The Last Ditch by Tom Paine

THE LAST DITCH

The Political Manifesto

Published by Tom

on

The Political Manifesto -Times Online .

I agree with almost every word of this, which is remarkable for an editorial in a left-liberal Murdoch organ for which I have long since lost respect. There are many sensible suggestions, though having observed the knuckle-gnawing tedium of the German, Polish and Russian legislatures in action, I suspect the electorate would miss the "knockabout" aspect of the House of Commons more than the Thunderer thinks. Continental legislatures are thoroughly caucussed and the public debates are the merest of formalities. When the real debate takes place behind the scenes, that is actually more likely to promote cynicism.

It's good to see a real debate beginning though, even as the old rascals are kicked out squealing; making their guilt ever more clear by their ludicrous protestations of innocence and ridiculous demands for sympathy.

3 responses to “The Political Manifesto”

  1. jameshigham Avatar
    jameshigham

    When the real debate takes please behind the scenes, that is actually more likely to promote cynicism.
    That’s the point, isn’t it?

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  2. Tim Avatar
    Tim

    Sounds like a summarised version of Carswell’s and Hannans, book ‘The Plan – Twelve Months to Renew Britain’ a pretty libertarian must read in the current climate, especially with both Carswell and Hannan gaining a lot of recent exposure with their respective removal of the speaker and hannans earlier youtubed viral Brown battering! This needs to be read and promoted along with its authors!

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  3. Kevyn Bodman Avatar
    Kevyn Bodman

    Very interesting.
    But I’m not convinced about open primaries.
    Non-party members voting for a party candidate could lead to a more popular selection,yes. It could also lead to watering down of candidates’ political convictions, and it could lead to sabotage with inimical voters trying to select a no-hoper.
    And the different but related idea of registering with the electoral authorities as a suporter of any party is one that both appals and frightens me.
    No, let political parties select candidates as they please. Some might maintain the current system, some might opt for closed primaries, some might choose open primaries. But impose no laws or rules on this.
    The right of recall is, I think, the strongest idea on the list of ideas in this article.

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Tom is a retired international lawyer. He was a partner in a City of London law firm and spent almost twenty years abroad serving clients from all over the world.

Returning to London on retirement in 2011, he was dismayed to discover how much liberty had been lost in the UK while he was away.

He’s a classical liberal (libertarian, if you must) who, like his illustrious namesake, considers that

“…government even in its best state is but a necessary evil; in its worst state an intolerable one.”

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