However the theory has been overtaken by the practice. The child doesn’t concentrate on learning, understanding and growing intellectually, but rather just how to pass the exam. And so the politicians –especially politician in power rather than fodder backbench MP’s (see below for explanation) –spend all their time not governing or making the country better, but on trying to retain power.

This leads to perverse media stunts. Like Gordon Brown going to Saudi Arabia and pleading to oil producing countries to produce more oil and bizarrely to invest in technology which might overcome and overtake our need for their oil. Why did he do that? Was it to see the startled and confused looks on his hosts’ faces? Followed shortly by the look of “oh dear….is he dangerous?” I could be wrong, but I’m guessing probably not. Did he waste taxpayers’ money to try and achieve a contradiction? I’ll explain. This government has a policy of high petrol (and diesel) prices. The fuels price escalator applied over the last decade has resulted in about 70% of the fuel price going into tax. Out of the remaining 30% some will go to production, distribution and retailing costs. And a share will go to the oil producers. Let’s be generous and say only about 5% goes to the production, retailing etc, so about a quarter of the fuel price is dependent on the oil price which Mr Brown seems to be so concerned about. I hope his Saudi hosts pointed out to him that if he was so concerned about petrol prices, he might look at knocking his 70% tax down. And as for asking them to invest in technology to reduce the demand for oil, maybe he should make a donation to the Conservative Party.

So why did he go to Saudi Arabia for? He did it to grab the headlines and being seen to be doing something about our pain with the high price of petrol. He wanted to be seen to be caring and proactive and, well, seen. Better to be seen then not. And hopefully, please, that he becomes less unpopular and reduce his chances of being dumped at the next election.

Back to my supposition about problems with our democracy. If all the focus is on re-election, then maybe that is the answer. Make the people in power single-term, so they can’t be re-elected.

Backbench MP’s aren’t really in power. Apart from rare occasions, they are whipped into voting for the government like sheep. The culprit here is the political party. If all MP’s were independents, would they represent the constituents better in parliament? I think so and will tackle this issue at another time, but will briefly raise the questions: Does the electorate benefit from political parties? If not, who does? If we are asked to fund them (as is being suggested), should we ask for them to be dismantled?

If we had a single term PM, would that not make abuse of power easier? Yes, if it was done in isolation, but no if checks and balances were introduced at the same time.

Here is my simple solution to increasing the levels of our democracy:
• The PM should be elected separately. Like the US presidential election, everyone should be able to vote for the PM.
• The PM should appoint a non-elected executive (again like the US).
• The PM’s legislative, budget and warring powers should be subject to approval from both the Commons and Lords.
• Members of the Commons to be restricted to three elected terms.
• MP’s voting record easily and prominently available to their constituents and others.
• Political donations strictly limited and restricted to individuals, not corporations.
• Political advertising and political broadcasting banned.
• Planned debates encouraged and allowed full media exposure.

Return to Amistad Home.

This article is sponsored by Proqul Ozone store who supply the Ozonology Sanitisation service.

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