I think those idiots are right: politics has got pretty boring!

I have been actively involved in politics since the age of 15 – as a young activist, party agent, branch chairman, councillor and parliamentary candidate. Now while some would say I should have got a life instead, my response has always been that politics was exciting, ever-changing and really important. And if I’m not involved, I have no say.

But now politics has got boring. And here’s why:

* The banal is more important than the profound
* Thoughtful debate is replaced by positioning
* Increased use of nastiness & character assassination
* We have little say in big decisions
* The lie is now endemic
* Politicians are more interested in process than product

….these all should concern us. However the biggest reason is:

Ordinary people are not involved in politics, in the process of government, in the selection of candidates and in the operation of political parties. They’ve known it’s boring for years – that’s why they prefer watching the telly, going to football, having two weeks on a Greek island, taking the kids to the park, stamp collecting and watch DVDs at home – almost anything but getting involved in politics.

And there’s more. These ordinary folk think politics is stupid, that politicians are self-serving liars and that they takes loads of money off them and gives almost nothing in return. These ordinary folk find the spectacle of politics on telly a turn-off and generally think there’s too much of it and not enough good government. As I said before such folk might be idiots but they’re good idiots – and, on this occasion right.