Too Dumb To Vote?
Not much has made me stop and think during the Scottish election campaign.
The highlight so far has been Scottish Labour leader - Iain Gray - visting the 'killing fields' of Glasgow only to be seen off by rag taggle group of anti-cuts protesters.
Good for a laugh - but not what you would call serious politics.
The issue that's caught my eye is the Conservative proposal to local people - the right to veto any above-inflation rises in their council tax bills.
The Conservatives back a council tax freeze until 2013 - everyone seems to agree with the SNP these days - even the Labour party, albeit belatedly.
But Scotland's answer to Mrs Doubtfire - Annabel Goldie - wants to go further, much further.
The Tory leader wants to legislate to ensure any council planning a future rise in council tax above the rate of inflation - must win the support of the majority of local residents in a local referendum.
Now this is not a new idea as politics goes - but it is an interesting proposal to come up with in an age where people are increasingly cynical about politics - and politicians.
Why should a 'handful' of councillors in Glasgow, for example - decide something which affects the lives of say 300,000 voters?
Now the traditional answer to this question is that the general public don't know their policy arses from their policy elbows - they are too stupid and ill-informed to be charged with big decisions.
So if the 'baying mob' were to be let loose on issues like capital punishment - we'd have bodies swinging from lampposts on every street - say the proponents of representative democracy.
But maybe times have moved on - maybe there is a case for more a more active participative democracy in this day and age - on well defined issues.
I have to say I feel at least as well qualified as my local councillor - to vote on a council tax increase.
The highlight so far has been Scottish Labour leader - Iain Gray - visting the 'killing fields' of Glasgow only to be seen off by rag taggle group of anti-cuts protesters.
Good for a laugh - but not what you would call serious politics.
The issue that's caught my eye is the Conservative proposal to local people - the right to veto any above-inflation rises in their council tax bills.
The Conservatives back a council tax freeze until 2013 - everyone seems to agree with the SNP these days - even the Labour party, albeit belatedly.
But Scotland's answer to Mrs Doubtfire - Annabel Goldie - wants to go further, much further.
The Tory leader wants to legislate to ensure any council planning a future rise in council tax above the rate of inflation - must win the support of the majority of local residents in a local referendum.
Now this is not a new idea as politics goes - but it is an interesting proposal to come up with in an age where people are increasingly cynical about politics - and politicians.
Why should a 'handful' of councillors in Glasgow, for example - decide something which affects the lives of say 300,000 voters?
Now the traditional answer to this question is that the general public don't know their policy arses from their policy elbows - they are too stupid and ill-informed to be charged with big decisions.
So if the 'baying mob' were to be let loose on issues like capital punishment - we'd have bodies swinging from lampposts on every street - say the proponents of representative democracy.
But maybe times have moved on - maybe there is a case for more a more active participative democracy in this day and age - on well defined issues.
I have to say I feel at least as well qualified as my local councillor - to vote on a council tax increase.
