Mind The Gap, Democratic Deficit

Like many another blogger, I've been asked to give a shout to Mind The Gap and their London blog, which I wilingly do. The gap between politicians and the people is a mile wide, as both left and right recognise, the difference between the responses being that the idiot left's response is 'whatever you did before that didn't work, do more of it'. See Helena Kennedy for details.

The website is a rather snazzy production, with animated graphics, scrolling messages etc. One to watch.

As you can see from this site, I prefer content to form, and so also highly recommend the Democratic Deficit site. No idea who's behind it, but loads of content, and the recommendations are pretty straightforward.

Where To Next: A Democratic Manifesto

Preamble:

People are happiest when they have maximum control over their own lives.

You and your family are the best people to decide how your money should be spent.

Propositions:
1. The public services should (a) be controlled locally, and (b) by direct democracy.

2. Recall, on the Californian model should be introduced.

3. There should be an audit of this country's membership of the European Union, with special reference to its inbuilt democratic deficits. The new constitution - a politically correct manifesto of gigantic proportions - does at least have the merit of allowing countries to withdraw from membership.

Couldn't agree more. For example, there should be a direct connection between council voting and council tax - no central funding of any kind should be allowed.

If central government wants something doing, it should either

a) fund and manage it itself OR
b) make it a legal obligation on the local authority, and allow council taxes to rise accordingly

That way you can see what you're paying for. It would also have the effect of either causing massive council tax levels in certain authorities, stopping the huge underclass subsidies currently administered by said authorities, or causing central government to come out from behind the skirts of the authorities and administer/spend directly. The Guardian would be apoplectic, but that's a fringe benefit.

Can't understand why the Tories don't suggest something like this.