Joe Biden...

[arcobob]

I know a number of "political animals" and the job serves to satisfy a certain mentality. Most think they are serving the community but in fact they are serving their own egos. They are not seat blockers or malicious people but they cannot stand back and take a look at themselves. The majority start their political careers on the parish council where there is plenty of show but absolutely no go. They graduate from there but they are already hooked on their own self importance.

 

[ollie989898]

I know a number of "political animals" and the job serves to satisfy a certain mentality. Most think they are serving the community but in fact they are serving their own egos. They are not seat blockers or malicious people but they cannot stand back and take a look at themselves. The majority start their political careers on the parish council where there is plenty of show but absolutely no go. They graduate from there but they are already hooked on their own self importance.

I fear you are right. I have met some local government characters in the past and the bulk of them are nothing but oxygen thieves who run entirely on their own self importance and could not give a fudge about public service. Come the revolution they will line these sorts up against a wall first.

 

[Muck Spreader]

I can't see as it needs dynamising - is that a word? - beyond what it is. Either you want to serve or you don't and a reasonable wage, which £82k certainly is by any measure, is sufficient for anyone's needs.

The problem is... there are many who want to serve, but don't have the proper ability to do so, and these are exactly the sort that party top-dogs want as lobby-fodder.

I've a lot of time for the idea of 'primaries', it would thin out fields and give the public an effective veto over utter w*nkers that parties want but who wouldn't be much good to or for their constituents. The only problem is, typically, that the more vehement on any side would do their best to see decent people - whose views they don't like - written off.

Let's have a discussion about how to get around that one...

Dynamize. In English it maybe spelt with a 'z' in French it's with an 's' my mistake.


How about instead of primaries, it could be made obligatory that they have served as a local councillor for 'x' months or years. Thus giving the electorate an opportunity to asses their performance and stopping the ability of party bosses just parachuting candidates in that have no real affiliation or interest in the constituency.

However, there is a possible problem, it may well improve the calibre of constituency MP's at the same time as lowering it for future ministers. I can think of a number of ministers who were reportedly good at the local level, but subsequently failed in a ministerial post.

 

[Danllan]

Dynamize. In English it maybe spelt with a 'z' in French it's with an 's' my mistake.


How about instead of primaries, it could be made obligatory that they have served as a local councillor for 'x' months or years. Thus giving the electorate an opportunity to asses their performance and stopping the ability of party bosses just parachuting candidates in that have no real affiliation or interest in the constituency.

However, there is a possible problem, it may well improve the calibre of constituency MP's at the same time as lowering it for future ministers. I can think of a number of ministers who were reportedly good at the local level, but subsequently failed in a ministerial post.

Getting 'talent' in to government quickly is one of the few good arguments for keeping the Lords. I think the whole matter needs a serious re-think at a national level. Probably over there too, because from what I hear and see the average French politico is no better or trustworthy than those here.

 

[Muck Spreader]

Getting 'talent' in to government quickly is one of the few good arguments for keeping the Lords. I think the whole matter needs a serious re-think at a national level. Probably over there too, because from what I hear and see the average French politico is no better or trustworthy than those here.

No they are not, but I think it's the same in all democracies.

 

[Ashtree]

The yanks got “talent” in the top job. Look where that went!

 

[ollie989898]

The yanks got “talent” in the top job. Look where that went!

Oh, they got good old fashioned home-grown talent all right, just not the desirable kind.

 

[Pasty]

I know a number of "political animals" and the job serves to satisfy a certain mentality. Most think they are serving the community but in fact they are serving their own egos. They are not seat blockers or malicious people but they cannot stand back and take a look at themselves. The majority start their political careers on the parish council where there is plenty of show but absolutely no go. They graduate from there but they are already hooked on their own self importance.

I did a stint on the parish council but had to can it in the end as you just get slagged off by worthless bed wetters who accuse you of corruption etc. at every turn even though it's a fairly harmless organisation set up to serve the local community and give them a voice if they need it. No pay. But there are an awful lot of tw@ts out there who don't give anything back and just like to gob off.

 

[linga]

Dynamize. In English it maybe spelt with a 'z' in French it's with an 's' my mistake.


How about instead of primaries, it could be made obligatory that they have served as a local councillor for 'x' months or years. Thus giving the electorate an opportunity to asses their performance and stopping the ability of party bosses just parachuting candidates in that have no real affiliation or interest in the constituency.

However, there is a possible problem, it may well improve the calibre of constituency MP's at the same time as lowering it for future ministers. I can think of a number of ministers who were reportedly good at the local level, but subsequently failed in a ministerial post.

I think ( and as always may well be wrong) that the average person knows less about local Councils and their workings than they do about national government.
The best defence against poor candidates and MP's is transparency and a system that makes them accountable for their words and deeds.
A system that does not allow them to pass the buck.
Then periodically we get a chance to vote them out.

 

[Mek]

I think ( and as always may well be wrong) that the average person knows less about local Councils and their workings than they do about national government.
The best defence against poor candidates and MP's is transparency and a system that makes them accountable for their words and deeds.
A system that does not allow them to pass the buck.
Then periodically we get a chance to vote them out.

I expect that they’d soon run out of candidates !

 

[Ashtree]

Of course Biden was in quite close proximity to Trump during the debate. With Trump shouting / talking pretty much all the time, he must have generated quite a viral laden fog!
Could Joe have been infected? You bet!

 

[Muck Spreader]

I think ( and as always may well be wrong) that the average person knows less about local Councils and their workings than they do about national government.
The best defence against poor candidates and MP's is transparency and a system that makes them accountable for their words and deeds.
A system that does not allow them to pass the buck.
Then periodically we get a chance to vote them out.

But isn't that what we are supposed to have already?

 

[linga]

But isn't that what we are supposed to have already?

It may be what we are supposed to have but I am not sure that we do have

 

[bluegreen]