Sinister: The horror! The Fun!

[zorba at xxx.uk]

Ruvi Simmons said:
> I must say that the idea of voting being an intrinsic expression 
of freedom is
> a complete fallacy. Universal suffrage may once have symbolised 
the zenith
> of liberte, egalite and fraternite, but its meaning has changed. 
Politics
> and politicians have always devoted themselves to representing 
the interests
> of the voting public. It doesn't matter whether those with the 
vote are a
> percentage of 5 or 100. As it is now, the major political parties 
are
> nothing more than a hotch-potch of uninspired demagogues who will 
do
> anything if they think it will gain them votes. They reflect 
complacent,
> smug apathy far more than anything else, and are more responsible 
for
> maintaining the status quo, perpetuating prejudice, than any 
other group of
> people. To vote in an election is to give tacit consent to 
everything they
> stand for, which is anti-ideology, self-interest and 
manipulation. 

i couldn't agree more.  it annoys me when people say, 'but people 
died for you to have the vote!'  NO, they didn't.  people died in 
wars because they were told to go and fight, because they had very 
little choice.  and even if they DID choose to go and fight, surely 
they died for democracy.  and we don't have democracy in this 
country.  is it democracy when the 3 main parties all stand for 
roughly similar things - exploitation of working people through 
capitalism - and the only part of the electorate that either labour 
or the tories aim their policies towards are those who live in 
marginal seats.  and is it democracy when labour wins with a 
landslide with only 25% of the electorate voting for them?

rule your own lives

on to funnnier & happier topics.  i had a great (i REFUSE to say 
grate - why do people do it?) night last night.  me & a group of 
friends had been given a tip off about a private function.  there 
was a fire garden display thingy, with 2 characters dressed up & 
running around like loonies setting fire to things.  then there was 
a huge firework display.  afterwards 3 of us followed the suits 
back into the building & found the room where there had been a posh 
meal & there was still lots of wine all over the tables, so we 
drank a few glasses, grabbed a few bottles, and tried to look 
inconspicuous.  we failed on the last bit, but totally succeeded on 
the other two!  hurray for free wine!

catch you all later, antony

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