Sunday, July 3, 2016

Hope and Mirrors

Reading ' The Ugly Renaissance ' by Alexander Lee I came to the following passage which seemed to highlight present political climate, especially the vote in the UK to leave the European Union.

"Reform was inevitable. In 1382 a more overtly 'popular' regime was instituted that would lay the foundations for the political world familiar to Michelangelo. The guilds were removed from the picture, eligibility for political office was widened dramatically, scrutinies were handled by a centralised body, and a conscious effort to cultivate a 'civic' spirit emerged. In the decades that followed , parlamenti - large, public gatherings of the whole citizen body - were occasionally summoned to make major political decisions, and the Consiglio Maggiore was eventually established as an alternative to the smaller, more restricted councils that had gone before. The 'people' [ if one can speak in such terms ] seemed finally to be in the saddle.
But it was all a game of smoke and mirrors. Far from being designed to broaden participation in a truly 'republican' government, the reforms of 1382 were intended merely to secure the interests of the same narrow, mercantile elites and to limit the incidence of unrest by creating a framework for the formation of consensus and by giving out the illusion of popular consent. The same , small group of exceptionally rich individuals continued to dominate the course of Florentine politics - although seldom in public view - while the poor and the unskilled remained on the very fringes of the political process."

The next is from Aneurin Bevan:
" The whole art of Conservative politics in the 20th century is being deployed to enable wealth to persuade poverty to use its political freedom to keep wealth in power. "


Guiseppe Lorenzo Getteri - 'The tumult of the Ciompi'

I wonder if over the next few weeks , before the new PM can sign Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, that the media will persuade the public that the UK should not leave, which may or may not be a good idea. The point will be that the votes cast don't count if the MSM and their political actors don't wish them to, but it will look like the people have decided that that is what they want.

11 comments:

john said...

I've had similar thought here. The debate was largely hijacked by the subject of immigration. Neither side brought up TTIP. People who voted to leave have been portrayed as ignorant racists. It has been a divisive process. I was surprised by the result as I thought that it might have been manipulated if the leave side got close to winning. I think the future uncertain whatever the outcome. Banks in Europe seem very unstable.

john said...

Banks go down, financial turmoil blamed on uncertainty caused by brexit vote. "Due to the recent global financial situation, we feel, as a government, that we must all pull together and temporarily suspend the implementation of article 50 blah" Banks get bailed in/out and it all gets blamed on ignorant racist working class. Sort of thing.

aferrismoon said...

Hi John, also Fracking I noticed didn't get a look in, with the govt. completely dismissing protests and allowing fracking in national parks. It seemed a wholly emotive campaign and it did seem to be centred around immigration/racism - of course no talk about why there are 1000s of immigrants in Europe - War!
The Cameron , The Johnson and The Farage characters have all done a disappearing act, it is the summer hols though.
Also Roy Hodgson timed his resignation at around the same time, compounding the sense of 'failure' in the public mind but then a sense of exhilaration when Wales beat Belgium [ home of the EU].
cheers

john said...

Yes, no mention of fracking and no mention of war as the reason for such mass migration. Important subjects that should have been included in a proper debate, many things went unmentioned. I think Boris is probably hoping for a comeback as PM in a few years when the dust may have settled. The Welsh team lifted spirits across the UK and showed the English team as the overpayed useless lot they are when it comes to international matches.

little dynamo said...

A very soothing photo, AF. Easy on blue eyes. cheers

aferrismoon said...

HI Ray

Meandering past a beach on the north coast of the Isle of Wight somewhere in downtown Seaville.
I clicked but I didn't cluck!
All the best to you,
cheers

A13 said...

Dear Fez hoping you and yours are all good amongst the craziness weirdness this world is presenting with xx I'm about to delete meaningless blog and I have saved your email address from the comment you left ages ago. Peace love and prosperity to you in these increasingly uncertain times xx I will email soonish. Cheers A

Flossy said...

I love your intelligent blog.......did you know that Aneura Bevin had a retreat cottage in Avebury, which I just think is magical.

little dynamo said...

Three years plus, AF, and Merry Olde still ain't out. Looks like the PTB will keep holding 'elections' until the desired result manifests. Tidy.

Why, it's almost as if you knew what you were talking about.

Cheers.

aferrismoon said...

Hi Ray,

You can rely on one thing: making a decision about something highly divisive is going to lead roght on to ever more divisiveness.
Everybody against everybody else , for ever. The Football hasn't been affected , thankfully!

I guess the currency speculators and hedge-funders are having a good spell at the trough.

breXit and eXtinkshum rebellion - it's nearly always, almost the end these days.

Great to hear yo,

Cheers

little dynamo said...

Indeed, it is always almost the end, until it isn't any more. BTW I am a robot, even though I checked your box attesting I am not.

Here's one I came across recently, reminded me of your tack. No, not TACKY. :O)



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MzUBfIOUIM&list=PLOtKxMklQeXZunUFqsttIGmgR6nA0Hvtm&index=5