Interesting Alternatives to Boring, Nasty Politics
Almost without exception, most of us are thoroughly fed up of politics, most politicians and media pundits that don’t hold them to account (here and abroad). It’s obvious that it’s not just the political parties that are not working, but politics overall.
One party gets elected, makes some good and some dumb decisions, which are then reversed when the next party take over, and here we go again. They get good salaries and a good pension, and everyone else is left wondering if the world will go to war, disappear from climate change or we’ll be broke.
In Denmark, they have a movement called The Alternative, which is a political party, but more a movement. About grownups who share ideas from skilled experts, and act like adults, when debating. How refreshing!
For example, anyone here who votes for a particular political party, is expected to toe the party line (MPs even have ‘whips’ to make them behave, or else they could get thrown out of the party).
But it has other problems too, as we are all individuals with individual beliefs. For example:
- You may vote Green (but believe in local power, so can’t understand why they want to support the EU and build wind turbines without permission (you may not agree with legalising drugs).
- You may vote Labour, but are dismayed at how the government cut winter fuel allowances for some vulnerable people, are planning to build a nuclear plant on Anglesey and ‘Keir, never here’ is always going off to China or somewhere to ‘build up trade’, instead of focusing on local issues.
- You may vote Conservative because you believe in less state interference, but get fed up of all the back-biting and nastiness, and ripping up of climate agreements.
- You may vote Lib Dem, but don’t want to go back to the EU, and think they are wishy-washy, as they went back on promises when last in government.
- You may vote Reform UK due to worries about illegal immigration. But are concerned at their climate policies (which would cause more heatwaves, floods and wildfires) and likely destroy our remaining endangered native wildlife.
So you see, there’s never one perfect party, especially as today we live in the era of ‘personality’. You may like the party but not the leader, or the other way around! Fair voting systems would help (Single Transferable Vote used in Ireland is the most recommended).
Things look hopeful, because all the minor parties (including Reform UK) would bring it in, if elected. We may now be in the death throes of two-party politics.
A Few Alternative Political Parties
These are very small parties, but fringe parties can create change, especially when elected for local councils:
Climate Party is different from the Greens, in that it is focused more on restoring nature and protecting our waterways than ‘Green New Deals’, and classes itself as centre left/right, as an option for people concerned about the planet, but are not ‘left enough’ to vote Green. The founder is a already a local councillor (in Buckinghamshire).
The Peace Party has a very nice website and lovely ideas, but no councillors or MPs at present. Its policies actually sound rather lovely, kind of a ‘less state interference’ and eco-friendly policies, so good for floating voters and climate-friendly ex-Tories?
Animal Welfare Party is a fringe party inspired by Party for the Animals (which gained MPs in The Netherlands leading to national changes in the law including a ban on importing calves and requesting an animal welfare minister). It does have some local councillors already, including one in Northumberland.
Its policies include CCTV for all abattoirs, phasing our factory farming, replacing animal experiments with humane research and increasing penalties for animal abuse.
Animal welfare parties in Australia and New Zealand have had much success (the latter only started a few months back, but already a household name).
TheyWorkForYou is a fantastic open-source website (so anyone worldwide can use the software to create a similar site). Use it to find out how your MPs voted on everything!
One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics, is that you end up being governed by your inferiors. Plato
England’s Green Politicians (could they win power?)
The Green Party has four MPs, with high hopes of gaining 30 to 60 at the next election, due to the ‘Polanski’ surge since the new leader was elected. Greens only have to double their membership to be on a level playing field with Reform UK.
And while Reform are top of the polls for people who vote, there is a huge swathe of people in England who don’t vote for anyone, so if Greens mop them up at the next election, the results could be very different from what polls are predicting.
Green policy is not just about saving the planet, but also about fair voting, human rights, animal welfare, and alternatives to economic growth (like the Happiness Index!)
Alas Greens are also fans of the EU, which is anything but local:
The EU violates just about every green principle going. It is the opposite of local; it is destructive to the natural world; it wipes out cultural distinctiveness. It is anti-democratic, it puts the interests of banks and corporations before the interests of its working people.
Why – when – how – did the Green movement abandon its commitment to localism and democracy, and jump into bed with a beast like this? Paul Kingsnorth
Whilst most UK politicians think that Greens could never gain power, abroad they are already serving in cabinets of coalition governments (including Finland which has the world’s cleanest air) and New Zealand (which has no nuclear power).
Greens are also in government in Austria, another nuclear-free country.
I’m as much of a patriot as Nigel Farage. I care about this country and its communities. To tackle a crisis, we need to grow communities. That’s what this country is: thoughtful, considerate and kind. Hateful, divisive politics is on the ballot paper. Let’s instead look after each other. Zack Polanski, Green Party leader
Ellie Chowns (an MP to restore political trust)
Dr Ellie Chowns MP (she’s a doctor of philosophy) is one of the four Green MPs. She lives in the area she represents and before being elected, worked for many charities to reduce road traffic and fuel poverty.
In local politics, she got £3 million investment in creating wetlands, set up car-sharing pools, provided free weekend buses and gave all residents a gift card to support local shops.
Today as an MP, she sets aside a portion of her salary to help local projects, and is fighting to save the River Wye from sewage pollution, and promotes nature-friendly farming. There are good MPs around, if you seek them out!
Children’s Parliament (giving youngsters a voice)
The Children’s Parliament is presently campaigning to rescue 15 Gentoo penguins, stuck in a dingy basement at London zoo. It has 60 MPs (and a Child Prime Minister!) founded in memory of Sir David Amess, an MP stabbed to death in his Essex constituency a few years back.
A huge campaigner for animal welfare (one of the few Conservative MPs to vote against hunting and trophy hunting), he used his Catholic faith to call for a better world for animals and the planet.
