Do you ever wonder why, to get what almost everyone wants, you have to fight almost everyone in power? Well, here's part of the answer: our politics do not belong only to us. Offshore oligarchs have been allowed to capture them. This week's column explains how. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Our system is full of loopholes and vulnerable to millionaires’ and plutocrats’ demands, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot
Totally agree, but a lot more is needed to turn UK back into a democracy. Barely anyone mentions some type of aptitude test - are those standing for public office capable of/understand the job? Should be done before they're allowed to stand. Bristol Green Party are doing so, but should be mandatory
Naturally all these loopholes exist, because most politicians are prostitutes, who are willing to open a money pipe towards every sufficiently rich pimp.
Yup This is true for NZ, too. If want democracy we must stop the bribery.
You can say this until you are blue in the face. As always, when the beneficiary controls the rules for the money, they resist any controls.
In Ireland any party w at least 2% of the vote in general elections gets state funding. Both personal and corporate donations & limited to a low sum and must be declared. System was introduced after a scandal which was very small beer by English standards. It has cleaned up Irish politics
If you are interested in our politicians' actions instead of their words. I have made a website that compares their voting record to a users' answers on the same votes via a questionnaire. User to user can also be done. Try as guest login, Website is www.rtribes.co.ukwww.rtribes.co.uk/about