About Lord Rennard, yes, I do know that he
- is a politician.
- is a LibDem politician.
- is on the heavy side, though I imagine he might have lost a bit of weight from the stress his suspension has caused him.
- probably did do it, but in my view deserves to be given the benefit of the doubt.
It is only now that brings home to mind this liberal saying that it is better that 100 guilty men go free than that a single innocent man is punished.
This is of course an extreme expression of principle. Even if he probably did do it, should be be treated as if he had not? Does such a man deserve justice? He is after all a politician, and we know how despised they are.
Their rights and liberties count for nothing, because they are so hated. The fairness or otherwise of their punishment is neither here nor there. They common view is that they deserve to be punished just for being politicians, and this hatred is visceral and implacable.
They are hated as much as the way people used to hate blacks and Jews, I imagine: believing them to be either obviously inherently inferior and to be pitied and avoided or too cunning to be ever trusted.
They are these days hated because they are too afraid to do their jobs, which is to express the views and acknowledge the preferences of those whom they purport to represent.
If they ever say anything interesting or remotely truthful, they will invariably be apologising for it before too long.
It is probably this apologetic reflex that made Nick Clegg think saying sorry is nothing more than standard procedure to get oneself out of trouble and had expected Lord Rennard to follow suit. To say sorry was, for Nick Clegg, just like saying it when you had bumped into someone or trodden on their foot. It is instinctive and just basic good manners, he said, suggesting that Lord Rennard was in some way uncouth and ill-bred for not laying himself open to civil action by vindictive LibDem women who want him punished more because he did not have the instinctive servility to obey immediately and without question.
Because most people hate politicians and it is an occupational hazard of politicians to say things that will be considered offensive to another who holds the opposite view is precisely why the rights of politicians must be protected, in order that they can do their jobs properly. Otherwise, we would be sending in soldiers into battle without weaponry, or sending sewage workers into sewers or firemen into fires without proper protective clothing.
At this time, politicians are either too stupid or scared to even think of protesting about their working conditions and their employer - their party leader who routinely abuses them - because to end up being expelled from your party means you are shop-soiled as far as any other party is concerned.
Being expelled from our party is a bit like having potential spouses find out that one has been a victim of rape. People who discover this will simply assume that you are a trouble maker (calling into question your morals), or joined the wrong party (calling into question your judgment).
Yep, I know all about that, and how career-ending it is for most people to end up being expelled from their party.
When Peter Bone MP proposed the abolition of the office of the whip in the House of Commons Disqualification Bill, I wondered how many MPs took that seriously enough to even understand its purpose. I know mine did not, or he pretended he did not understand it, and said he was too busy to take the time to do so. http://news.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/hi/house_of_commons/newsid_9584000/9584782.stm
And so we add to the list of why we hate politicians denial as well as incompetence, corruption, cowardice and hypocrisy.
While I would stand up for the right of BNP supporters to complain about immigration, I think standing up for the mostly rotten political classes is one step beyond the pale.
But if one unashamedly unsuccessful activist - me - who supports unpopular causes won't stand up for them, then who will? They are the ones most in need of support and improved working conditions, and I have the solution for them as well the road map to electoral reform.
What do they have to do in return to get this?
Why, take an interest in Khaw v Con Party, of course, all the way up to the highest court in the land, because this is a matter of the gravest constitutional importance while discussing it amongst themselves.
I really hope I will get a few intelligent questions from time to time after all the sacrifices and risks I am taking on behalf of a class of people whom I suspect fear to be seen to be associated with me and probably doubt my sanity.
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