Depressed about British politics? At least you’re not American

Following British party politics as often at best nauseating, at worst depressing.

Nowhere is this more evident that the weekly Prime Minister’s Question Time, where MPs line up like kids in a schoolyard to shout each other down and ridicule their opponents. I enclose a classic example below from 2007, shortly after Gordon Brown had decided to not call a General Election, after Tory promises on inheritance tax had seen Labour support fall:

What this video leaves me questionining is what Labour and Conservative MPs think they are achieving from all the shouting and laughing in the chamber? Do they really think it has any real impact on people’s lives? It does a disservice to the profession as this is what most people will see from their elected representatives. Whilst ordinary people are working hard trying to put food on the table, they can only see their MPs behaving like schoolchildren. Is it any wonder people hold politicians in such low esteem?

What’s worse is that the newspapers add to this, through opinion reported as news. Some newspaper editors, who don’t let the truth get in the way of a good story, peddle a partisan line attempting to influence reader’s opinions, rather than giving them the facts to make their decision by themselves. Sensationalist stories misrepresent facts, and give us issues presented in black and white terms, which is so rare in politics.

The politics of the 21st century is politics of nuance. The reality is that our politicians have very little opportunities to make nation changing decisions, they are constrained by a whole range of factors. Yet by presenting black and white stories, and presenting opinion as fact, the media distorts the debate to an extent to which we expect politicians to do things they cannot possibly achieve.

What's more concerning is the power they can weild, despite this. This video featuring Shirley Williams rather displays the point, if you can get past Richard Medley’s rather inaccurate predictions at the beginning:

Yet at least things aren’t as bad here as they are in America, where petty party politics and misrepresentation by the media have reached fever pitch. However bad things get in the UK, I am always reminded of this video from 2007 which displayed the ferocity which Fox News attacked Obama. Whilst most of the channels are as bad, this video is notable for the sheer ferocity of Fox News.

Often, American politicians don’t help themselves either. Rick Perry is a classic example of this, with his latest campaign video Strong. I think it speaks for itself, so without further ado:

It has thus far received over half a million “dislikes” on YouTube. What’s incredible here is that Rick Perry’s campaign genuinely believes that issues such as prayer in schools and gay people serving in the military are the issues which will steer him to the White House. In a time when America faces so many challenges both at home and abroad, it is saddening that he feels discussing “Obama’s war on religion”.

But in every dark situation there is a glimmering light. In 2010, Washington played host to an event which really chimed with me. It was ironically entitled ‘The Rally to Restore Sanity And/Or Fear’. Fed up of partisan bickering and name calling various American personalities put on a three hour rally calling for moderation in politics, not extremity. One of the highlights of the event was the ironic placards individuals brought along with them, including “I'm a little annoyed but I'll get over it”, “God hates signs” and my favourite “What do we want? Moderation! When do we want it? In a reasonable timeframe!”

For all those, like me, who are depressed about politics, I point you in the direction of Jon Stewart’s speech at the end of that rally. I recommend you skip the first two minutes as it’s just him thanking the crowd for being there, but when you get to the meat of it, it restores some of your trust. Perhaps politics can be about solutions and not problems one day.

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