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Question

Tryphena Absent

15:35 / 07.05.02

If this has already been talked about then I'd appreciate someones direction to the post because I've been in hiding recently...

Now here's one question I'd like to ask because I am a little bit disturbed by voters at the moment. I've noticed the media are trying to claim that the BNP and Le Pen are becomeing prominent because of voter apathy. Personally I'd have to disagree because apathy is something that seems to have been around for the last hundred years, only when a big issue comes up do you get a really big voter turnout, so what is going on? In France Le Pen got - what - 30% of the vote I believe. The BNP just got two seats in this country which is one of the most politically repulsive things I've heard recently (in the UK). While I feel that there's no real danger of these parties getting in to power because when the left wingers mobilise they do it... I just want to know what the hell is with this right wing glory thing that's going on? So what's your thought on this...

We're The Great Old Ones Now

16:12 / 07.05.02

I suppose the idea is that if moderates can't be bothered to vote (either through disenchantment or complacency), those who hold strong beliefs will naturally win. In which case, of course, it's time to stand a few radical/revolutionary candidates of our own and take advantage.

16:40 / 07.05.02

I was reading Hannah Arendt's book The Origins of Totalitarianism until the library recalled it (bastards!) but she talks about how a feature of totalitarian movements is that they gain the support of populations who can't be arsed to vote, etc. For her, then, it's not precisely about "apathy", it's about the way that totalitarian leaders position themselves as legitimized by or intervening in huge, huge issues of national identity/pride/destiny, rather than on specific, more traditionally "political" issues. Hence people who do not feel they are represented by any of the political parties become part of totalitarian movements, and incidentally reveal that democracies can (and often do) function without the participation of the majority of citizens.

Anyone who knows more about this than me please jump in, I'm floundering a bit without my book.

Tryphena Absent

13:58 / 08.05.02

Sounds interesting- might have to be my big summer read. Hey here's another question - where's my big left wing party huh? How come all these fuckers get the BNP and I get to vote for labour or the lib dems? It's so screwed up

gozer the destructor

14:01 / 08.05.02

Socialist Alliance?

Our Lady of The Two Towers

17:24 / 08.05.02

I'm thinking in very loose terms and may change my mind later, but on the Right Wing the fault for your Shitty Life is always 'Their fault@, whether they are immigrants, the current government, the Illuminati, the Bilderburgers and so on. As you go left wing, then the people are telling you more that it's your fault for the way things are. And that's something no-one wants to hear (until you get extreme left-wing, when it's 'their' fault again).

The rants of the Right Wing tie in with the "it's not my fault!" culture we have today.