Democracy on Tap
One of the interesting things to emerge from the encouraging outbreak of democracy in the Westminster Parliament recently - is the new found desire of MPs to be seen representing the views of their constituents.
Now I'm all for a a more direct democracy where the views of ordinary voters count not just the occasional votes of party politicians - although I do recognise that this might be a mixed blessing in some ways.
For example here are a range of policies - some of which I support and some of which I don't - but I suspect just about all of them would win majority support if put to a vote of ordinary people.
- Restoring the death penalty
- Withdrawing from the European Union (in England at least)
- A ban on immigration to the UK
- An end to all UK overseas aid
- Publicly identifying paedophiles in the community
- Cutting the 'knackers' off repeat and/or violent rapists
- Life prison sentences to mean life
- A clampdown on MPs having second jobs
- A clampdown and cap on MPs outside earnings
- Devo Max as a second question in the referendum on Scottish independence
- Abolishing the Trident missile programme
- Abolishing the House of Lords
- Legalising cannabis
- Decriminalising assisted suicide
- A power of recall over all politicians - MPs, MSPs and councillors
Now if all these MPs say that the views of their constituent were paramount an vital when it came to a possible military strike on Syria - how come on so many other big issues MPs don't give a toss what the voters think?
Every opinion poll that's been taken in recent years says that the vast majority of Scots support Devo Max and more powers for the Scottish Parliament - yet the voters are not being allowed that question on the ballot paper - because we're too dumb, apparently, to cope with more than one question and a straight Yes or No.
So, I'm not in the least impressed by the Westminster MPs who suddenly embrace the views of their constituents as all important - because it seems to me that this is only true so long as the voters' views can be turned 'on and off' like a tap.
