Unwelcome trends in politics
Monday 20th October 2008, 3:00PM BST.
SENATOR Mike Vibert, who lost his seat in last week’s elections, and Deputy Gerard Baudains, who failed in his bid to become Constable of St Clement, have announced that they will be retiring from politics.
As well as thanking them for public service rendered, we must pay careful attention to their valedictory remarks. Senator Vibert, who can look back on 12 years in the States, complains – with full justification – that Island politics have become too personal.
Deputy Baudains, who has served for ten years, says – also with justification – that there is too much spin in modern political life and that the Executive is too ready to marginalise other States Members while keeping them in the dark.
We should look particularly carefully at Senator Vibert’s complaint because it alludes to a pernicious, and even vicious, development in Island politics which runs counter to unwritten rules of engagement which, until recently, were observed by all and sundry.
The availability of the internet and e-mails has coincided with a shift in behaviour among some politicians and political activists that appears to be based on the premise that anything – including personal vilification, wild accusation, defamation and intemperate abuse – goes, as long as it is in electronic form.
This is a gross and dangerous misunderstanding of the essential principles of free speech. The right to comment frankly and fearlessly must always be tempered by a sense of responsibility, respect for other people’s opinions and a sense of decency – not to mention an understanding of the libel laws, which apply in cyberspace as well as in the realms of print and broadcasting.
There are no immediate signs that the outpourings of online vitriol that have become part and parcel of what some would like to call political ‘discourse’ are likely to be stemmed. That said, someone at some time is going to say that enough is enough. Then writs will fly.
Meanwhile, the obfuscation and executive arrogance that Deputy Baudains detects in ministerial government also need to be tackled. The new administration which will emerge after the Deputies’ elections must take on this job – and address the equally pressing matter of a freedom of information law to replace the present toothless code.
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An excellent editorial.Events over the past year have shown how minority and extreme politically disaffected groups and individuals have emerged from obscurity on the back of a certain investigation and in angst have thereafter sought to undermine and denigrate elected government in Jersey.This strategy includes personal and vitriolic attacks on certain politicians and public figures via internet blogs, which so far remain unchallenged.It is time that this is addressed.
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With the exception of one maverick supporter of “WOLSATA”, who has become quite notorious for his unpleasantness to opposition politicians and their supporters, and an amateur investigative journalist just daring the miscreants he has exposed to let him show his evidence to a court, the online community go no further than the professional British Press in their attacks. Actions rooted in an alternative morality, or showing a poor grasp of everyday life, may be described in contemptuous terms, but not beyond fair comment, and there have been some very funny spoofs that are a little gentler than Private Eye or the still-missed Spitting Images. However, the tone goes no lower than a National red-top at the worst, and many of the blogs are actually more aimed at broadsheet readers.
Politics has been personal in Jersey for decades. That is why some of us would like to see a party system in which policies and issues were the most important things.
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I agree with Richard, the blogs that have been run under Pseudonyms in support of the parties need to be challenged now. Some posts (not naming any website, but is definately associated with one of these parties/groups) is insulting towards current politicions and runs close to the line of libel. David Rotherham claims that they are harmless, but from what I have read on the NET over the past month especially with the hatred against GST people, I totally disagree.
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After reading some of the blogs and facebook hatred groups I steered well clear of the new parties/candidates. I want stability and this showed me none whatsoever. Some States members have been cruely ridiculed on the Internet.
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It seems to me that the modern day has finally arrived in Jersey politics. As a politician you are in a position to affect other peoples’ lives to such an extent, is it unreasonable for them to try and tell them what they think? By the reaction of some Members, it is clear such dissent is new and unnerving. I, however, find it useful refreshing.
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Listen to yourselves! For the first time ever in Jersey alternative view points and criticism from the electorate are freely available for the world to see and you lot really don’t like it do you? You have had it all your own way for so long it seems to many of us that you simply can’t take any form of criticism at all. This is called ‘debate’ and tends to form the core of most mature political systems. Jersey has never had an opposition as such and I can only suggest that Jersey’s politicians learn to work in the same environment that every other government outside Zimbabwe and North Korea has had to since the English Civil War. The establishment voices above make it quite clear that the culture of deference is sorely missed in some quarters but I feel that only good can come of this. For decades we have suffered from shockingly inept leadership and monocular political vision, much to the detriment of Jersey and all who live here. Jersey is at a crossroads at the moment, with the future of its natural environment, its beautiful countryside, hanging in the balance. If those who would see us build up to 9,500 new three bedroom homes to service the finance industry are convinced of their arguments then criticism shouldn’t bother them. But if they are hoping to sneak this new regime in quietly, relying on apathy and deference to control the mob then, sorry guys, it ain’t gonna happen. Deference may not be completely dead but it is definitely beginning to smell pretty bad. And when it does finally keel over in disgust at itself it won’t have been killed by the net or by blogs or by those nasty rude people who don’t wear suits. It will have been killed by the cupidity, stupidity and incompetence of Jersey politicians over recent decades.
