The public thinks spinning is allied to lying.
The title is a quote out of John Redwood's blog post on party funding. I think he has is just right.
When NuLabour were elected Man in a Shed visited an old friend of the center ground variety who was seduced by the all things to all men message from NuLabour. I tried to explain how worrying NuLabour's approach was - with its mood music and communicating with peoples sub-conscious - democracy was being short circuited. How could you vote effectively when the NuLabour no longer engaged with the electorate's minds ? He didn't get it, which is maybe part of the point.
But the electorate's sub-consciousness are rebelling, and many politician's lack the faith in their cause- and prefer to refer to focus groups. Keeping their seats is their priority - risk and leadership are no longer effective or worth while. (Especially when there is so little in terms of policy at stake.)
This needs to change.
3 comments:
I think you are being unfair on your friend. There was a lot more than mood music going around.
Dont forget, Neil Hamilton, Jeffrey Archer and Jonathan Aitken, Stephen Milligan and the bizzarre sex death.
Don't forget the stench of sleaze and arrogance - Portillo, Howard and then their was Norman Lamont who contrary to Julian Clary's account did not get his reward for Black Wednesday on Hampstead Heath, as he should have done.
They said a lot of convincing things and I was convinced, the first time.
Yes, I was seduced by the mood music.
A wonderful feature of the Tories is that they have never been subject to the same Stalinist mangagement techniques as Labour.
Hopefully, if they win next time, Steve Hilton wont be able to get his hands on all those individual,clever and interesting Conservatives who just might bring a breath of fresh air to the scene.
This is what is really worrying about Nu-Torysim as well - the centrist, say what will be most pleasing to the majority technique. If the Tories had a position which they defended [the UKIP's prime beef about them], they'd walk the next election in.
WW - perhaps I'm a little unfair. There were signs of rot in the last Tory administration at the end - but thats what it was rot, not corruption. Its hard to say thats the case this time.
I guess my point is that I saw the urge to communicate with the public's subconsious as highly dangerous to the effectiveness of the democratic process. As it has turned out to be.
Which brings me onto Peter's point. I have a horrible fealing he's spot on.
Some work on image and the right to be heard needed doing. But as everything unravels its the consistent clear messages that will command respect.
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