I just had a really nasty thought...

[fpb]

...an air accident such as that which beheaded Polish society yesterday would do next to nothing to Britain. It is impossible for me to feel that the country would greatly miss any of its leading politicians, bureaucrats, military commanders, etc. Perhaps a few of the private people who were on the flight - relatives of the Katyn victims, celebrities such as the woman who started the Gdansk strike of 1980, etc - and perhaps one or two of the more impressive businessmen. And the Queen, if she was there. But personally I could witness the beheading of the military, the police, the legislative, executive and judiciary powers, and the media, with complete equanimity.

My God, what kind of a country in this, in which there is not a single leading figure worthy of respect?

Comments

[fpb.livejournal.com]

Nigel Farage is not yet high enough to be in that plane. And frankly, I would welcome him into Parliament. The main problem with the UK is the scary unanimity of the ruling classes. BBC-think is what they all think; there is no difference between Torlies, Labour and Lib Dems. Mr. Farage would bring a real opposition to WEstminster for the first time in twenty years.

[sanscouronne.livejournal.com]

Based on my vague impression of British politics, I'd say your assessment of the political class as being overly uniform is quite correct. That being said, I think that American politics suffers from the opposite problem: too many crazies and not enough moderation, which is viewed as traitorous to one's party.

[fpb.livejournal.com]

At least there is some real contention about real objects, instead of three wise monkeys in triplicate trying to sell themselves as better stewards of the economy. However, my feeling is that in these elections two or three new parties may well enter Parliament.