What did members of the political classes think of Makerfield voters when the June by-election result was announced?
What do they still think of those Makerfield folk who offered their votes to a political stratagem whereby Andrew Burnham would become an MP before ousting Keir Starmer from No.10?
It seems reasonable to assume that there was a degree of contempt for voters among the political classes and their media chums, a degree of contempt which is not difficult to understand. In voting for Burnham, the voters of Makerfield complied with a party political tactic with no significant probability that it would benefit anyone but Burnham and his political cronies.
The other members of the committee, who were all rather elderly people, were a good deal impressed by Mary, and inclined to side with her and against each other, partly, perhaps, because of her youth. The feeling that she controlled them all filled Mary with a sense of power; and she felt that no work can equal in importance, or be so exciting as, the work of making other people do what you want them to do. Indeed, when she had won her point she felt a slight degree of contempt for the people who had yielded to her.
Virginia Woolf - Night and Day (1919)
Suppose we rephrase the above Woolf quote slightly, the change is not dramatic.
The feeling that he controlled them all filled Burnham with a sense of power; and he felt that no work can equal in importance, or be so exciting as, the work of making other people do what you want them to do. Indeed, when he had won his point he felt a slight degree of contempt for the people who had yielded to him.
It seems reasonable to assume that there was a degree of contempt for voters among the political classes and their media chums, a degree of contempt which is not difficult to understand. In voting for Burnham, the voters of Makerfield complied with a party political tactic with no significant probability that it would benefit anyone but Burnham and his political cronies.
The other members of the committee, who were all rather elderly people, were a good deal impressed by Mary, and inclined to side with her and against each other, partly, perhaps, because of her youth. The feeling that she controlled them all filled Mary with a sense of power; and she felt that no work can equal in importance, or be so exciting as, the work of making other people do what you want them to do. Indeed, when she had won her point she felt a slight degree of contempt for the people who had yielded to her.
Virginia Woolf - Night and Day (1919)
Suppose we rephrase the above Woolf quote slightly, the change is not dramatic.
The feeling that he controlled them all filled Burnham with a sense of power; and he felt that no work can equal in importance, or be so exciting as, the work of making other people do what you want them to do. Indeed, when he had won his point he felt a slight degree of contempt for the people who had yielded to him.
7 comments:
Eventual comeuppance is a rare phenomenon in western society, especially these days.
Machine politicians secure their election by the votes of a machine electorate.
But a machine electorate is a fickle thing. Their loyalty can turn overnight - although it may take decades for realisation to achieve a critical mass.
Andy Capp and his party took them for the fools that they showed themselves to be.
You can't fix stupid!
I await the result of the Holborn by-election with interest. Polanski is an obvious buffoon who should not be in charge of the office tea club, but can he do it? See the comments on electorates.
Turkey - Christmas.
I see that the two heavyweight politicians who abstained on Assisted Dying were Farage and Rishi. They were joined by the flyweight St Andy of t'North.
James - yes, I'd pay to see some worthwhile comeuppance.
DJ - the critical mass metaphor is a useful one as many people do have a sense that social and political pressures are becoming unpredictably serious.
Mike - that's it, you can't fix stupid. However frustrating it is, stupidity isn't fixable.
Chris - I agree, Polanski should not be in charge of the office tea club. He is such an obvious buffoon that it isn't easy to generate any faith in elections or voters.
dearieme - I haven't seen a list of who voted, but maybe St Andy of t'North was bound to abstain, as unlike bus fares the issue isn't trivial enough for him to take sides.
Post a Comment