Battling...with...hangover....
oh, and something about the Power Inquiry's petition

It's not classy, I know, on a serious (ahem) political blog to draw attention to the sumo wrestler that seems to be doing twenty rounds in my head, but I really am suffering here people. Allow me a moment to explain.

Last night the Flatmate, after three months of grouching that the weather was too crap to try out his shiny new barbeque, finally snapped and declared that the weather was PERFECT for a little outside cuisine. PERFECT. He really wouldn't be disuaded and, predictably, as soon as he struck the match the heavens opened. We spent the next hour protecting some particularly unappetising looking snaggers with a selection of elderly umbrellas whilst drinking a truly heroic amount of wine. In the interests of warmth, naturally.

And now I feel rough.

Incidentally I am not quite sure what I make of all this "citizens' convention" stuff that has been emanating from the usual suspects following Gordon Brown's recent constitutional reform green paper. Reading this article by him from Unlock Democracy this morning has given me even more pause for thought on the issue.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not against The People(TM) having more of a voice per se but if we're talking direct democracy, I'd like to see participatory elements such as citizens' panels as planks within a larger representative system. I get the impression with groups like Power and to an extent UD, that they favour an end to the representative system to be replaced by "citizens referenda" or whatever.

Meanwhile the Power Inquiry has been highlighting its petition which is calling vaguely for a People's Assembly to determine what should be done about constitutional reform. The Power people seem obsessed with assemblies and juries to decide everything on our behalf. Problems? I have a few not least this: as piss poor as our politicians are at times, and as woeful as some of the policy decisions they make can be, at least we elect them and have the power to boot them out when it comes to the crunch. Citizens juries/People's Assemblies may be representative of key groups, but I did not choose them nor did anyone else so what gives them the right to make decisions on my behalf?

One of my favourite quotes is Larry Flynt's: "you don't ask three wolves and a sheep to vote on what's for dinner". Class. For all it's failings, representative democracy allows minorities to operate within it and have a voice. If this is what UD and Power are asking for, a means by which the voices of minority interests are conveyed more effectively to politicians, then I am all for it. But whether it is or not is open to debate and frankly, I have my suspicions.

I was thinking of a future dystopia last night, as the rain hammered down, and the sausages began to resemble blackened turds. I was thinking about life in a hundred years time when the voices of Power will have won and we will have participatory democracy. The three wolves and a sheep will vote "democratically" on what's for dinner and we will live in a divided society. Those with no access to the tools (education, the internet, etc) required to get involved in the bright new political process will not be heard and will have totally disengaged from the debate. But it will be okay because everybody who chooses to "engage" will be satisfied. The self-appointed guardians of The People(TM) will be happy with what has been achieved for their social group, so what else matters?

The rubbish tips and mobile phone masts will be dumped into the poorest areas, after "consultation" with the community online or via text message. Don't have a googlemail account? English not your first language? Too worried about having enough money to put food on the table to get involved in the complexities of citizens assemblies and perpetual referenda? Tough shit, innit?

Don't worry though, you won't be forgotten by the new ruling class. They will gather in a field every so often to hear pop stars wearing wristbands singing for charidee on your behalf, for those poor, poor people. Bono will rail at the Government to "do something" and everyone will return afterwards to their comfortable houses, smugly congratulating themselves on doing their bit.

Real democracy at last. I can hardly wait.