tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192922.post5634051655954948760..comments2024-03-26T07:51:43.186+00:00Comments on Mabinogogiblog: Is political blogging just about gossip? If so, where does that leave the Green Party?DocRichardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08903964792092284406noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192922.post-33148048249501703532010-03-05T15:39:19.943+00:002010-03-05T15:39:19.943+00:00"Today's political realities are tomorrow..."Today's political realities are tomorrow's irrelevant dross."<br /><br />To an extent maybe.<br /><br />But you might equally say that today's political realities <b>create tomorrow's</b> political realities; cause leads to effect, which in turn becomes cause ...<br /><br />Today's inaction, as well as counterproductive action, by our generations in dealing with the environmental crisis will leave tomorrow's generations coping with the degradation, for example.Todnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192922.post-86458589493830526782010-03-02T12:59:14.018+00:002010-03-02T12:59:14.018+00:00You're right of course, think globally, act lo...You're right of course, think globally, act locally. My local action used to be within my community, as a GP, but confidentiality forbids any productive gossip from that source. Then I had 6 traumatic years on the District Council, immersed in the detail of local politics. I am kind of immunised against local politics as a result - just cannot get excited about it just now. There is a short circuit in my mind : Local Politics = Tory B*stards. They were just unbelievably rude and boorish. <br /><br />Now, of course, I have stepped down from being a Parliamentary Candidate.<br /><br />So at present I am unable to act locally. Which leaves me with the option of thinking globally, as with GloHRI, Desert Rose, Dealing with Dictators, Middle East Water Project, and Separatist Wars.<br />Which should be enough to keep me going for a bit. <br /><br />All, as you say, outta da loop. Not as important as Westminster's gossip.<br /><br />However, today's dreams are the political realities of tomorrow. Today's political realities are tomorrow's irrelevant dross.DocRichardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08903964792092284406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192922.post-48606478933370158272010-03-02T11:28:23.859+00:002010-03-02T11:28:23.859+00:00With the Westminster village there is definitely a...With the Westminster village there is definitely a problem for the Greens as they do not yet have a foot in the door with an MP there. And there’s no doubt that, for all their spin, Guido and Iain Dale are very far from being "ordinary people" or “simple bloggers”; take a proper look at their bios and it is clear that both have been deeply embedded within a powerful Party, with numerous very intimate and privileged connections at Westminster and in the metropolitan political and business communities that are just not accessible by hoi polloi like you and me.<br /><br />Where Greens and investigative Green bloggers can score is in their local areas by growing links and connections within Parish, Town, District and County Councils, QUANGOs and NGOs as well as Regional bodies. There’s plenty going on here - and this provincial scene has at least as profound an effect as Westminster does on our day to day environment and society. Much local politics is in dire need of greater transparency and having a brighter light shone into dark and dubious corners that local power brokers would often like covered over discreetly.Todnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192922.post-43210783633789331662010-03-01T12:31:04.495+00:002010-03-01T12:31:04.495+00:00How about this? Is this gossip?<a href="http://http://greenerblog.blogspot.com/2010/03/green-candidate-pulls-out-of.html/" rel="nofollow">How about this? Is this gossip?</a>DocRichardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08903964792092284406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192922.post-79723549664084577182010-03-01T11:53:32.325+00:002010-03-01T11:53:32.325+00:00OK, OK, gossip. Did you know John major tucks his ...OK, OK, gossip. Did you know John major tucks his underp...no, that's old hat. Did you know that the Governor of the Falkland Islands (pop 3,000~), over whom we are about to have a war, STILL wears his feathered hat to the parish council meetings? <br /><br />Is that any good?<br /><br />Or could we make something up? How about: Gordon Brown bedded Ann Widdecombe on a one-night stand after a late night sitting?DocRichardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08903964792092284406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192922.post-77908581808391419392010-03-01T11:21:36.266+00:002010-03-01T11:21:36.266+00:00Hi Richard
Sadly, I fear that Tod may be right. Th...Hi Richard<br />Sadly, I fear that Tod may be right. The Greens are perceived as being outta da loop and that's a problem for us. We've got the policies, we've got the people, we just aren't seen as being part of the Westminster Village. I live even further from London (200 miles) but the consequences of the Westminster mindset are apparent even in Yorkshire!KATEnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192922.post-9994496300551327822010-02-27T10:08:43.338+00:002010-02-27T10:08:43.338+00:00Hi Tod, you may be right. However, living as I do ...Hi Tod, you may be right. However, living as I do 150 miles from London, I don't have much chance of picking up any gossip*, and in any case, it's not my personal thing. No small talk. Prefer to argue about the philosophical/ideological issues. I suppose it is horses for courses really.<br /><br />*though I do know something about the Falkland Islands, but unfortunately have to stay schtum to protect my sources.DocRichardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08903964792092284406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192922.post-70482011549838324792010-02-26T15:59:23.134+00:002010-02-26T15:59:23.134+00:00Half a mo Doc. May I be provocative and suggest th...Half a mo Doc. May I be provocative and suggest that Greens could learn a lot about communication from the blogs you mention? <br /><br />I love a good gossip. So do most people - it’s human nature and inseparable from the practise of politics since the Ancient Greeks and doubtless far back to sitting round the cavern campfire. Man is a political animal. By the same token man is also a gossiping animal. Don’t some anthropological theories even hypothesise that language may actually have arisen during intimate contact while grooming and picking lice from our neighbour’s heads?<br /><br />Environmentalists are already seen as being far too boring and earnest. Ideas are important (even exciting for some kinkers) but we need to spice things up a bit if we are going to communicate with a wider group of people. <br /><br />More sexy, more fun, all eco-friendly stuff!Todnoreply@blogger.com