European elections rant
Jun. 10th, 2009 02:33 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lokifanA rant about the results of the European elections, in which member nations of the EU elect their representatives in the European Parliament. If one of you guys reads this and needs explanations, I'll happily give them. But I won't be offended if nobody does; I just felt the need to rant about the results, and the state of British politics generally, and the fact that in a few years David Cameron will be my country's leader.
Ugh. This was depressing in just about every way. We’re sending two BNP (British National Party – they’re neo-Nazis) members to the European Parliament, which makes me squirm with embarrassment. Bloody Sarko’s party did well, so he gets to be all vindicated even though half of France despises him. Centre-left parties all over Europe did badly – I’m a lefty myself, so I’m not happy. Particularly since this seems to have been partly because it was largely the working and lower middle classes that didn’t vote out of apathy or disgust. Four of Belgium’s twenty-fives seats have gone to their Anti-Islamic League or whatever the fuck it’s called. That unbelievable twat (one day I’m going to post about all the ways in which he’s a shit) Berlusconi’s party got 35% – less than he predicted, ha, but still Prodi lost out. Angela Merkel, who’s centre-right and about the only European politician who’s a real stateswoman, also did well. Which I’m not bothered about: I subscribe to the ideal of respecting the politician while disagreeing with their politics, and Merkel is about the only one where that ideal actually comes true. She’s not even very right-wing.
British politics are so sordid at the moment. Brown needs to go, immediately. It’s already clear that the Tories will win the next election. :( This is bad. I mean, the Tube strike right now shows what happens when populist Tories who pretend to have come over all green are given responsibility. Chaos, disaster, international embarrassment (I’m going to pretend I’m Australian during the Olympics) and the idiot falling into a river.
Now, after the next election I have hope for the Lib Dems becoming the second party. That could actually move us towards progress; it might even work better in the long run for progressives, because they have excellent policy and there’s far more difference between the Lib Dems and the Tories than the Tories and Labour. The Lib Dems came second in the local elections, 5% above Labour, so... *crosses fingers* In the end, though, David bloody Cameron is our next Prime Minister, and our chance for a Home Secretary who’s not into rampantly destroying civil liberties walked out so he could be melodramatic.
And then there’s the recession. Jesus fuck. We’re really in some black times.
Ugh. This was depressing in just about every way. We’re sending two BNP (British National Party – they’re neo-Nazis) members to the European Parliament, which makes me squirm with embarrassment. Bloody Sarko’s party did well, so he gets to be all vindicated even though half of France despises him. Centre-left parties all over Europe did badly – I’m a lefty myself, so I’m not happy. Particularly since this seems to have been partly because it was largely the working and lower middle classes that didn’t vote out of apathy or disgust. Four of Belgium’s twenty-fives seats have gone to their Anti-Islamic League or whatever the fuck it’s called. That unbelievable twat (one day I’m going to post about all the ways in which he’s a shit) Berlusconi’s party got 35% – less than he predicted, ha, but still Prodi lost out. Angela Merkel, who’s centre-right and about the only European politician who’s a real stateswoman, also did well. Which I’m not bothered about: I subscribe to the ideal of respecting the politician while disagreeing with their politics, and Merkel is about the only one where that ideal actually comes true. She’s not even very right-wing.
British politics are so sordid at the moment. Brown needs to go, immediately. It’s already clear that the Tories will win the next election. :( This is bad. I mean, the Tube strike right now shows what happens when populist Tories who pretend to have come over all green are given responsibility. Chaos, disaster, international embarrassment (I’m going to pretend I’m Australian during the Olympics) and the idiot falling into a river.
Now, after the next election I have hope for the Lib Dems becoming the second party. That could actually move us towards progress; it might even work better in the long run for progressives, because they have excellent policy and there’s far more difference between the Lib Dems and the Tories than the Tories and Labour. The Lib Dems came second in the local elections, 5% above Labour, so... *crosses fingers* In the end, though, David bloody Cameron is our next Prime Minister, and our chance for a Home Secretary who’s not into rampantly destroying civil liberties walked out so he could be melodramatic.
And then there’s the recession. Jesus fuck. We’re really in some black times.
