Wednesday 28 April 2010

A bedtime story: sleep well

In the 1930s Herr Hitler and his Nazi Party won seats in the Reichstag as a form of proportional representation was used for elections in the Weimar Republic. Should Mr Clegg get his way it is likely that the BNP, based on the last European election results, would secure sixty seats at a general election held with PR as the voting system. The way to hell is paved with good intentions.

Our current first-past-the-post system is manifestly unfair to minor parties as is the position whereby the party which gains most votes does not necessarily form the government. But that unfairness pales into insignificance when compared to what could happen if the system is changed.

It couldn't happen here is a view commonly expressed. Many said the same in Germany. The law of unintended consequences will apply.

In Germany in the 1930s one of the major factors which propelled the Nazi party to power was high unemployment caused by the depression and also a sense of grievance arising from the terms of the Treaty of Versailles.

All nations in Europe are suffering as a result of the credit crunch. But now there is an additional danger. Greece's sovereign debt has been given a junk bond rating, pressure is mounting in Portugal, Spain and Italy. The effects will be felt across Europe and the UK is not immune given its huge sovereign debt. Fertile ground for populist parties to reap an electoral reward.

The British, it is often said, are not easily swayed, yet look at the jump in the opinion poll ratings for the Liberal Democrats after one television show, peddling the false notion that they are the only fair and clean party; targeting politicians and bankers as the scapegoats. Scapegoating easy targets was the hallmark of a 1930's regime.

Finally, we must not forget the ever present threat of terrorist atrocities.

We are heading into very dangerous times, indeed we are sleep-walking into them. We would be well-advised to steer clear of the woolly-headed notions of the Liberal Dozycrats.

No comments:

Post a Comment