Parts of London have been turned into a mini-Kabul with all law and order dissolving amid scenes of riots and rampage. With anti-student fee’s protesters clashing with police, fighting amongst themselves and even attacking the private car of Prince Charles. London at one point really was burning.
The proposals to increase University fee’s has been deeply unpopular since they were first announced and as the date got closer for the bill to be passed through parliament the protests by students have got louder and bigger. The fact that the Liberal Democrats vowed to never let this happen and now in government (albeit a coalition) they seem to be going back on their word, has just added to the anger. It has to be remembered that the Liberal Democrats gained a large portion of the student vote on the policy of not increasing University fee’s, so Nick Clegg being labeled a liar amongst other things seem on the surface fully justified.
It has been clear from day one of the Con-Lib coalition that the Conservatives are the ones pulling the strings with the Liberal Democrats simply there for the ride. The University fees issue has just added more weight to this.
Many would say that the scenes of tens of thousands of students marching up and down the country, setting fire to buildings and attacking police are all part of a healthy democracy. The right to protest and have your voice heard are things that Western democracies have gone to war to ensure other regimes implement. So seeing in on their own streets must be gripping.
However a closer look at the reasons and why’s of the protests show not a healthy political system but a dysfunctional one. The University fees issue lays bare the myth of an elected democratic political system, where a man knocks on your door, promises you the earth to gain your vote and then betrays you once in power.
The fact of the matter is no matter what anyone thinks they are stuck with the Con-Lib coalition until the next election (barring a collapse). The bill for the University fees was passed with a majority of 21, and it will soon be law. What this means is that putting a little X in a box every four or five years holds no value when it comes to actual accountability of the ruling party. The students who did or didn’t vote for the Liberal Democrats are all in the same boat, they can do nothing to stop being sold out. Promises mean noting to politicians in Western democracies as it is more about getting into power, than keeping your voters happy.
Spontaneous mass protests are usually seen against totalitarian regimes and not against elected governments in the West. So the fact that many thousands would rather protest than wait to vote the coalition government out speaks volumes. No one really believes in the hype of voting making a difference, because it clearly doesn’t. Even when the mass populace protest the law makers still see it fit to follow the path that is financially more palatable. Strength of opinion is secondary to the bottom line, if the government no longer wishes to provide free University education, it won’t. The students can kick and scream all they want the decisions are made not by the people but about the people. As Margaret Thatcher famously said “…You turn if you want to. The lady’s not for turning!”.
When you have a system that renders the politicians immune from any type of real scrutiny or questioning by the mass public you see the scenes being played out in London today.
Legacy of betrayal of the government will not fade away. Imposing the student fee to extent of £9000 per year betrays the right of education to all UK governments in the past fought for and won.
Politicians are not immune from scrutiny, they will see their results in the ballot box. The best way to speak out. Also let us not forgot that tuition fees are still free for students who live in Wales and Scotland. So the cause of the mayhem is the economic mismanagement resulting in the record budget deficit. The English are picking up the bill for this more so.
So I recommend instead of having a dig at voting , rather have a dig at the cause of this chaos. The ongoing banking crisis…..
To brother Nadeem I suggest he wake up to the reality of the situation – weren’t we told mere months ago that voting for the liberal democrats and shunning labour the ‘best way to speak out’ at the last elections? When do we finally realize that whoever we vote into power will betray us one way or another? FACT: Politicians who do not have any fear of the creator (if they believe in him in the first place) WILL break their word to the voting public if it means pleasing the real masters of the capitalist nation (elite and big companies) and they won’t be thinking about the next elections – why else would the liberal democrats so brazenly break their promise about tuition fees? Fearing a backlash at the next election didn’t exactly strike fear into their hearts did it brother Nadeem?
This is just another case of the current British elite sticking 2 fingers up at the next generation of people of this land. Even if the ‘economy’ flourished again this fee will never be alleviated from students.
It is a cost which is in-line with the omnipresent upward trend of all forms of taxes in capitalist societies over generations.
The capitalist system fails to sustain a tranquil system for the future generation.
It is an incredibly corrupt system.
Capitalism (democracy is a a marketing tool to sell Capitalism to the people) is returning to it’s pure form as there is no Communism (USSR) to challenge it. What we saw with the welfare state, NHS, Free education etc was not the caring face of capitalism but only to stop people turning to Communism(USSR). Islam is the only credible ideological alternative to Capitalist (democratic) system which even though the Khilafah (in Muslim Countries) has not been established yet but there is false propaganda against it.
Democracy does not mean just mean voting as there is no real difference between them as we should have learnt from Labour, Conservative and now Liberal Democrats. We have to interact and engage to present Islamic solutions to these problems rather than assimilating or integrating and becoming part of the problem.
Capitalism is returning to it’s pure form as there is no Communism (USSR) or any other ideological System to challenge it. What we saw with the welfare state, NHS, Free education etc was not the caring face of capitalism but was implemented to stop people calling for and supporting Communism.
Islam is the only credible ideological alternative to Capitalist system. Even though the Khilafah has not been established yet there is false propaganda/persecution and banning of non violent Isamic Parties & activists working for Khilafah in the Muslim Countries.
Democracy does not mean just voting for a political party to represent you as they all when elected do not pass laws for the people as we saw with Labour, Conservative and now Liberal Democrats. They only pass laws for the people who have donated to them a lot of money to run their election campaigns.
As Muslims we have to look after our affairs and interests through HALAL means and not simply integrate by joining liberal secular Parties and become part of the problem. We have to interact and engage with the wider community by debating/discussing and acting according to our Islamic values in our behaviour and transactions.
Let us not be impatient…democracy has a lag time to realise results so you will see the electorate holding the elected accountable in the local and general elections. Let us not forget how the BNP got annihilated in the general election in Barking & Dagenham. It was through the act of voting and not from inaction. every vote not cast is a tick in the box of the BNP as was also the case in the European council elections last year.
I agree that the Lib Dems did break their promise and that is why many MPs voted against the legislation. The coalition won by a narrow majority.
So the real question is did you vote? and if not then I am afraid your choice also facilitated the coallition as it would have increased their majority in government.
Politicians have a loyalty to their elected public and are accountable to them. They have a 5yr term and will be judged according to their record. I ask you which companies do they seek to appease when raising tuition fees as you assert?
Assalamu alaikum brother Nadeem. Addressing some of your more pertinent points:
1. With respect to being “impatient” democracy is hardly a new system of Government as it pre-dates Islam having been codified by the Greeks.
2. With respect to the electorate holding the elected accountable that’s arguable – the reality is an individual has just ‘a’ vote – how is this at all enough to hold politicians to account? If the electorate had really held the elected accountable it would have made a difference surely. An assessment of the facts shows it hasn’t. We see corruption being repeated by a new lot only that it’s a little more subtle. Cash for questions predated MPs selling influence like “cabs for hire”.
3. With respect to the BNP – most serious commentators admit they are not electable – not because of the Muslims but because they go against global capitalist interests which requires open markets and free movement of goods, capital and labour.
4. Not voting sends a stronger signal than may appear because it says the people have little confidence in the credibility and legitimacy of the whole set up. ‘Not in our name’ so to speak.
5. Higher education in the UK is a global business with leading universities being global players. Universities have been lobbying (Brown Review) for an increase in fees for a long time, many thought they’d get an increase to £6000 to £7000, so even they’ve been pleasantly surprised. Please see link for more information. http://www.evidenceconsulting.co.uk/Evidence-SKP%20English%20Universities%20in%20a%20deregulated%20tuition%20fee%20environment-June%202010.pdf