Bloggers to blame for political disengagement
Dear Ms Blears,
You are mistaking the causality, I fear. People blog about things which gain their interest. Just because the politicians cause the majority of the population to have no interest in politics is no reason to try to hush those who do take an interest. Political bloggers raise questions and concerns. If people read those and become cynical it is because the underlying cause - dodgy politicians - have not cleaned up their act yet.
To be fair, Ms Blears does say we should have a more representational political system. And there, I agree. But perhaps one way towards that would be to encourage more political blogging - almost anyone can have a blog these days, whereas very few people are really in a position where they can realistically try to become “politicians”. Make the most of the fact people are willing to put up with the mundane rubbish politics has become, get the politicians to listen and to think (please, for the love of all that is Holy, get them to think).
Blears attacks political bloggers
Political blogs are fuelling a culture of cynicism about politics, communities secretary Hazel Blears has claimed.
In her speech, Ms Blears also complained about a “spreading corrosive cynicism” in political discussion.
She turned her fire on political “bloggers” - accusing them of fuelling disengagement by focusing on “unearthing scandals, conspiracies and perceived hypocrisy” and of being written by “people with disdain for the political system and politicians”.
One blogger suggested political spin was more to blame for voters’ cynicism.
“Take a memo Ms Blears, we are not here to ‘add value’, or do what politicians want, Guido has his own values and aims to hit back at political hypocrisy and lies. Politicians make laws, so they should be held to account, to a higher standard,” he wrote.
Ms Blears told the BBC that politicians not giving straight answers could be an issue, but said a “grown up political discourse” could only happen if people were prepared to listen.
She said the political class should not be drawn from a “narrowing social base” but from a range of backgrounds such as business, the armed forces, scientists and teachers.
Read more at news.bbc.co.uk