Welcome to democracy – I for one look forward to some vigorous debate.
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There is only one internet forum which I have anytime which has some active politicions partaking and appears to be well moderated as personal attack is not allowed. But some other blogs and forums out there have been set up with specifically targetted ministers and are horrible to read. I also think that they are run by a minority or people who appear to be far left.
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Bruce is right. Regardless of your opinion you should welcome debate. However, after that debate, you should accept the decision of the majority and it is clear following the recent elections that the sirens of doom who frequent these pages do not represent the majority view.
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bring on the blogs, free speech in its raw form.
a true cross section of the public.
but within it, in cyberspace a meeting of like minded people both rich and poor.
the turn out for the elections was low.
but i will think the people who stayed away are the no vote
none of the above
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Speaking as a self-appointed siren of doom, what the Majority have to decide is whether we are wailing because we like the sound we make or because we can see a ship running on to the rocks and are trying to alert the crew who we fear are asleep at the helm.
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If the mainstream media were more prepared to ask difficult questions and expect answers then the blogs would become less significant.
The absence of an organised opposition in the House makes it worse.
Anyone who thinks that they are libellous has probably never had a look at Private Eye or the UK press in a dirty mood.
Jersey politicians get off amazingly lightly compared with their UK colleaugues, anyone who doubts this should take a look at the treatment meted out to Neil Kinnock or John Major.
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Unfortunately politics is personal. Why go into politics if you can’t take the knocks? Do these politicians expect a free ride and no stick? They have badly misjudged public opinion over GST, they are very lucky it is only a few comments about them! In other places around the world a wrong move would mean far worse. Some politicians have been executed for upsetting the people in some countries. We are no where near that level. If they can’t stand the heat they should get out of the kitchen.
Politicians over here need to wake up to the fact that the public are very upset with them. They take tax payers money and should look after the tax payers and not the rich who often pay little or no tax. Is this right in the 21st century? There is now a groundswell of discontent. If politicians want things to improve they had better do what the public wants, as this was what they were elected for!
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hear , hear, bruce.
in greenspans book the age of turbulance, some of the last greenspeak says tax the rich.
its time to get a roller over the playing field
to level it out a bit.
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If people have genuine concerns about the way the Island is being run then they should at least put their real names to these concerns. We have seen over the past 6 months an emergence of anonymous ridicule of Ministers on the NET which is cowardice and unacceptable in a so called democracy.
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Sara – couldn’t agree more, in fact I find it rather chilling that people seem appear to be so intimidated. I might have this all wrong – is it just a web thing, writing in under a pseudonym? Or is it that, when expressing what might be deemed as controversial opinions, people in Jersey are too scared to be identified? If the latter is true then we have a really serious problem.
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I will put my name to my post its Mitch and well said Bruce. Its about time we had the freedom to say as we feel even if we cant do anything about it half the time at least we can say what we feel and get it off our chest, we also can see how many other people feel the same way ! so I say long may it continue ! heres to freedom of speech, isint that what our forefather gave their lives for ? or should we just forget remembrance day as well as liberation day ?
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I think people who use proxy access and bogus names to run blogs know what they are doing is potentially libel and against data protection. Why else would they hide the true names, it is a sign of guilt.
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To quote the editorial above “Meanwhile, the obfuscation and executive arrogance that Deputy Baudains detects in ministerial government also need to be tackled”……this is going to be almost impossible to address given that the electorate appears to be hellbent on re-electing some of the worst perpetrators of this arrogance, namely members of the GST28. This is sending out a clear message that they can do whatever they want and we are powerless to oppose them. The only way we are going to change this is by getting people who do not normally vote to do so – you have three more days to get them registered – if you all get just one more person to vote we can indeed accomplish miracles!
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Long before I had an internet connection, I used to read Helier Clement, who sometimes offers quite sharp criticism of political and civil service incompetence , from behind the safe rampart of his, or even their, anonymity. The internet is a big place, and I may just be missing the links to the nasty stuff, but the blogs and fora I do read do not go much further, except one forum that used to be quite rude about JDA members under its original management, but has now become afraid to knock anybody.
If Helier Clement can have half a page a week each to mock our out of touch government before fifty-odd thousand JEP readers, then why is it a big deal if a blogger with tens or hundreds of readers does so, too?
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Is anonymity anything to worry about? If the vote for Chief Minister can be held in camera, why can’t us mere citizens comment in camera?
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