Tomorrow, 5th November, Guy Fawkes Day, the
States of Jersey will commence one of their miserable and interminable debates on reform of
the electoral system that have been ongoing for over a decade. The outcome, which
will probably follow three days of discussion, will be nothing much. The
political class are paralysed, incapable of democratising and modernising for
fear of losing control of a gerrymandered system that has served them well for
60 years, if not several centuries. Meanwhile that same political class ignores
70% voter abstention at elections and remains oblivious to their own lack of
legitimacy.
Since the gerrymander of Option B fell at the last hurdle,
the political class has changed tack, saying that reform is no longer important
and that we should move on to “more important things”. The media continues to
winge that the States failed to implement Option B even though it has a
majority in the Referendum, on the basis that if they repeat a lie enough times
someone is bound to believe it.
Whilst for many there is simply a groan of resignation, for
others there is increasing indignation and impatience. What is to be done, is as ever, the
smouldering question.
Ee by gum, he was a Yorkshireman, not Jersey, y'now!
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