Politics blech

I lost hope in politics and politicians along time ago, but something needles me about South Africans and their naivety that politicians are a different class of scum in SA compared to more first world countries. The level of entitlement politicians expect is equally breathtaking here in old Blighty. Apparently, taxpayers should pay for elected officials' moats! Every week there is a new story, where moral relativism in all its shining revulsion is exposed - this week our dear Nadine Dorries feels vindicated that she isn't a cheat, just dishonest and lazy. Glad she can hold her head high again and keep her job! Things here aren't that different to SA when it comes to politics - we even have our own squashed arms deal corruption enquiry too, just like at home!

There is one major difference though - level of press intrusion. For all the exposes that come to light in the press, they are more often than not the result of insider tip-offs with ulterior motives. However the general public tend to believe in the hawk-eye ability of the press to uncover rot in government. But if it weren't for 'pesky' leaks, the government and security forces have control of flow of information to the press - could you imagine a story like this taking 3 months to reach the national press in SA? Its hardly any wonder the ANC wish to reign in media freedom in SA - they know the true score overseas. They're also counting on the ANC kollectiv not to betray their comrades by leaking info to the press. They'd probably be more successful than in the UK where Whitehall is non-partisan and handles its own agenda through the press - no such situation exists in SA where civil servants who don't toe the line get the boot.

Nevertheless, Gareth Cliff feels he can make a difference - He can't really and just unwittingly signed up for ANC spin, but at least his objections are rooted in sanity. Unlike Helen Zille , who seems to think SA needs austerity like the UK - well that's one way to hasten revolution I guess, just not the type people expect. I understand objectors to the ANC need a viable alternative to root for, one with support in numbers. But in the absence of an ANC government, surely people would realise that this woman would warm the heart of Darth Vader - is the need for effective opposition reason to suspend principles of humanity for? Hmm, its easy not to have hope for politics then!