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no subject
Date: 2009-06-10 02:06 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-06-10 04:38 pm (UTC)I'd still be surprised, since European elections tend to have more votes for parties outside the main three - plenty of my friends vote Green or Lib Dem when they'd consider it a 'waste' in a general election. But it is possible... and I don't trust Cameron at all.
no subject
Date: 2009-06-10 06:32 pm (UTC)Me neither. Also, I think an awful lot of people did vote for UKIP - far more than voted for the BNP. I find that a little comforting, considering that UKIP are pretty much a one trick pony.
no subject
Date: 2009-06-10 02:20 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-06-10 04:46 pm (UTC)I know! Well, Blair did it, I suppose. But still.
I don't really want anybody else specifically - for one thing, Jack Straw might get it and I can't bear him - but somebody needs to replace Gordon. Nobody's talking about policy.
an immediate election could turn up some nasty results, especially if a more proportional electoral system is implemented. Plus I have a nasty feeling that David Cameron talks out of his arse on most subjects. Don't get me wrong, I'm very much in favour of getting rid of the current Government and some serious electoral reform, but not when people are voting in anger.
Oh yes. On every point. I don't like Cameron - he goes where the wind blows, and the current wind isn't blowing anywhere good. I suppose I'm hoping the backbenchers can get a nice old-Labour deal out of Gordon in exchange for not booting him - there really isn't a good outcome of this whole messy situation.
I have to say, I think electoral reform is unlikely just now. The Tories know they'll win next time, so who'd support it? That isn't necessarily a bad thing at the moment, though, you're right. Being a Lib Dem (20% of the vote, 10% of the seats!) I'm in favour of electoral reform for party reasons as well as by inclination - but yes. The BNP in Parliament would be worlds of bad.
no subject
Date: 2009-06-10 05:24 pm (UTC)-Recession
-Nobody has faith the old/current system is working
-Government full of corruption
Anyone else reminded of pre-war Germany? We will get scared idiot voting for people like the BNP. Not good.
We're in a lose-lose situation. Fun times.
(Hey are you doing any pride stuff over the summer? It'd be one bright spot in the crap of this year.)
no subject
Date: 2009-06-11 05:27 pm (UTC)It's really sad how apt that comparison is. I don't think the 2010s are going to be fun times.
And I was reminded again of how much this stuff goes on today, when a friend of a friend said white girls who go out with black boys, and/or have sex with them, are 'disrespecting themselves.'
*SPITS FIRE* He was damn lucky that A: I didn't want to spoil the day and B: the boy I've been disrespecting myself with wasn't there.
BUT. Yes pride stuff is happening! We're doing Norwich Pride, of course, and you can join the three other girls piling into Hotblack Road for it if you want. :D I will provide ice-cream and DVDs for your entertainment if the rest of us have a big lesbian orgy.
We're doing London Pride too, I'm not sure exactly which parts (since it's a WHOLE FORTNIGHT YAY) but I hope you can come to that stuff! Definitely I'll be doing the march and then heading to Soho for a street party afterwards on the big day.
no subject
Date: 2009-06-11 08:12 pm (UTC)I cannot believe people like that still exist. Who would say that?! (Also you have yourself a man friend now? Good for you!)
I didn't know Norwich was having a pride thing! I will check out if I can make it :D London should be good though, let me know if you have plans for it! Can't believe you're not doing Brighton, isn't that the eptiomy of pridefulness?
no subject
Date: 2009-06-11 08:26 pm (UTC)The man friend is lovely. I don't know what'll happen with it - we've known each other for years and had a thing last summer, but neither of us can handle a long-distance relationship. So We Shall See.
Norwich is having its FIRST EVER PRIDE. :D And I'm too poor to go to Brighton!
no subject
Date: 2009-06-13 07:56 pm (UTC)Aw your Man Friend sounds nice, hope you guys have a good time :D
I need to research fundage to see if I can make it to Norwich, it's unlikely though. I will definitely come to London, which days are you going? :D
no subject
Date: 2009-06-15 09:14 pm (UTC)I'll be happy to. :)
Tbh I'm not at all sure when I'll be in London, since I'm also lacking fundage. Definitely on the 4th, obviously. And I was thinking of going to the Outburst festival on the 27th - black LGBT pride, basically. The acts etc look awesome, but it'll depend on if anybody wants to/can go with me. Plus there's an art exhibition, so natch I'll be hitting up Pixie Lesbian about that, as well as the others.