[1] Including this one.

Next week: the Fuckwittedcampaignomatic? ;-)

I’d love to know exactly what constitutional arrangements you’d prefer, in which every time you don’t like something, you can just drop your MP a line and stuff quickly gets changed to your satisfaction. It sounds like a fantastic system, perhaps you’d like to share it with us?

I assume, at the very least, that you’re a fully signed-up member of the Electoral Reform Society, given your apparent frustration with the current system of representation. I assume you’ve also written to your MP advocating that the Tory party change its policies and support such an alteration the electoral system.

In addition, I’m pretty sure you’ll have identified the specific policy issues on which you disagree with the Brown administration, and joined up with the multitude of interest groups and campaigning organisations that represent the issues you’re concerned about (you’re a little vague on what they are, so forgive me if I don;t offer any suggestions there.) You’ll probably be involved in organising around these matters on a local level, educating people in your community about the issues and helping build a grassroots support base that can increase awareness of these factors among the general populace and leverage that concern – both in your constituency and on a wider scale – when the next election comes. I’m assuming that you were glossing over all these things when you said there was no other avenues of dissent open to you, because it’s just so obvious that you do them, concerned citizen that you are. Hell, there’s almost certainly petitions on the Number 10 E-Petitions site that represent those points of view, so I’m sure you’ve signed them as well. Given that, as you say, that’s what it’s there for.

Oh, and by the way, standing outside Whitehall with a placard isn’t direct action, it’s just a demonstration. But of course you knew that already, and just mistyped in haste, because you’re not a fuckwit.

I signed the petition, being of sound mind and reasoned judgement.

I live in a very safe tory seat. No matter which way I vote at the next general election (whenever that is), I have no chance of influencing the governing party or the Queen’s choice of Prime Minister.

I have tried writing to my MP to express my disappointment in the current imcumbent’s performance, and guess what – my MP agreed, but is powerless to effect change given our current constitutional arrangements.

Short of direct action (like standing on Whitehall with a placard, if that’s still allowed these days), the only legitimate means of protest left is a direct petition to the office of the Prime Minister itself. And guess what, that’s just what the E-Petitions site is there for!

Now please mind your language in future.

Also don’t see why gov’t should put a stop on repossessions – yeah I don’t want my tax £ to go to snout-troughing bankers, but nor do I want them to go to greedy buggers who bought houses they couldn’t afford while I lived in rented flatshares precisely cos I couldn’t afford a house…

But bailing out a bank’s debts with billions of pounds of public money, while not seizing the profitable bits or putting a complete bar on mortgage repossessions looks a bit fuckwitted too. If anyone sees Northern Rock’s assets bobbing about offshore, perhaps they will let the Treasury know…

It’s hardly revolutionary to pick red instead of blue or vice versa. What’s that saying: no matter who wins, the government always gets in? Meet the new boss, same as the old boss. And so on. No offence meant to Chris who suggested this as a credible alternative, but… please. Nope.

If people want to express their impotent rage, a web petition is as good a way as any. It’s not like they’ll resign because we ask nicely, but a reminder that we aren’t all obedient sheep is no bad thing. Sort of “We’re not taken in by any of this, you hubristic tossers”. Especially as it’s on the No. 10 website. Yeah, it’s the political equivalent of happy slapping, but voting is just about as pointless. And we’re not getting a violent revolution any time soon, I don’t suppose. Not while Britain’s Got Talent and all that.

I apologise for the slight Yoda sentence structure in the first para. Sorry am I. (etc)

@12,13: anyone who thinks there’s anything wrong with using profanity to increase the impact of one’s coherent reasoned argument is a cunt.

Martin – My argument’s still valid regardless of whether I use profanity or not, and I’m able to back my name-calling up with coherent reasoning, instead of merely clicking along with the herd. Whether my behaviour’s “hypocritical” or not – couldn’t care less, to be honest – I’m more concerned with my reasoning.

Isn’t that more than a little hypocritical?