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May. 4th, 2010 03:53 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
johnny9fingersI was going to post about my thoughts and feelings about the upcoming election, and then I read Stephen Fry's Blog. He says it all so much better than I. Nevertheless I still feel, though I will personally opt for Fry's Election Choice no.1, that my bet on the Tories having a small majority is safe.
There was a time when Sir Alex Ferguson almost got the sack from Manchester United. An FA Cup win saved his job. Gordon may have the ability, like Fergie, to do the job in times of trouble: but I doubt if a cup win is going to come to his rescue, or collectively speaking, the UK PLC's.
Never mind, Man Utd's debt, like that of the UK, is unsustainable at present levels, and needs some restructuring. As a Spurs fan (born in the year they did the double) this shouldn't bother me, excepting football is generally better for there being a Man Utd.
When Dave and the new lads get in on Friday, if asked by anyone, I would have some simple words of advice: get the loonies under control and quickly. Make sure your Chief Whip has balls of steel. Get the backwoodsmen and shire Tories to bark to order, not roam ferally in packs. Stifle discontent immediately. And listen, above all, listen to your senior civil servants. They've been in place for longer than anyone; and many, if not most, are reasonably sympathetic to your cause, especially if they can foist any cuts on to other departments. But the cuts will come whomsoever gets into office and they are realist enough to know this.
Know your limits, and by extension, our limits. As a rule, the UK is following the United States in having the patience and attention span of a mayfly: we cannot see beyond our noses or the next week's television.
Also know that there are some Bolshie types who will keep an eye on you, reporting back on all your policy decisions, and casting them into the worst light possible. And I guess I'll be one of 'em if my augerous cynicism is working properly. If things get worse, they'll blame you. If the inequalities in the system become even more obvious, they'll blame you. If crime goes up, it will be your fault.
Actually, I'll try to keep unprejudiced in my judgements: but I will watch this incoming Tory government like a hawk, or perhaps a falcon, turning and turning in the widening gyre as the poet said.
There was a time when Sir Alex Ferguson almost got the sack from Manchester United. An FA Cup win saved his job. Gordon may have the ability, like Fergie, to do the job in times of trouble: but I doubt if a cup win is going to come to his rescue, or collectively speaking, the UK PLC's.
Never mind, Man Utd's debt, like that of the UK, is unsustainable at present levels, and needs some restructuring. As a Spurs fan (born in the year they did the double) this shouldn't bother me, excepting football is generally better for there being a Man Utd.
When Dave and the new lads get in on Friday, if asked by anyone, I would have some simple words of advice: get the loonies under control and quickly. Make sure your Chief Whip has balls of steel. Get the backwoodsmen and shire Tories to bark to order, not roam ferally in packs. Stifle discontent immediately. And listen, above all, listen to your senior civil servants. They've been in place for longer than anyone; and many, if not most, are reasonably sympathetic to your cause, especially if they can foist any cuts on to other departments. But the cuts will come whomsoever gets into office and they are realist enough to know this.
Know your limits, and by extension, our limits. As a rule, the UK is following the United States in having the patience and attention span of a mayfly: we cannot see beyond our noses or the next week's television.
Also know that there are some Bolshie types who will keep an eye on you, reporting back on all your policy decisions, and casting them into the worst light possible. And I guess I'll be one of 'em if my augerous cynicism is working properly. If things get worse, they'll blame you. If the inequalities in the system become even more obvious, they'll blame you. If crime goes up, it will be your fault.
Actually, I'll try to keep unprejudiced in my judgements: but I will watch this incoming Tory government like a hawk, or perhaps a falcon, turning and turning in the widening gyre as the poet said.
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no subject
Date: 2010-05-04 03:04 pm (UTC)FFS man, didn't you ever watch Yes minister? Never trust the civil service, they charge too much and hold too much power, sack them all, privatise the lot ;)
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Date: 2010-05-04 03:21 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-05-05 10:57 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-05-06 06:46 am (UTC)no worries, it's getting a bit old now but the vast majority of the humour in the whole series is still relevent today :S
I'm led to believe someone recently wrote a more modern stageplay based on it, I guess it'll only run in London though :(
no subject
Date: 2010-05-04 05:33 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-05-05 09:12 am (UTC)If the tories do get in , here is what to expect!
http://liberalconspiracy.org/2010/04/30/is-this-the-best-anti-tory-video-of-the-election/
no subject
Date: 2010-05-05 10:58 pm (UTC)Okay ;)
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Date: 2010-05-05 02:09 pm (UTC)I think the alarmist 'murricans with their "black or white" are the last people any sane democracy should listen to.
I hope your next government is reasonably sane and shy of extremists. I hope the folk of the various parties can learn to get along with each other - not like here in Canada where the parties keep getting in a snit about stupid stuff.