Monday 13 October 2014

There is no new politics...

Politics is a deeply unpleasant business. I know this because politics, in all its forms, has been a big part of my life for approaching 40 years. We're told, mostly as another knife is slid into the ribcage of the chosen political victim, that it's all about policies, about representing the people and about changing things for the better. And we're also told, in that shouting manner beloved of demagogues everywhere, that there's a 'new politics' afoot. A politics that is more engaged, embraces the white heat of modern technology and makes use of those exciting social networks that the web has brought us.

The wonders of these technologies and networks will be turned to the good of mankind, a new golden age of popular politics will be born, the old nasty politics will wither as smiling happy millions throng to embrace the new politics. Instead of fitting up our political enemies, leaping onto their mistakes or foibles or laughing at the way they look, we will get a world of debate, challenge and engagement changing everything for the good. Such is the promise glimpsed through Douglas Carswell's rose-tinted Google glasses.

It is, my friends, utter and complete crap. There is no new politics, only the old politics conducted using the technologies and networks afforded us by the Internet. And that politics features the same unpleasant and nasty traits as the old politics - Carswell's new mates will form up a Twitter mob to hound some poor sap just as enthusiastically as did the supporters of the old politics. The idea that UKIP represents some sort of perfected political party free from the failings of past parties is utterly deranged.

As I've seen in the past few days - on-line and off-line - the new politics UKIP lays claim too is a fiction. Just as with the old politics they prefer to destroy a man for a mistake, to make up lies about someone for political advantage and to work behind the scenes with other parties to prosecute that ad hominem. And to choose the most painful moment when their target is weakest to present their attack.

Just as with the old politics, if the proponents of new politics get their man, they will celebrate, chalk it up as a big win thinking nothing of the pain their act has caused. They'll go the pub after the meeting smiling broadly, slapping supposed political opponents on the back as they cheer the destruction of a good man. The new politics is a lie. There is no new politics...

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1 comment:

SadButMadLad said...

There might not be new politics, but there is a new environment for politicians.

"We live in an age of peer-to-peer communication, in which a lie or a bluff can be exposed as such on the internet within minutes. Deference is gone, institutions are tottering, people have choice and empowerment in most areas of their lives. No one believes in magic or magicians any more."

https://medium.com/@chrisdeerin/what-if-the-guild-has-had-its-day-3c46aae60ab7

When the internet and cheap smart phones allows everyone to report the news, effectively making everyone a journalist, the internet also allows everyone to be involved in politics and to be a politician.