Reflections from the office :)

Power and Politics: in Medsin?

I was not surprised on reading this morning's Guardian how hopeless I took our political system in the UK to still be. Any system of leaders that expects or assumes some 'royal' recompense for endless frivolities, for what can only be described as the fruits of its woeful labours, is horribly corrupt and worse, deeply damaging in the face of its voters.


I wonder though, is there an inevitable slide to despotism and deal-making which power seems to so regularly achieve? Tony Benn once famously said he was "leaving parliament to spend more time on politics". Do power structures inevitable tend to corruption, and how can we avoid such a calamitous future for our own purportedly grassroots movement?


Whatever solutions we choose - and accountability, transparency, and the dissolution of absolute power itself are without a doubt justifiable methods transferring agency and empowering our own members - we must use all the fantastic tools we know we could use if we are willing to rise to the challenge. We really do need to prove that our legimitacy derives not only from the fact that our vision is positive or ambitious, but that we will not, and refuse to accept the methods or corrupt tactics our leaders choose when it comes to representation and financial transparency.

Isn't reflecting fun :)

Jonny