The Voice Box

Election Time! LONDON, UK. A small leaflet came through my door recently, stating very dramatically that this year we will be having three votes at election time. It definitely sounded unusual, and therefore it was something to celebrate. But I did not feel that way, and I saw no reason to be particularly excited by the prospect. This is the UK, and national elections are held approcimately every four years. I say approximately, because the nature of the system allows the government in power to move the goal posts a bit as to when the elections are held. We are assuming that the election will be held in May, 2010. Whatever your feelings, elections have reached the stage, even in so-called democracies like ours, of being rather dull affairs. The parties go through their motions, finally we are left to make our choice. It does not help when details of the event, and the candidates are left to being disclosed at the last moment. The three votes, discussed, which offer an option to select ...

HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT LONDON UK Our Politicians Are Guilty The recent revelations by newspapers about the embellished claims made by our politicians to cover their expenses remind us how little accountability takes place in our parliamentary system. The public revulsion, and the total dismay by the electorate, only serves to remind us how little we understand about the democracy we often boast about. Claiming expenses have always being an easy option to fiddle in any form of business. But the length to which some politicians used the system to benefits themselves, was a great shock to the easy pleasing British general public. There are now shouts from everyone for change, and of course, a totally new and transparent system. We will see how quickly any new system will be put in place. In the last few days, several people have called for the resignation of the Speaker, as they accused him of dragging his feet instead of dealing effectively with the situation. Should he resign? Of course h...