tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13935904.post114264345142197632..comments2024-02-04T09:15:50.839+00:00Comments on Mars Hill: Labour and Sleaze!Paul Burginhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06718135185726733792noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13935904.post-1143058121986302122006-03-22T20:08:00.000+00:002006-03-22T20:08:00.000+00:00Oh Louisa I would never point the finger at you ;)...Oh Louisa I would never point the finger at you ;)<BR/>I would sharply disagree, tease, even make fun perhaps, but no finger pointing :-)<BR/>I was referring to the onslaught of attacks by the Tory media.<BR/>David I agree to an extent, although funding by mass membership happens already and that does not add up to much when you are a party aiming for power, esp if you are aiming to be more of a broad church.Paul Burginhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06718135185726733792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13935904.post-1142970152112543712006-03-21T19:42:00.000+00:002006-03-21T19:42:00.000+00:00"So of course it's a pity that many are quick to c..."So of course it's a pity that many are quick to condemn the Labour Party without suggesting practical solutions."<BR/><BR/>Absolutely. But if you're pointing the finger at me, I don't think I know enough, nor can know enough, to make any solutions. I just think it's better to do self-analysis than say let's just move on or, for that matter, say someone else should find a solution.Louisa Willoughbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00278736396532455262noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13935904.post-1142888638962970122006-03-20T21:03:00.000+00:002006-03-20T21:03:00.000+00:00The problem is, state funding could only address t...The problem is, state funding could only address the issue of sleaze if all other donations were banned. Otherwise, it would amount to little more than a handy little top-up.<BR/><BR/>But party members and supporters should have the right to put their money where their mouth is. So should trade unions, if their memberships mandate them to do so.<BR/><BR/> And - let's be consistent here - businesses should be allowed to make political donations too, provided they ballot their shareholders on the question.<BR/><BR/>State funding would in practice be tantamount to state licensing of political parties, based on past electoral performance. Legitimate newcomers would be severely disadvantaged.<BR/><BR/>Worst of all, state funding offends against basic democratic principles. Political parties are voluntary organisations. If people want to support them, they do. If they don't want to, they don't.<BR/><BR/>This is how it should be. There can be no justification for forcing taxpayers to pay for parties they are at best indifferent towards, and at worst heartily despise.<BR/><BR/>My solution? A democratic socialist party with an enthusiastic mass membership and labour movement affiliations could raise all the money it needed from it committed backers.<BR/><BR/>If New Labour had a million members - and that was Blair's stated aim ten years ago - it wouldn't be forced cadge questionable loans off ex-Tory businessmen desperate to don ermine.<BR/><BR/>But perhaps the most damning point that can be made about the Patel-Townsley-Garrard affair is Blairism's endemic fingers in the till behaviour has lost the power to shock anymore. That surely must be bad news for democracy.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13935904.post-1142853178689773152006-03-20T11:12:00.000+00:002006-03-20T11:12:00.000+00:00Definately, it's really important to pray for gove...Definately, it's really important to pray for governments. But are you also implying that you will be praying for the Conservative, Lib Dem, and other parties, given that they represent the majority of the British public, and given that their role as opposition is increasingly important? ;)<BR/>----------------------------------<BR/>Of course I will ;). This issue is too important.<BR/>--------------------------------<BR/>I do think that while we need to just get on with government, and pray for people, sometimes there are problems deep within that need to be solved. It's sometimes just not good enough to say, just pray for us. In this situation, I don't know enough to judge, but I would say that some self-analysis is needed. <BR/>----------------------------<BR/>So of course it's a pity that many are quick to condemn the Labour Party without suggesting practical solutionsPaul Burginhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06718135185726733792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13935904.post-1142807949069263992006-03-19T22:39:00.000+00:002006-03-19T22:39:00.000+00:00Definately, it's really important to pray for gove...Definately, it's really important to pray for governments. But are you also implying that you will be praying for the Conservative, Lib Dem, and other parties, given that they represent the majority of the British public, and given that their role as opposition is increasingly important? ;)<BR/><BR/>With regards party funding, I'm not sure what I think. I was reading something in the New Statesman today about a 'voucher' system, whereby when someone votes they can choose a party for the state to donate £3 to. Because with the mass donations going on, it is always the richer parties that get the most money, and that's not fair, nor is it incredibly representative. Though obviously safeguards need to be in place for parties like the BNP.<BR/><BR/>I do think that while we need to just get on with government, and pray for people, sometimes there are problems deep within that need to be solved. It's sometimes just not good enough to say, just pray for us. In this situation, I don't know enough to judge, but I would say that some self-analysis is needed.Louisa Willoughbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00278736396532455262noreply@blogger.com