What else is the meaning of democracy?

09/05/2012

Don't be put off by the fact that it was written almost exactly seventy years again, that it was written and published by the leftie Victor Gollancz, and that he was referring to the blame for starting the Second World War.

Against the backdrop of averring that we, the British people, shared the responsibility, Gollancz wrote:

We do not escape by the plea that we have not understood these things, or that we have "not been interested in politics", or that we were powerless against our Government. It is precisely for being docile, unpolitical, servile to their Government that we attack the German people. It is our business to be interested in politics, and to control our government. What else is the meaning of democracy?

This fits with my own aphorism: "democracy is not a spectator sport", but I like the assertion that it is our business … to control our government. There is a pervasive view within government that they are the masters and we are the servants, but it is and must always be that it is the other way around.

That the servants are out of control does not change that relationship. It is for us to assert it – and we make a start on 14 July at The Old Swan.  And this will be the first of our efforts.  For those others who have asked, on the agenda is to set up a nationwide series of meetings. We, the people are on the move.

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