The Trouble With Politics
The trouble with politics is that invites people to behave in a tribal way - to ignore what your eyes and ears tell you - and behave like a deranged fan at a football game.
As a former member of the Communist Party, then the Scottish Labour Party - I speak from personal experience - though I no longer support any one political party.
So when I look at the policies of the coalition government - I consider them for what they are - I am not concerned that the decision-maker is Tory or Lib Dem - that to me is beside the point.
For example, the government communities minister - Eric Pickles - announced the abolition of the Audit Commission in England and Wales.
I agree with his decision - getting rid of quangos is exactly what other parties were promising to do for years - with the trade unions egging them on.
Eric Pickles also blocked a proposed £240,000 salary for the new head of the Audit Commission - good for him, I say.
What kind of salary is that for a public official?
The Audit Commission - which has a remit to be politically neutral - authorised the spending of £60,000 on lobbyists "to combat the activities of Eric Pickles" - who was the Conservative party Chairman at the time.
Can you imagine the uproar if a Labour spokesperson had been targeted in that way?
It's an outrage that this quango spent public money for political ends - someone senior should have been sacked for that behaviour.
So, the moral of the story is - take politics and politicians with a big pinch of salt, without becoming completely cynical.
Judge issues on their merits - because that's what really counts at the end of the day .
As a former member of the Communist Party, then the Scottish Labour Party - I speak from personal experience - though I no longer support any one political party.
So when I look at the policies of the coalition government - I consider them for what they are - I am not concerned that the decision-maker is Tory or Lib Dem - that to me is beside the point.
For example, the government communities minister - Eric Pickles - announced the abolition of the Audit Commission in England and Wales.
I agree with his decision - getting rid of quangos is exactly what other parties were promising to do for years - with the trade unions egging them on.
Eric Pickles also blocked a proposed £240,000 salary for the new head of the Audit Commission - good for him, I say.
What kind of salary is that for a public official?
The Audit Commission - which has a remit to be politically neutral - authorised the spending of £60,000 on lobbyists "to combat the activities of Eric Pickles" - who was the Conservative party Chairman at the time.
Can you imagine the uproar if a Labour spokesperson had been targeted in that way?
It's an outrage that this quango spent public money for political ends - someone senior should have been sacked for that behaviour.
So, the moral of the story is - take politics and politicians with a big pinch of salt, without becoming completely cynical.
Judge issues on their merits - because that's what really counts at the end of the day .
