open Democracy News Analysis - UK Democracy: A Basic Communication Crisis, - Comments

Xanthos on "UK Democracy: A Basic Communication Crisis"

Xanthos — Wed, 31 Aug 2005 18:27:08 +0100

> "there needs to be effective communication of > experience, a fundamental connecting medium" > Wouldn't 'public meetings' be a good way? Yes, I suppose public meetings are a good place to start, but are the public's voices always carried up the political chain with integrity? What worth have the words of those people who have not had the academic up-bringing to understand the world of intellectuals? I believe these unfortunate people are often seen to have no right to a political voice, and I think it is based on their lack of a decent vocabulary! > Plus you > talk as if there are two kinds of members of society. > The rulers and the masses. Why not question why > should there be a division of power? This is where the magic of words emerges. It has been said that Tony Blair is a very powerful man, even though he relies on us to freely elect him, and thus he is meant to do our bidding. So why would we deem him to be powerful? Could you please be explicit about who holds the power here, the 'rulers' or the masses? > > > It's interesting you included in the title "UK > Democracy." I wasn't aware the UK is a democracy. > I thought it's a constitutional monarchy! Constitutional monarchies: A consitutional monarchy is where a prime minister is the active head of the executive branch of government and also leader of the legislature. The head of state is a constitutional monarch who only exercises his or her powers with the consent of the government and is largely a figurehead. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitutional_Monarchy: Though the king or queen may be regarded as the head of state, it is the Prime Minister, whose power derives directly or indirectly from elections, who actually governs the country.... ...current constitutional monarchies are mostly representative democracies

RhodGates on "UK Democracy: A Basic Communication Crisis"

RhodGates — Tue, 03 May 2005 22:19:17 +0100

"there needs to be effective communication of experience, a fundamental connecting medium" Wouldn't 'public meetings' be a good way? Plus you talk as if there are two kinds of members of society. The rulers and the masses. Why not question why should there be a division of power? It's interesting you included in the title "UK Democracy." I wasn't aware the UK is a democracy. I thought it's a constitutional monarchy!

Xanthos on "UK Democracy: A Basic Communication Crisis"

Xanthos — Wed, 23 Mar 2005 09:57:47 +0000

The Guardian Newspaper:'When Politicians Turn to God' 23rd March 2005 http://politics.guardian.co.uk/election/story/0,15803,1443843,00.html This may interest those who are skeptical

Xanthos on "UK Democracy: A Basic Communication Crisis"

Xanthos — Fri, 11 Mar 2005 14:20:49 +0000

I have not read the Hilton's Spectator article in full but it is refreshing to see such a perspective in the mainstream media. I fear, however, that he may have his own relationship with The Church and associated political repercussions lying in wait to take the place of Catholocism here in the UK. As well as this I find Conservatives very scary people! It is a step forward for such issues to be in the public domain, as I think generally we are taught to fear 'the wrath of God' if we were to test The Church's God-fearing ideology. In this way our nation is trapped. If my fears about Hilton's political orientation on the subject are correct, it is maybe just natural consequence that The Church's representatives in their political revery begin competing with one another in a manner which may bring about their own demise through a lack of a unified spiritual vision. If anyone should be 'singing from the same hymn sheet', it should be The Church of course. Thank you for commenting.

Capfka on "UK Democracy: A Basic Communication Crisis"

Capfka — Thu, 10 Mar 2005 21:31:21 +0000

Well, Xanthos with a Greek moniker and a British perspective, what do you make of Dominic Hilton's dissing of the New Labour government of Tony Blair? I thought that, despite Hilton's frequent over-the-top commentary, it was a fair enough assessment of the way things are. I would imagine, given your post above, that you would agree with me. Comments welcome. Even from Junior (if he can find Britain on the map!).

UK Democracy: A Basic Communication Crisis,

Xanthos — Wed, 02 Mar 2005 12:12:09 +0000

As far as I recall from my lectures on 'State Development' as part of my Archaeology Degree, prehistoric non-nomadic agricultural homesteads appear to have been egalitarian (non-political) societies which revolved around kinship bonds (i.e family ties) between society members. When an egalitarian society of this type reached over approximately 100 people, thus stretching social and genetic relationships by a limitation on regular face-to-face interaction and genetic distancing, such kinship bonds are broken down in favour of a centralised governing body. This governing body can drift between a dictatorship and a true democracy. Read the rest of this post...