In a very confusing editorial in Saturday's New York Times, A.A. Gill argues that change is needed in Britain, but "the worst possible way to start changing it would be precipitously, after an inconclusive election, on the heels of a global financial calamity when the markets are looking for stability and firm direction." Gill echoes the paranoid, Tory line: "OH NOES! A hung Parliament will make Britain look weak and indecisive!"
Indeed, Gill's Tory bias is hardly concealed throughout the piece: Gordon Brown is friendless and ill-tempered. Nick Clegg is traitorously European. (He speaks five languages! His kids have Spanish names!) But Tory David Cameron is "personable" and "fresh-faced" "with emotionally winning oratory." "Your mother would like him." Indeed, Gill's biggest fear seems to be that a hung Parliament will lead to electoral reform, which will lead to "1000 years" of center-left government.
This last claim is laughable. Gill acknowledges that parliamentary districts are so hopelessly gerrymandered in favor of Labour that they could finish third in the popular vote but win a plurality of seats. The status quo already sounds like 1000 years of center-left government. Furthermore, the reforms advocated by the Lib Dems would base seats in Parliament on the popular vote. If post-reform Britain has a center-left government, it will be because a majority of Britons want a center-left government.
The point is this, Mr. Gill: If the broken system is not fixed now, when will it?
No comments:
Post a Comment