Apathy is behind ‘no name’ figures (From Bournemouth Echo)
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Apathy is behind ‘no name’ figures
10:30am Wednesday 27th February 2013 in Opinion
ON the face of it, there’s little in the way of surprise most people can’t put a face to the name of the Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner, Martyn Underhill.
Or indeed that they don’t know what he does for his £70,000 paycheck.
The Electoral Reform Society, in a damning, though again not surprising, verdict on the elections last November said the voters and the candidates had been failed. Look a little deeper and you will find that Mr Underhill is not alone in lacking public profile.
If you conducted a survey in the street, the vast majority of respondents wouldn’t be able to name one of their numerous MEPs or what they do.
Or indeed explain how local health services are radically changing next month. Political apathy is widespread and growing.
That’s in large part the fault of politicians for many obvious reasons. But we are to blame as well. We get the representation we deserve.
Comments(6)
s-pb2
says...
12:03pm Wed 27 Feb 13
rayc wrote:I completely disagree with you. We have got the representation we deserve. Its because of voter apathy that we have ended up with as you put it the 'elitist cliche'. Its because the public have little interest in politics that we have ended up with these career politicians and not with men and women with passion and verve. If people did take an interest in politics rather than celebrity culture then things would change, but the British public consider karaoke competitions or celebrity ballroom dancing as far more important.
We do not get the representation we deserve. What has happened is that the public have realised that no matter what they do it will make no difference to those in power. Labour, Conservative, Lib-Dem are run by the same elitist cliche as in the past. The days of non public school leaders such as Margaret Thatcher and Harold Wilson are over.
The Dorset Police Authority and Mr Underhill are no different. You could have a thousand surveys regarding the priorities that residents of Dorset want from the Police but it will make absolutely no difference. They will concentrate on what the ACPO and the Home Office tell them to.
rayc
says...
12:07pm Wed 27 Feb 13
s-pb2 wrote:I completely disagree with you.
rayc wrote:I completely disagree with you. We have got the representation we deserve. Its because of voter apathy that we have ended up with as you put it the 'elitist cliche'. Its because the public have little interest in politics that we have ended up with these career politicians and not with men and women with passion and verve. If people did take an interest in politics rather than celebrity culture then things would change, but the British public consider karaoke competitions or celebrity ballroom dancing as far more important.
We do not get the representation we deserve. What has happened is that the public have realised that no matter what they do it will make no difference to those in power. Labour, Conservative, Lib-Dem are run by the same elitist cliche as in the past. The days of non public school leaders such as Margaret Thatcher and Harold Wilson are over.
The Dorset Police Authority and Mr Underhill are no different. You could have a thousand surveys regarding the priorities that residents of Dorset want from the Police but it will make absolutely no difference. They will concentrate on what the ACPO and the Home Office tell them to.
As is your right. good luck with your attempts to change the policies for the better.
Derf
says...
12:20pm Wed 27 Feb 13
Could the editor have a word with the journalist over from the States on an exchange visit and tell him / her we speak English over here.
dorsetred
says...
12:32pm Wed 27 Feb 13
Language used by some young people to describe their current situation also their future prospects, would have ensured automatic ejection from these premises not so long ago, now it is understood.
rayc
says...
1:50pm Wed 27 Feb 13
dorsetred wrote:I was going to write a detailed response of why s-pb2 was wrong but in the end couldn't be bothered. A bit apathetic I suppose.
s-pb2 You are so wrong, they are all the same under different labels to suggest we have a choice, we DO NOT & never have.
Language used by some young people to describe their current situation also their future prospects, would have ensured automatic ejection from these premises not so long ago, now it is understood.
rayc says...
11:24am Wed 27 Feb 13
The Dorset Police Authority and Mr Underhill are no different. You could have a thousand surveys regarding the priorities that residents of Dorset want from the Police but it will make absolutely no difference. They will concentrate on what the ACPO and the Home Office tell them to.