The post that went up this afternoon on Martyn's blog shifted its emphasis slightly, well more than slightly from the usual. The subject touched on writing and the relationship between characters but also the current political climate in the UK. Referencing the EU referendum coming up later this month.
I don't intend to go on about it, but the questions raised by Tony Benn reveal an insight into political thinking and history.
Tony Benn was a fascinating character and a part of the political scene in the UK for most of my life. I don't agree with many of the things he said but his five questions give a useful starting point. How many even supposedly democratic governments would come out well?
The divorce between politics and the populace is not a healthy one, people who believe the vote makes no difference and the politicians who accept this as the status quo and operate as though they have a right to govern compound the felony.
A lot of people, myself included, have waited a long time for this particular vote and depending on the result may have to wait a long time for another chance, unless the powers that be decide we gave the wrong answer and they hold another referendum and another and another, until we give them the "Right" answer.
Ireland endured that fate with the referendum for the Treaty of Lisbon, the first vote went against the treaty, so the referendum was repeated and the Treaty was accepted. The significance of the Treaty referendum was that it required a unanimous vote of acceptance in all the member states, whereas the Brexit (who thinks up these ugly terms?) is purely about British integration.
How the British Government reacts to a result it doesn't like could be revealing when Benn's five points are laid against it.
June is going to be an interesting month!
