http://www.utterzebu.com/blog/2009/11/10/consult-and-ignore-what-is-the-point-of-consultations/ Lies, deception, bullshit. It's everywhere. We've had enough. It's time to fight back! Sun, 19 Jun 2011 12:49:28 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 http://www.utterzebu.com/blog/2009/11/10/consult-and-ignore-what-is-the-point-of-consultations/comment-page-1/#comment-57 Damian Hockney Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:04:55 +0000 http://www.utterzebu.com/blog/2009/11/10/consult-and-ignore-what-is-the-point-of-consultations/#comment-57 PS the situation with Ken Livingstone and the C-Charge was a classic case, and the then Mayor at least had the honesty to admit the process was a charade. I was a Member of the London Assembly (the body which is supposed to hold the Mayor to account) at the time and was with him when he said it. You are right about 'what is the point?', but of course without having introduced these cosmetic exercises pretending that the people have an input, there would literally be nothing left. No party to vote for that can implement what you want, no account of what you want. All decided behind closed doors by an elite. 'Consultation' is their new pretence at 'engagement' and it it is the new substitute for what we once had - an albeit imperfect elected democracy PS the situation with Ken Livingstone and the C-Charge was a classic case, and the then Mayor at least had the honesty to admit the process was a charade. I was a Member of the London Assembly (the body which is supposed to hold the Mayor to account) at the time and was with him when he said it. You are right about ‘what is the point?’, but of course without having introduced these cosmetic exercises pretending that the people have an input, there would literally be nothing left. No party to vote for that can implement what you want, no account of what you want. All decided behind closed doors by an elite. ‘Consultation’ is their new pretence at ‘engagement’ and it it is the new substitute for what we once had – an albeit imperfect elected democracy

]]> http://www.utterzebu.com/blog/2009/11/10/consult-and-ignore-what-is-the-point-of-consultations/comment-page-1/#comment-56 Damian Hockney Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:56:13 +0000 http://www.utterzebu.com/blog/2009/11/10/consult-and-ignore-what-is-the-point-of-consultations/#comment-56 These are requirements of EU law over which we have no real control. No future elected government can amend or repeal them even if elected on a platform to do so unless all other states agree, As those involved will admit when forced, consultation is not about whether you want something or not. That has been decided usually at a higher level. Consultation is about the finer points (who collects the data, how it is kept, where it is stored etc). Welcome to our new world of government where you do not elect the people who make the draconian laws, only those who enforce them. Watch out, incidentally, under the Lisbon Treaty for the extraordinary situation where the EU appears to be taking to itself the right to introduce capital punishment in certain circumstances related to its own issues. These are requirements of EU law over which we have no real control. No future elected government can amend or repeal them even if elected on a platform to do so unless all other states agree, As those involved will admit when forced, consultation is not about whether you want something or not. That has been decided usually at a higher level. Consultation is about the finer points (who collects the data, how it is kept, where it is stored etc). Welcome to our new world of government where you do not elect the people who make the draconian laws, only those who enforce them. Watch out, incidentally, under the Lisbon Treaty for the extraordinary situation where the EU appears to be taking to itself the right to introduce capital punishment in certain circumstances related to its own issues.

]]>