• Privacy policy
  • T&C’s
  • About Us
    • FAQ
    • Meet the Team
  • Contact us
TLE ONLINE SHOP!
  • TLE
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Opinion
  • Elevenses
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • Film
    • Lifestyle
      • Horoscopes
    • Lottery Results
      • Lotto
      • Thunderball
      • Set For Life
      • EuroMillions
  • Food
    • All Food
    • Recipes
  • Property
  • Travel
  • Tech/Auto
  • JOBS
No Result
View All Result
The London Economic
SUPPORT THE LONDON ECONOMIC
NEWSLETTER
  • TLE
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Opinion
  • Elevenses
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • Film
    • Lifestyle
      • Horoscopes
    • Lottery Results
      • Lotto
      • Thunderball
      • Set For Life
      • EuroMillions
  • Food
    • All Food
    • Recipes
  • Property
  • Travel
  • Tech/Auto
  • JOBS
No Result
View All Result
The London Economic
No Result
View All Result
Home Politics

Waiting for the Great Leap Forward

By Pieter Cranenbroek – International Politics Blogger Music has always been a stage used to criticise the political order, but in the past week Morrissey and Billy Bragg both decided to air their grievances on politics and society off stage. Both singers stressed the problem with the lack of accountability in modern society, though they portrayed […]

Joe Mellor by Joe Mellor
2013-11-29 16:45
in Politics
FacebookTwitterLinkedinEmailWhatsapp

By Pieter Cranenbroek – International Politics Blogger

The London Economic

Music has always been a stage used to criticise the political order, but in the past week Morrissey and Billy Bragg both decided to air their grievances on politics and society off stage.

Both singers stressed the problem with the lack of accountability in modern society, though they portrayed different views on how such a thing might be rectified. It is refreshing to have entertainers speak out about politics, partly because they can speak their minds without carefully watching their words for fear of deviating from the party line, but most of all because they seem to make more sense than most politicians.
Without the support of their bands, Morrissey and Billy Bragg commented on recent events last week; the former through a statement entitled ‘The world won’t listen’, the latter via a lengthy interview with Euractiv. It is a welcome change of pace, especially if you consider how horrific it is to hear politicians speak about music.

Ed Milliband opening up about his favourite songs confirmed that there are still people without any affinity for music whereas David Cameron’s pathetic attempts to identify with the younger generation are toe curling. Cameron’s revelations caused him to be banned from former Housemartins frontman Paul Heaton’s pub while Thom Yorke threatened to “sue the living shit out of him” if he ever were to use one of his songs.

It doesn’t help Cameron’s credibility to say he likes The Smiths one day and claim the next day that children from poorer backgrounds lack ambition. It would mean he is either incapable of understanding the lyrics and the sentiment of Morrissey and Marr’s songs or he is a liar. Take your pick.
The Queen is dead, boys

Musicians speaking about politics make for a good read. Morrissey’s concerns primarily centre around animal rights and the inviolability of the royals. It is certainly peculiar that in this day and age there is still a place for the Royal Family. The monarchy has outlived its purpose if it ever had one; one of the last traditions that supports the idea that people are not born equal.

RelatedPosts

Dara Ó Briain perfectly sums up Brexit as he takes aim at rightwing critics

Brits in Portugal stuck in ‘post-Brexit limbo’ with no access to healthcare and restricted freedom of movement

Sunak comments dubbed ‘weird’ and ‘dumb’ by Zac Goldsmith

‘Simply stupid’ to describe HGV plan as ‘Brexit bonus’

Nevertheless, criticising the royals appears to be impossible without being branded an ‘anti-royal extremist’. Even in our democratic society, it does not seem possible to hold the royals accountable to anything. There are no platforms to demand their retirement, no possibility to “effect change without being tear-gassed.”

Animal rights are also still lagging behind. Sentences for crimes against animals are a mockery compared to the ones against humans. The fact that Melissa Bachman is able to shoot wild animals and share pictures of her triumphantly standing over the carcass is just as repulsive as if she were standing over the remains of a human being and yet she cannot be held accountable for her crimes.

