Yesterday I was in King Street covering the Greffe voter registration initiative. Here is the interview I conducted with a Parish street cleaner. He was happy to talk to me and makes interesting listening. The BBC and CTV of course only wanted to interview respectable "suits". Ironically they were indifferent or too busy. Lots of people avoided getting in shot of the cameras. What is it with people in Jersey - such paranoia and claustrophobia?
Our interviewee awaits an election for Constable in St Helier. He may be disappointed. Certainly he conveys the deep disconnect between politicians (i.e. State Members) and the public, especially the working classes. Interestingly he is not afraid to use the term "working class". Most political discourse by the media and States Members is about "Middle Jersey" - a nebulous sociological concept that covers everything from genteel pensioner poverty to owners of second homes abroad.
Maybe after the London Riots it is time for the political class to wake up and see who does the real work in society - the invisible people who clean offices and streets.
Hi Nick
ReplyDeleteFirst up can I just say I love the videos you are putting up. What worries me the most is that if you didn't happen to get elected would this all stop? I hope you carry on Nick. The people will decide who gets elected and what will be will be so on that little note I will just say I enjoy your blog but don't turn into a lazy slob after the election no matter what the result is
rs
RS,
ReplyDeleteThere is an old slogan "Pessimism of the mind, optimism of the will". Men make their own history but not in circumstances of their own making. I fully realise the handicap I face when 75% of the electorate does not vote and most of them working people who have given up in despair. Action combined with morale is the secret of success.
If elected I promise not to turn into a lazy slob. The belt on my trousers has already come in two notches. I attribute this to thoroughly acquainting myself with the area on foot.
There is so much we have to do that can only really be achieved with my presence in the States. It will of course be a collective effort - no individual can achieve change. The populist Cult of the Personality has been the bain of post war Jersey politics - promising much and delivering little.
A seat in the States will be a useful platform for ideas and demands of the progressive movement. We have to turn around the 75% voter abstention through organisation, leadership and hope.