More like this
The general public is not fit for purpose
David Cox imagines the speech politicians of all parties would really like to give
People of Britain, in a democracy like our own, you share with us, your elected representatives, the sacred duty of governance. I should like to thank you for your contribution. I should like to, but I won't. You're not only failing to do your bit; you've become the biggest outstanding obstacle to the advancement of your own well-being.
I appreciate that you can't be bothered to vote, join a political party or teach your kids to be socially responsible. You're far too busy with all that binge-drinking and spree shopping. Obviously, you've got to make phone-calls while driving, park in bus lanes and cycle on footpaths. And, of course, you find it too much bother to pay any of the resulting fines.
But do you have to demand better services at the same time as lower taxes? Must you ask for the planet to be saved while you insist on driving and flying? Do you have to clamour for things to be banned while decrying any infringement of personal freedom? Must you complain about immigrants taking jobs you're too idle to do yourselves?
You say you want politicians to speak their minds, but whenever we do, you accuse us of gaffes or splits. You hound us for accepting dodgy donations, but you refuse to fund our parties out of your taxes. You begrudge us our little perks, though we can't claim unfair dismissal when you capriciously turf us out. You have the nerve to despise us, when, unlike you, we make at least some effort to discharge our democratic duty.
Above all, with your unmerited sway over all of our destinies, you make it impossible for any politician to deliver a message like this. Voters, enough is enough. You're ignorant, stupid, selfish and hypocritical. Quite clearly, you're unfit for purpose. Resign, I say, resign. ·
Comments are now closed on this article
Comments
This opinion piece is brilliant. The arguments against it prove the writer's points. (If the detractors want to complain about their politicians, then write to the politicians. Not back at this opinion article writer. Wait...too much binge drinking to be able to formulate coherent thought and therefore take coherent action.)
I agree with the last poster.Sometimes these things need to be said.
Excellent piece; absolutely ringing with truth.
There is very little prospect of the average person having the slightest impact under the present undemocratic electoral system and the only real protest is not to vote, if sufficient people refrained from voting the whole rotten system would be exposed for what it is, a platform for the minority elite to enrich themselves at the expense of the people
Ok steady on guys, this is supposed to be a bit tongue in cheek, surely?! In humour, I think Cox does identify many failings of citizens today. However, I would like to see him write a piece imagining the right of reply that a good citizen might make if given the chance to really be heard! Something like: Leaders of Britain, we should like to thank you for your contribution, but we won't, as you make sure you thank yourselves quite enough. Yes, you work long hours, and on occasion achieve great things. But too often you don't achieve much except to enhance your own standings. Of course we demand better services and lower taxes - by any measure the return on money spent on delivering these services is not acceptable. No doubt we get the leaders we deserve, so we need to lift our game, but in all honesty, why should we bother when we see the spin and deception dished out daily from you. We can agree that in many instances, you genuinely believe you are doing the right thing, like invading Iraq, but you have to admit it goes wrong way too often for us to respect your vision. You exalt altruism and high ideals, but it gets you in trouble time and again when you don't realise that others don't think like you. Whereas in our selfishness and stupidity there often lies creativity and genius, delivering value and wealth beyond our ambit. Finally, we can't resign - unlike you, we have no where else to go - we are the public, and with out us, there would be no need at all for you.
Mr Cox criticises reactionary views which he ascribes to the general public but which are actually those of the press. This is a journalist ranting about other journalists rants. It's the press who hound politicians, not the general public.
What an unpleasant, misanthropic diatribe and so typical of the contempt in which members of the elite like Cox hold ordinary people today. Cox, like so many of his ilk betrays his deeply authoritarian and illiberal tendencies without a shred of embarrassment, indulging in gross generalizations and exaggeration in his depiction of the masses as greedy, shiftless stupid and weak. The unpalatable truth for Cox is that the general public did not ask for the pointless, petty, hectoring popularity contest which passes for political life in the UK today. Rather than engage the public with real ideas and policies the establishment lectures us about our health and morals while squabbling self consciously for some meaningless ethical high ground. The idea that people don't know what is good for them is frankly disturbing - who is going to decide for us? Some media wonk like Cox? John Stuart Mill must be spinning in his grave! Unfortunately only a fraction of the millions of hard working, law abiding Britons Cox hates so much will read his quasi-fascistic rant. Democracy cuts both ways and ordinary people deserve substance and meaning from those that govern in return for their engagement. The empty charade of focus groups and citizens juries to discuss questions that have already been decided by remote, disconnected elites is no substitute for a real battle of ideas. Berating voters for lack of enthusiasm in the face of an electoral Hobson's Choice is just plain spite from a frightened intellectually bankrupt little Englander.