by Mike Murray
Democracy is rotten. The Conservative Party is a front for corporations and big finance; trade unions and activists pull the strings of the Labour Party: both mere conduits for deep pockets and deeper zealotry. Whilst lobbyists and ideologues continue to stalk the corridors of Westminster, the citizens’ influence will remain insignificant.
It is time to ban elections.
• Elections are rigged by rich and ideological pressure groups. The parties they support are fronts for their interests. No citizen can engage in public life, unless he confirms to a major party’s paymasters.
• Despite being a rigged game, elections provide a façade of democracy, and placate a duped citizenry.
• Or, benighted through ballot wounds, citizens become alienated from public life.
• So-called “representatives” are narcissists, mostly interested in career-climbing, floating duck-houses, and Saturday Strictly TV appearances.
In place of the vote, government ministers and legislators should be selected in the same way we select jurors: through random allotment.
Every year names will be randomly selected. Those selected will undertake the key offices of state. They will be informed in this way:
Dear Mr James Burkinshaw,
You have been randomly selected to undertake public office in the forthcoming year. You are to report Westminster on the 1st September, where you will be inducted for your role as Foreign Secretary. Your period of office will end on the 31st August 2021.
Your employer, Portsmouth Grammar School, has been informed.
Absconsion carries a custodial sentence and an unlimited fine.
Yours sincerely,
Her Majesty Elizabeth II
Queen, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of her other realms and territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith
Banning election will end lobbyism, cronyism and ideological activism at once. No amount of money or influence will determine who enters Westminster.
To those who argue that the average citizen is not capable of public office. They should have greater faith in their fellow citizens and less faith in our politicians, whose demonstrations of incompetence and mendacity will never be surpassed.
The time has come for a bonfire of ballot papers.
After all, this is how the Athenians did it in the 6th century BCE.
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| What would Cleisthenes think? (image: www.ohiochannel.org) |
It is time to ban elections.
• Elections are rigged by rich and ideological pressure groups. The parties they support are fronts for their interests. No citizen can engage in public life, unless he confirms to a major party’s paymasters.
• Despite being a rigged game, elections provide a façade of democracy, and placate a duped citizenry.
• Or, benighted through ballot wounds, citizens become alienated from public life.
• So-called “representatives” are narcissists, mostly interested in career-climbing, floating duck-houses, and Saturday Strictly TV appearances.
In place of the vote, government ministers and legislators should be selected in the same way we select jurors: through random allotment.
Every year names will be randomly selected. Those selected will undertake the key offices of state. They will be informed in this way:
Dear Mr James Burkinshaw,
You have been randomly selected to undertake public office in the forthcoming year. You are to report Westminster on the 1st September, where you will be inducted for your role as Foreign Secretary. Your period of office will end on the 31st August 2021.
Your employer, Portsmouth Grammar School, has been informed.
Absconsion carries a custodial sentence and an unlimited fine.
Yours sincerely,
Her Majesty Elizabeth II
Queen, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of her other realms and territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith
Banning election will end lobbyism, cronyism and ideological activism at once. No amount of money or influence will determine who enters Westminster.
To those who argue that the average citizen is not capable of public office. They should have greater faith in their fellow citizens and less faith in our politicians, whose demonstrations of incompetence and mendacity will never be surpassed.
The time has come for a bonfire of ballot papers.
After all, this is how the Athenians did it in the 6th century BCE.
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