I was just saying to a friend the other day, I remember a time when no one really talked politics. You were never entirely sure which way your neighbour voted. Now, I have ‘friends’ demanding I join a particular party cos that’s what they’ve been told to do on social media. Just shut up. I agree about the Starmer paragraph too. Not dramatic or funny enough though so off he goes. How he is less popular than Boris Johnson?! There’s just too much opinion on everything nowadays, it’s just too much. Brill essay Lewis.
Thank you Lynn. It just does my head in how everything has to be a drama. Sam Coates on Sky was live tweeting about Mike Tapp yesterday. Sorry, but who the fuck is Mike Tapp? No one cares. Do some proper work, Sam, stop trying to force controversy.
Thank you Jane! I've advocated shutting off social media for ages. We will never be able to bin it completely as a society, but we do need to reset the algorithms' hold over us all. Never going to happen, but it really should.
There are no simple answers - in Australia we picked up some of these suggestions years ago - and it hasn’t changed a thing. Different maze, same rats that learn super fast to play the system. I do agree that politics is not entertainment, but I would go much wider - news is not entertainment and should not be cast as such. In a world where we sit by and gawk at writers who make livings by habitually killing without compassion the fictive innocent, should we expect better?
Hard agree on the news - rolling news was definitely a big step on the road to where we are now. Can't exactly get the toothpaste back in the tube though, can we? Hence every few months I have to do something like this to make me feel better.
By trade I am a constitutional lawyer - with one written constitution, an operational non anthropomorphic crown, and a codification of the civil law in my resume. When I am reminded of leaking toothpaste, as I often am, I pick up my flamethrower. Nothing is impossible. Never surrender :)
"voting shall be mandatory. But, there’s a catch: an option for ‘none of the above’ will be on the ballot. If NOTA wins then it’s instant coalition time, "
OH HELL YES! Thought this for ages, mandatory voting but with a none of the above option.
One I would like to add is manifesto commitments are to be legally binding. A newly elected party has 100 days to enact its manifesto or instant new general election. It'll make them start making realistic promises.....
Citizen Smith - The Tooting Popular Front led by Wolfie Smith was Saturday tea time viewing for me (repeats on ITV, I think) before going out to party LOL I loved Hilda Braid - she used to call him Foxy :o)
I was just saying to a friend the other day, I remember a time when no one really talked politics. You were never entirely sure which way your neighbour voted. Now, I have ‘friends’ demanding I join a particular party cos that’s what they’ve been told to do on social media. Just shut up. I agree about the Starmer paragraph too. Not dramatic or funny enough though so off he goes. How he is less popular than Boris Johnson?! There’s just too much opinion on everything nowadays, it’s just too much. Brill essay Lewis.
Thank you Lynn. It just does my head in how everything has to be a drama. Sam Coates on Sky was live tweeting about Mike Tapp yesterday. Sorry, but who the fuck is Mike Tapp? No one cares. Do some proper work, Sam, stop trying to force controversy.
“Power to the people” hehe. Love the pic. Good post Lewis.
I love the arbitrary three day social media reset idea. Excellent post!
Thank you Jane! I've advocated shutting off social media for ages. We will never be able to bin it completely as a society, but we do need to reset the algorithms' hold over us all. Never going to happen, but it really should.
Lewis, can I vote for you as Optimus Prime of the world?
Excellent piece. The Muse was right. Not that I had any doubt.
Thanks so much Alex, glad you liked it. But I’m not sure I’m cut out for that role. Strong Ultra Magnus vibes.
There are no simple answers - in Australia we picked up some of these suggestions years ago - and it hasn’t changed a thing. Different maze, same rats that learn super fast to play the system. I do agree that politics is not entertainment, but I would go much wider - news is not entertainment and should not be cast as such. In a world where we sit by and gawk at writers who make livings by habitually killing without compassion the fictive innocent, should we expect better?
Hard agree on the news - rolling news was definitely a big step on the road to where we are now. Can't exactly get the toothpaste back in the tube though, can we? Hence every few months I have to do something like this to make me feel better.
By trade I am a constitutional lawyer - with one written constitution, an operational non anthropomorphic crown, and a codification of the civil law in my resume. When I am reminded of leaking toothpaste, as I often am, I pick up my flamethrower. Nothing is impossible. Never surrender :)
"voting shall be mandatory. But, there’s a catch: an option for ‘none of the above’ will be on the ballot. If NOTA wins then it’s instant coalition time, "
OH HELL YES! Thought this for ages, mandatory voting but with a none of the above option.
One I would like to add is manifesto commitments are to be legally binding. A newly elected party has 100 days to enact its manifesto or instant new general election. It'll make them start making realistic promises.....
Yep, I like it. Congratulations Mark, you just joined the revolution.
Lewis as Wolfy. It’s a good look on you. I enjoyed this. We’ve got to keep hoping.
Thanks Margaret, glad you liked it. We do have to keep going, right? Plodding ever forward.
Can I just say, brilliant picture by the way :o)
*Power to the People!
Thank you, I'm a great digital artist, right? Citizen Smith is actually before my time, but it definitely resonated into the 80s/90s.
Citizen Smith - The Tooting Popular Front led by Wolfie Smith was Saturday tea time viewing for me (repeats on ITV, I think) before going out to party LOL I loved Hilda Braid - she used to call him Foxy :o)
Wasn't the joke that only his girlfriend called him Wolfie?
It was 49 years ago - I honestly can't remember LOL I just remember Hilda Braid calling him Foxy :o)
It was BBC not ITV and sadly the Beeb has blocked all Youtube videos but I found this:
GB
CITIZEN SMITH (1977) After 49 Years, They have tragic lives in 2026
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLav8u_n1Xs