to represent me. Nor do any of my friends. Nor anybody else I have spoken to on the subject. I don't recall hearing a mass public demand for outdated 'celebrities' to put themselves forward for election. I think you do 'the public' a great dis-service by assuming that 'we' are baying for such a thing.
It has been said so often now that I almost feel it's pointless to repeat, but obviously some people are still not quite grasping what's going on here. What 'the public' want are representatives who they can trust to act in good faith, with responsibility, with decency and, above all, with an ear to the ground.
Is it really too much to ask?
The problem may not be with who is getting to the houses, but rules that they (MPs) should work with.
When there are no confirm rules then there will always be injustice.
What we need is having a modern written mother of all laws - the Constitution, Bill of Rights.
Otherwise we are just about making the same great foolish mistakes over and over, no matter who gets there.
If the Tories are crying out for change then the ruling class are frightened of something they can't control,dare I say it?,the popular will based on justifiable anger,resentment and not envy.
Rousseau through to Marx,oh my! jolly ungrateful these working classes with a political philosophy to back up their anger. Watch it mate,having written this you might get a brick through your council house door.
Dominic Lawson didn't even start his piece without mentioning Hitler - he put Hitler in the strap-line. Empty twaddle, Dominic.
Ah.. the good old days of Usenet.
For the unenlightened, this is known as Godwin's Law (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godwin%27s_
this is the trap that many MPs fell into. those who did need to be punished, and those who did not should be named and lauded.
'celebrity' MPs with their attendant egos would be a disaster.
Can I suggest a read of the early chapters of Adam Tooze's book "Wages of Destruction" to get the full picture?
People are beginning to wake up to the real nature of the globalist con. Losing jobs and homes tends to have that effect.
I think what you meant to say Dominic is they are both Jewish.
Shalom
What worries me is the role of the press, desperate to sell papers at any cost constantly whipping up a storm, missing the real issues because they are difficult. Constantly pandering to the lowest in all of us.
The timing is odd, just when the billions stolen by the financial elite becomes exposed, just as we realise that we will have to work until 70 to pay for it all. The official voice of the Tory party and city elite comes up with the detail of the thousands of pounds spent by our representatives in pursuit of their duties. Suddenly the reality of our situation is dissolved, never mind global warming and the treachery of the bankers, this sad little man has watched porn, brought toilet rolls etc. at my expense, now that I can understand!!
Whilst this nonsense has rattled on and on, the papers have sold well, the BNP looks set to have a candidate to represent us in Europe (think how well that will play out in countries previously occupied by Facists). and the Bankers look set to have quietly reinvested their swag in a rapidily rising stock exchange, leave it a few more months and they can easily pay their bonuses back having doubled it in the meantime.
Please, please stop, rethink, do we really think David and George are any better than Gordon and Aliaster? is there any difference? Well actually there is, the Tories are wed to the City, even more more than Labour, they are terrible at inner city issues, I still shudder at Camerons "hugg a hoodie" visit to Manchester. I am also certain that they will abolish the last bastion of decent pension provision, leaving us to the tender mercies of the financiers in providing for our old age.
I hate to say it but the Lib Dems and the Green party look the best shot but I fear UKIP and the BNP will get there first......
http://www.geocities.com/cronyblatc
We do however need a political class which at least is able to establish and understand the needs and wishes of the People and provide a framework in which these may be met, rather than seeking exclusively to exercise their own ideological hobby-horses or to ensure they hold office/stay in power for no other reason than that.
In other words we need a political class which understand marketing and management.
My suspicion is - once it's published they'll be getting them in down their local, and who gives a **** what we non-journos think!
The best ploy of "succesful" dictators has been to hijack discontent, mould it or tranform it
into a consent onto their platform of choice, and fool the masses into thinking that this is what they
were themselves exactly working for and invite them to join in the "battle". -(endoctrination of the masses)-
It works everytime, even for non-dictatorship, this is how you recruit and enrol people to causes.
To be cynical, it says a lot about our human nature, and explains how ordinary people were convinced
to do unimaginable crimes in the nasty but thankfully short Nazi era, but we need to remain very prudent,
it is events like this current crisis, where authority is in danger of crumbling that can very ugly outcomes.
This is why I was advising The Daily Telegraph in some comment to be ever watchful in their undermining
of the Structure of our Society.
So you are right, one has to be deranged to advocate or think such ideas, or megalomaniac, something Hitler was, and also religious fanatics and people who have too much money or power tend to be (no need to name anyone they will know who they are)...
