The doctrine of ministerial responsibility
Tonight I went to see Fahrenheit 9/11 with sharpez, and I'd advise anybody who hasn't all ready been to go and see it. The images in it are amazingly powerful, and while Michael Moore is incredibly annoying, he does get across some good points.
One of the major effects it had on me was that it reinforced my view that Blair must go. Before the war, I was stupid enough to believe some of the things that Blair said about weapons of mass destruction, partly on the basis of thinking that he's not stupid enough to lie on such an obvious issue. If he didn't lie, then there must be other problems. I am quite old fashioned in that I firmly believe in ministerial responsibility. Ministers have executive responsibility for the actions of their department. It was the Joint Intelligence Committee which made the casus belli for war, and the JIC comes under the direction of the Prime Minister. Therefore, either Blair was responsible because he knowingly lied both to the public and Parliament, or he was the minister responsible for incompetence which lead us to war. To go to war is the the ultimate expression of national sovereignty, and the fact that he has not resigned is a disgrace. If he had any honour, he would have gone long ago.
Over recent weeks and months, I have come very close at times to leaving the Party. The one thing that has stopped me from doing it is the feeling that it's not the Party which has abandoned the values that I hold so dear, it's the Government and people within it. I am not going to abandon my party just because some right wingers got into power. My voice isn't big, but to leave would be a sign that I believe they've won the war as well as the battle, and that's something that I'm just not willing to make.
Every time I think about giving up political activity, something stops me from leaving. Somebody said to me recently that he hates me personally, but quite admires me politically. This might sound strange, but I feel the same way. I'm ashamed of things I've done in the past, and the way I've treated people, but I do feel that I have a contribution to make politically. If I were to not continue at some level, be it by standing for DoR or being a member of the Party, part of me feels that it would be giving in. It would be making it just that bit easier for the bastards to win. At times I can be quite driven. Now you know why.
One of the major effects it had on me was that it reinforced my view that Blair must go. Before the war, I was stupid enough to believe some of the things that Blair said about weapons of mass destruction, partly on the basis of thinking that he's not stupid enough to lie on such an obvious issue. If he didn't lie, then there must be other problems. I am quite old fashioned in that I firmly believe in ministerial responsibility. Ministers have executive responsibility for the actions of their department. It was the Joint Intelligence Committee which made the casus belli for war, and the JIC comes under the direction of the Prime Minister. Therefore, either Blair was responsible because he knowingly lied both to the public and Parliament, or he was the minister responsible for incompetence which lead us to war. To go to war is the the ultimate expression of national sovereignty, and the fact that he has not resigned is a disgrace. If he had any honour, he would have gone long ago.
Over recent weeks and months, I have come very close at times to leaving the Party. The one thing that has stopped me from doing it is the feeling that it's not the Party which has abandoned the values that I hold so dear, it's the Government and people within it. I am not going to abandon my party just because some right wingers got into power. My voice isn't big, but to leave would be a sign that I believe they've won the war as well as the battle, and that's something that I'm just not willing to make.
Every time I think about giving up political activity, something stops me from leaving. Somebody said to me recently that he hates me personally, but quite admires me politically. This might sound strange, but I feel the same way. I'm ashamed of things I've done in the past, and the way I've treated people, but I do feel that I have a contribution to make politically. If I were to not continue at some level, be it by standing for DoR or being a member of the Party, part of me feels that it would be giving in. It would be making it just that bit easier for the bastards to win. At times I can be quite driven. Now you know why.