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Politics
Original poster

Has political apathy eroded our freedoms?

32 replies

mam29 · 14/09/2013 14:46

Been giving this some serious thought recently.

I know lots people feel disconnected with politics that they all same.

But i have interest in politics, not sure who i support next election.

Im well educated read papers, watch variety of news

daily politics, this week, question time.

mostly buy the independent as the media bias annoys me.

but 2 bills have been passed that I diden't agree with

no right of appeal until 2 years employment

school holidays 10 days discretion.

seems not until its passed and live do people get wound up,

its too late now

I am strongly against increasing ratio preschool, ranking 5 and 11 year olds and new childcare policy but feel bit powerless.

how did these slip through and no one notice?

makes me wonder what else they done or doing that never gets highlighted until too late.

The media only highlight what they want to often with mistakes or bias.

OP posts:
Original poster
mam29 · 18/09/2013 12:35

I guess does not help they all chasing centre ground.

hard to see differences between them.

I enjoy politics, take interest in it, but feel bit disenfranchised at same time I make the effort.

Lots of policies I dont agree with but feel powerless to stop it.

seems we miss stuff it goes through.

Or theirs lots of noise ie childcare vouchers but makes no difference and gets passed anyway.

Im SAHM so not in a union.
I voluntreer so guess i fit big soceity which long been forgotton.

Im really not keen on labour.
normally right leaning but dont agree with so much done so far,
it facts its pushing me more left thinking but not to labour.
Im not sure which party right now represents me.

Unless its mainstream can small parties influence policy?

I wish things would change that they would be bold and brave.

But no one ever will.

I am not sure britsh media helps

that rich peoples fund the blues

that unions brought a labour leader of their choice.

both feel dirty.

I think most people want some fairness anc ommon sense.

yes the countrys in mess but are we fixing it feels like we getting increasingly divided and no one knows who to vote for?

OP posts:
ElizabetaLuknichnaTomanovskaya · 17/09/2013 20:50

I think one of the reasons we see the major parties moving to take up the same ground is because of the stage at which we find ourselves in terms of global capital. Although the government is separate to the state and the institutions of the state, and our elected politicians should represent us, they actually represent their own interests and they see a way of extending their own interests through the state. The state apparatus of law and security, national security and its role of ensuring national competitiveness both serves their interests and they serve it. This means that we citizens are out of the loop, no one represents our interests.

Neo-liberalism as ideology and as economic process is about both regulation in favour of global capitalism but de-regulation too which effects the autonomy of nations states. I think this is fundamental to understanding the real reason all mainstream political parties are paralysed.

ttosca · 17/09/2013 18:29

You're spot on Elizabeta.

You're right, it's not politics per se that people are apathetic about, it's mainstream political parties and the political system itself. Whilst the percentage of the population who vote continues to decline inexorably, the number of people who engage in other form of political and social activism - whether it's joining a union, NGO, charity, or taking to the streets has never been greater.

The problem is, as your point out, the mainstream parties have become anti-political. They are no longer fighting over ideology or even values, they have all become competing parties for managerial Capitalism.

ElizabetaLuknichnaTomanovskaya · 17/09/2013 10:45

I think you make some very valid points but I'm not certain that people are completely disinterested in politics but there is a disengagement from mainstream politics. The upshot of this though may in fact have a silver lining, people are moving either left or right of the major three parties. Politics doesn't work and serves no useful purpose unless there is something to be contested. If all parties agree and keep the middle ground then they are no longer political.

ttosca · 17/09/2013 00:04

It's class war and the erosion of rights wont stop until people fight back.

Original poster
mam29 · 14/09/2013 15:17

Not sure only heard about it recently ad sadly due to hubbys bad work situation this has become relevent to us thankfully he started 6d ays before law changed so he has right of appeal.

I also read about tribunual ,cost .increased and no legal aid.

loads about zero hours in news which has been going on for years
even when i was in uni some time ago.

It seems the employer has all the rights and employees rights diminsihed

Im no socialist not even a union member.

But just seems disturbing pattern of things blowing up.

most recent the school holidays fiasco I only knew about this as last term I asked for holiday request form and reception told me.

we took 1 discretionary last year to go lego land we cant afford a holiday term time or non term time.

Then i started to talk to real life mums and people i knew say you heard about this?

nope.

But was too late law was passed then media blew it up, mumsnet and face book people moaning they dident know they would have opposed it.

vaguely remember listening to queens speech major things get detail other stuff does not.

It worries me what else I miss others miss as feel so disconnected and powerless.

Where will it end?

I cant think of many things we heard about , fought against and not gone ahead.

Apart from maybe that coutry side bill and caroline speldman.

nothing that matters seems to have been contested and won

tax cuts for rich
universil child benefit but not touch pensioners
bedroom subsidy-oaps except from under occupation.
feel increasingly frustrated myself.

Underhand by who?

OP posts:
VerySmallSqueak · 14/09/2013 14:52

I was amazed that no one seemed to notice that you now need to be in your employment for 2 years before you get your employment rights. It is a massive massive erosion of rights,and I expect I only knew because I am a paid up union member who actually reads the magazine I get.

Is it political apathy though or something more underhand?

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