Just so that you know Mr Cameron is just recycling an old idea which by the way was a disaster... (you can do some research on this).
Christ almighty, they could not do a worse job if they did not even turn up to vote given what crap we have had for decades representing us.
I know you have to fill a blank page with drivel to earn a crust, but don't start lecturing us on who we should and should not vote for.
I don't care if a tree stump is on the ballet paper at the next election, if that is the only choice between the current incumbent and the tree stump, then the tree stump gets my vote.
Feel the true mood of the country, before putting finger to keyboard and you might just realise that most of us have had enough of the MP's we are saddled with and even a celebrity is preferable to our current dross.
The pack still runs around baying although in truth, they have long lost the scent, if they ever had it in the first place and any attempt at reason and reasoned debate is shot down with "You don't understand what's happening, you still don't get it !" and lots of huff and puff, "waging of wotford" in full flow with knuckles scrapping the ground.
I will tell you the truth, No I don't know what is going on and more than that, neither does anyone else either. Whilst it is fun to have theories, hypotheses and serious debates with bright people, alas and in the end we can only look at the hard facts and question what has been achieved so far.
Firstly we can guarantee that never again will an MP abuse the expenses system in the way it has apparently been done by some in the past, that is a fact. Regardless of whether this Parliament or the next, politicians will never want to face this furore again.
Leaving aside the usual wet ideas that come up of written constitutions, proportional representation, an elected Lords (last thing we want are another bunch on the stomp to be elected), besides which constitutional reforms should always be approached cautiously and only enacted on broad consensus rather than a promise slapped inside a party manifesto. However, one totally brilliant thing has happened that is far more significant than any other suggested "reforms":
Although he has been deftly ahead of the game quite consistently, Cameron's offer to anyone to put themselves forward as a potential Conservative Candidate for the next election is stunning, just think it through. For anyone who wanted to try, it is an amazing opportunity because you don't even have to be a party member or previously involved in politics but if selected you get the full backing of a major party which you wouldn't have as an independent.
Of course they will be selective, Arthur Scargill need not apply but whilst a "Tory Outlook" would be required it is a courageous thing for the Conservatives to do. Although there will certainly be a 50% turnover of MPs at the next election what if Cameron ended up with a 40 majority and perhaps 50 of these rather more independently minded candidates...interesting.
Still I'll leave it the usual suspects to moan on about all of this but coming back to "You don't understand" to which I say okay Horatio, when I look at the DT I am reminded of the limerick about the "Young lady from Eiger that went for a ride on a Tiger...
In fact Mr. d.lawson, the most progressive political system at this stage of our evolution, equipped as we are with enabling technologies and related unrestricted flows of information, is true democracy. The people, acting in self-interest, will, if fully informed, always over time make the best decisions for their own government. The reason why such a system is not implemented, in an age where technical barriers have vanished, is that transnational tribes of crony capitalist reactionaries fear this type of government and make every effort to destroy it wherever it evolves. Only when the people rule can a system deserve the descriptor 'democracy'. When the people break out of a spiral of underdevelopment and take power back from cronycapitalist patronage systems, then the world will be a relatively just prosperous and peaceful place in which we can evolve towards an intelligent future.
If there is more pain I suggest a doze of Morphine
It captivated Hitler and is the opposite of parliamentary democracy
"Was driven from my mind by the horrible, and, I fear, likely prospect of Michael Winner putting his name forward. Why not? "
I pray for her and the husband. I am a pure Muslim and I believe the purest of the pure purest are hear. I hope the Allah hears my prayers and they get the separate paths to live happily ever after. Who is Michael Winner and why, why , why Esther Rantzen wants to go in the captivity of Hitler or Saddam Hussein..
They must be eating lots of banks, I mean bananas, no? Heard the story of the three baby bear, mama bear, and the daddy bear? Osama likes this very much
I thank you
Firozali A.Mulla
Amazing tenacity, old chap, you've been posting that video of the holocaust denier on this website all weekend, regardless of the actual subject of the news article....full marks for persistence!
do you think that anyone's actually WATCHED it yet? X
... the arrogance of politicians who a re quite happy with the "will of the people" that elects them, and are quite happy to discard any such consideration thereafter.
I will not presume to speak for anybody but myself. What I would like to see is for the same rules to apply to ALL.
Expenses are for that, costs incurred to do your job. The self righteous wining of these people whose defence is that we broke no rules (conveniently forgetting that they set the rules) is where the damage is coming from.
We need an election ASAP