Lack of accountability is also often heard in debates about the EU. Generally supporting European integration, calling it a “rational response to globalisation”, Bragg would like to see a bigger role for the European Parliament and shift power from governments to the people: “The levers of power are really in the hands of the Council of Ministers and I think the people need to be in control, rather than the governments of nations.”

Bragg goes on to say that the British first need to address their own democratic deficit, arguing that the majority of people in England do not get proportionate votes in the current voting system, “and that is ridiculous in a modern society, isn’t it?”

Additionally, Bragg touches upon the impact of immigration saying it broadly benefits society though at the same time pressing for the government’s need to better accommodate it. Although he believes that the concerns that people have around these issues are genuine, he states that “they cannot be answered by voting in a load of fascists.”
Activism vs nonparticipation

Interestingly enough, Morrissey and Bragg disagree on how to bring about change. The former The Smiths frontman sides with Russell Brand arguing that the clearest message we can send is an empty ballot paper: “for the days of Prime Ministers have gone, and it’s time for a form of change that is far more meaningful than simply switching blue to red.”

Bragg, on the other hand, does not believe change will come from political nonparticipation. Instead he hopes to mobilise people to participate in elections: “If you come to the ballot box with me when it’s time, I’ll come to the streets with you when it’s time.” We can still wait for a revolution while we stand in line at the polling station. It is our own cynicism we have to be wary of and “the only real antidote to cynicism is activism.”

So, using Bragg’s words, “how do we hold the bastards to account?” The solution does not lie, as both Brand and Morrissey suggest, in refraining from voting. The ‘No Vote’ is not the most powerful vote you can give. As long as there is no other game to play, standing on the sidelines will not change anything for the better.

Quoting one of Bragg’s songs, “You can be active with the activists or sleep in with the sleepers while you’re waiting for the great leap forwards.” A different kind of political structure in which accountability will be clearer and power lies with the people may be welcome, but until then let’s make the best of the present situation. After all, if it is only the left that cannot be bothered to vote, then it will not be difficult to predict the colour of the Prime Minister’s tie.

In any case, let’s hope Morrissey’s and Bragg’s words inspire people to the same extent as their songs have.

Please login to join discussion

Since you are here

Since you are here, we wanted to ask for your help.

Journalism in Britain is under threat. The government is becoming increasingly authoritarian and our media is run by a handful of billionaires, most of whom reside overseas and all of them have strong political allegiances and financial motivations.

Our mission is to hold the powerful to account. It is vital that free media is allowed to exist to expose hypocrisy, corruption, wrongdoing and abuse of power. But we can't do it without you.

If you can afford to contribute a small donation to the site it will help us to continue our work in the best interests of the public. We only ask you to donate what you can afford, with an option to cancel your subscription at any point.

To donate or subscribe to The London Economic, click here.

The TLE shop is also now open, with all profits going to supporting our work.

The shop can be found here.

You can also SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER .

Subscribe to our Newsletter

View our  Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions

Trending on TLE

  • All
  • trending
Abdollah

‘Rescue us’: Afghan teacher begs UK to help him escape Taliban

CHOMSKY: “If Corbyn had been elected, Britain would be pursuing a much more sane course”

What If We Got Rid Of Prisons?

More from TLE

Jeweller spends fortune & 25 years making Ford Escort model from precious metals & stones

Over-70s to get booster shots against new variants from September, vaccines minister says

Restaurant Review – Quilon

Health bosses apologise over disabled teenager’s wait for treatment

British Independent Film Awards – Livestream

Sajid Javid plans to flood the tills with Brexit 50p coins on October 31st

Let’s Touch Base: The Office Lingo Plaguing UK Offices

Theresa May must choose between her red lines and peace in Northern Ireland

Government messaging on lockdown like a “bull in a china shop”

Migrants in Italy boat dispute disembark despite ban

JOBS

FIND MORE JOBS

About Us

TheLondonEconomic.com – Open, accessible and accountable news, sport, culture and lifestyle.

Read more

© 2019 thelondoneconomic.com - TLE, International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2BN. All Rights Reserved.




No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Food
  • Travel
  • JOBS
  • More…
    • Elevenses
    • Opinion
    • Property
    • Tech & Auto
  • About Us
    • Meet the Team
    • Privacy policy
  • Contact us

© 2019 thelondoneconomic.com - TLE, International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2BN. All Rights Reserved.