More cognitive polyphasia

Jun 5th, 2009

Responding to the Guardian’s reader-survey about reshaping our democratic settlement, David Blunkett offers a good illustration of the cognitive polyphasia that colours so much public debate of these issues:

With one breath we say we want less legislation and more active politics based on a participative political activism and decentralisation; and in the next breath we call for more legislation, for parliament to sit throughout the summer, and by dint a further disconnect of those who, in the hothouse of Westminster, become more detached from the communities they represent.

We want electoral reform, but then we want to ensure that MPs are properly connected to a constituency somewhere outside London – which, of course, means a defined, single-member community that they can represent and who can hold them to account.

In other words, we are full of contradictions. We want someone else to be responsible. We want to give power to the members of the Westminster parties. Or do we? Is it not the “people” we want to empower?

We want it every which way. We want someone else to blame, someone else to shoulder the contradictions and, of course, when we get a new leader (and therefore a new prime minister), what do we want? We want them out.

“With one breath we say we want less legislation and more active politics based on a participative political activism and decentralisation; and in the next breath we call for more legislation, for parliament to sit throughout the summer, and by dint a further disconnect of those who, in the hothouse of Westminster, become more detached from the communities they represent.

We want electoral reform, but then we want to ensure that MPs are properly connected to a constituency somewhere outside London – which, of course, means a defined, single-member community that they can represent and who can hold them to account.

In other words, we are full of contradictions. We want someone else to be responsible. We want to give power to the members of the Westminster parties. Or do we? Is it not the “people” we want to empower?

We want it every which way. We want someone else to blame, someone else to shoulder the contradictions and, of course, when we get a new leader (and therefore a new prime minister), what do we want? We want them out.”

If there is one good thing that could come out of the current crisis in confidence surrounding politics, it would be a greater understanding of the causes of political centralisation.

Sadly, I can’t see it being the major theme myself….

(other polyphasia-related posts here)