Things need to change...

I decided not to post in the immediate aftermath of the murder of Jo Cox MP. It's easy to say things in the midst of shock and horror that might not be said after some reflection.

I was shocked, but not - I'm afraid - surprised. The tone of politics has been deteriorating for some time. I've heard some comments from ordinary people that that only a few years ago - people might have thought, but would have been ashamed to utter in public. Some politicians, and they must know what they are doing - are using language which can incite racial hatred - and, though most would not be roused by such talk, some people can be incited to violence. Many of us will be familiar with the story of Henry II - who after had falling out with his former friend, Thomas A Becket - said "Will no one rid me of the turbulent priest?" He didn't directly call for Becket's murder - but (taking the most generous view of Henry) some hotheads saw that comment as a suggestion for them to follow. Yet Henry did not escape condemnation.

I have argued in previous posts that for the last fifty years there has been a determined effort by "regressives" to push politics further and further rightwards. Newt Gingrich has stressed the central importance of language in pushing politics in a particular direction. (Take a look at his 1996 GOPAC memo - available at http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article4443.htm  )You'll see how some pretty strong language is recommended to demonise his opponents. I think he must take some responsibility for the degeneration of political discourse in the United States. When you start talking about your opponents as "traitors" - and throwing the word "corrupt"around - then you risk some extremists feeling embolden to take "direct action".

British people have always taken a sceptical view of their politicians (and that is NOT a bad thing - as Lord Acton said 'power TENDS to corrupt' - and we must scrutinise those who exercise power, and have in place 'checks and balances' - in our own interests!) - but there are some who have sought to undermine any trust to push their own ideology that rests upon the idea that ANY action of government is a bad thing. As Ronald Reagan said "Government is not the solution to our problem; government IS the problem."

Things have moved on since then. Neither Barry Goldwater or Ronald Reagan would be regarded as sufficiently "conservative" (for which "regressive" is the real word meant) for many in the Republican Party. Behind a SIGNIFICANT part of the Brexit movement are people who want to push this 'regressive' agenda.

As 'progressives' we need to consider - as a matter of urgency - how we can effectively push back this movement. Some think that we should adopt the methods of the regressives - and manipulate language to demonise them - that we should encourage 'hatred of the haters'. I fear that path takes us towards the violence that saw the similar battles of the 1930s.

I would argue that we have to redouble our efforts to reach out to fellow citizens. I acknowledge the value of Voter ID (canvassing - or whatever term you feel comfortable with) in enabling election machines to predict the likelihood of individuals to go out and vote, and for whom they are likely to vote. But data-gathering can easily become more important to us, than the more difficult task of engaging with voters. If a person is identified as a non-voter or more likely to vote against our party, we are urged to move on - and records will tell us to avoid those people for perpetuity, lest we stir them up to vote against us.

Targets are important when you have a large district or constituency to cover. Volunteers (and existing activists) can easily be seduced into lots of effort - but isolation from "ordinary" life and activities.

I wish I could present a 10 point plan that, if adopted, would force back the tide of the regressives. But I can't - but I would like to provoke fellow progressives into thought and discussion about how we could change things for there better.



One version of the story of King Canute and his failed attempt to push back the tide - is set at his palace, on the River Thames, at Westminster. He failed to succeed. 

But visit Westminster today -  The Thames is half its width - it is held back by the engineering work within the Palace of Westminster (most of the current palace was in the Thames at the time of Canute (see 'The royal palace, abbey and town of Westminster on Thorney Island' Museum of London Archaeology Service) and on the embankments either side of the river.