Tuesday, October 05, 2004
Meet the new boss
One of South Africa’s problems is that there is no viable opposition to the ruling party. The opposition parties are reactionary, with few coherent policies other than attacking whatever the ANC does, or picking on whatever the latest hot issue is. The other minor parties are grouped around specific demographic groups or narrow issues. This leaves the ANC in a position where it feels unassailable, and the only relevant national politics seems to be about the power struggles and jostling for position inside the party. The personal relationships and deals between members of the ANC have taken on a great significance, since the only place whence a challenge to the status quo will come is from inside the party walls.
One of Britain’s problems is that there is no viable opposition to the ruling party. The opposition parties are reactionary, with few coherent policies other than attacking whatever the Labour Party does, or picking on whatever the latest hot issue is. The other minor parties are grouped around specific demographic groups or narrow issues. This leaves the Labour Party in a position where it feels unassailable, and the only relevant national politics seems to be about the power struggles and jostling for position inside the party. The personal relationships and deals between members of the Labour Party have taken on a great significance, since the only place whence a challenge to the status quo will come is from inside the party walls.
Go figure.
One of Britain’s problems is that there is no viable opposition to the ruling party. The opposition parties are reactionary, with few coherent policies other than attacking whatever the Labour Party does, or picking on whatever the latest hot issue is. The other minor parties are grouped around specific demographic groups or narrow issues. This leaves the Labour Party in a position where it feels unassailable, and the only relevant national politics seems to be about the power struggles and jostling for position inside the party. The personal relationships and deals between members of the Labour Party have taken on a great significance, since the only place whence a challenge to the status quo will come is from inside the party walls.
Go figure.
