Hurray for Independents!

Sir Paul Judge has launched a new non-party:

"We think Parliament would be better if it had some representation chosen as directly as possible by the voters, without the parties getting in the way. We think that Independents, winners of an Open Primary election, would be more accountable to their constituents and thus would be more transparent in their dealings."

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The criticism is that this 'party' won't have a manifesto.

For me that isn't a problem as I have always voted for the person and not for their party.

We cannot run the country without parties, I agree, but having a few well informed Gadflies who will expose incompetence would be a big improvement!

If I could, I would vote for Tim Farron but he's not my MP.

Sometimes I don't vote because there is no one I trust. . .

I believe that as an independent I will be able to do two things.

Firstly, ask lots of pertinent questions and raise issues with local people. Secondly, encourage many more independents to be candidates so that we can get rid of the people that only get in because they are part of the party machine. They then regard the council chamber as a glorified club where they feel important and can get their photos on the front page of the paper.

If we want really good politicians we need to attract the same caliber of person that runs small, successful, ethical family businesses. People who take pride in their work and reputation and are not there for profit but to provide a really good service.

They know that they will be successful in the long term because the public get to know and trust them.

To attract these people:

1. The job must pay reasonably well without the need for backhanders and 'expenses'.

2. Council business must be run efficiently by other high caliber people who have learnt not to waste time through their ignorance.

It's a mystery as to how this will ever happen. In the mean time people avoid politics and muddle along as best they can, putting up patiently with the incompetence that surrounds them.

This, I believe leads to people wingeing on but doing nothing. Many then have low self-esteem and are depressed because life is so frustrating.

Soon we will either have given up and become zombie telly/chatroom addicts and die prematurely or we will join other sane, rebellious people and take to the streets and storm the Town Halls and Council Chambers, raise hell and refuse to pay our taxes.

However more and more will be driven to drink, neglect their kids, drive too fast and create mayhem, destroying anything in a mindless frenzy.

We really need to take our destiny in our own hands NOW !