People's Front of Medway

While it has always been a massive social gaff to quote Python, I just have to mention the People's Front of Medway. A simple Facebook group to bring local campaign together, making a stand for local people as the page says. Surely we need a People's Front of Maidstone!

This is from their Facebook page:

The People's Front of Medway has been set up to:
provide a platform for local campaign groups to bring their causes to a wider audience;
provide a forum for local people to debate the issues that affect them most;
provide a repository for other local groups and teams so local people can discover what's going on in the area.
If you're fighting a campaign in the Medway area, please post links to your facebook group on the wall.
If you're a member of a team, collective or other local organisation, please post links to your facebook group or website on the wall.
Feel free to set up any discussion topics about the issues that are affecting you.
If your council tax bill comes from Medway Council, this group is for you.

Non Violent Direct Mail - more on democracy

Received a letter from Unlock Democracy yesterday asking for help in delivering leaflets to local people in Maidstone. This is a great organisation, campaigning for

• Fair, Open and Honest Elections
• Rights, Freedoms and a Written Constitution
• Stronger Parliament and Accountable Government
• Bringing Power Closer to the People
• A Culture of Informed Political Interest and Responsibility

It appears that the leaflet will be on electoral reform, something that we are particularly keen on... getting people engaged with politics is essential, too many people could not give a damn about voting, politics and do not trust politicians - and who can blame them when we have a system that forces a choice between tweedledum and tweedledee.

Our disgusting lack of democracy and representation in this country is surely at the root of much of the malaise in bother voter engagement and in the direction and attitude of government. Labour are in power with the majority of MPs after just 22% of the electorate voted for them - a year 7 pupil could unpick the absurdity of this.

Like a self fulfilling prophecy, people feel disengaged with our current system and campaigning against it is low on their agenda. I posted a comment a few months ago about the Tory aim to hold every seat in Kent. Based on recent polls, and the lack of proportional representation, this is possible and would mean that the percentage of voters in Kent who do not have a MP of their persuasion will rise from 22% in 2005 to 54% in 2010. 54% of people are likely to vote against the Tories yet they could win all 17 seats. Although not down to Mugabe's standards it is still impressive.