The wonderful thing about democracy is how politicians are simply so much more intelligent than the mere people who elect them into power in the first place.

Yes, it is a common fact that democracy has to be seen to be, rather than actually be, democratic. The man with the vote matters very little; he is spun a ‘manifesto’ of ideas for which he votes, but he then must accept that these were simply nice-to-haves and not necessarily things that would ever occur. In fact, he may find his chosen politician and/or party swimming in the opposite direction to that for which he voted, without any
real explanation.

France has perfected the political ruling class process to such an extent that it hardly bothers at all to elect its senior politicians. These types cruise through various civil roles and positions that are only vaguely democratic in their selection process; and unless they do something really stupid, such as sleep with the ‘room service’, they find themselves on the ticket for president.

It is not ‘down among the masses’ for these professional bureaucrat types; there is no shouting from the stump or sweaty election nights – simply dinners at the Élysée Palace and black Citroën limousines to rush them up and down the Champs-Élysées as if they were Charles de Gaulle!

Italy is rather similar: one can go from running Ferrari S.p.A to being a presidential hopeful in one hop, skip and a jump.

South Africa is one of those strange democracies: one elects a party, not a human being. This is so that no individual little politician can be blamed by the electorate, and everyone can shout the odds without ever being held accountable – for anything. In fact, if you are fired as a senior politician in South Africa, you are more likely to get a fat pension and position at the court of St James, than a visit to the High Court!

There is no doubt that around the world there is trouble brewing. There is virtually no way to tell apart certain political parties. In America, the United Kingdom, France, Germany and many other developed nations, the parties represent what they think the voters want at any particular moment, and they fight for that middle ground, while constantly changing their stance.

They no longer have a belief system and/or set of objectives to which the electorate gravitate; they move to the electorate rather like a creepy sycophant.

The parties lack a definitive colour, be it red, blue or green – they are increasingly grey.

When any system becomes so ‘supposedly’ developed and efficient, it almost invariably decays and collapses. The lack of choice and differentiation causes a gravitational pull to opposite poles, and people become more radicalised.

Left wing, right wing, inside centre or fullback! Call these political views what you like, human beings eventually seek them out and look for a clear identity, be it right or wrong.

This story of polarisation has been repeated throughout history ad nauseam. It has led to riots and, in many instances, outright war. Compound this with a recession and/or potential depression to rival the worst any living person has seen, and we could be on very dangerous ground.

Never before have the differences between those with and without been so clear in society. Not the shoeless street urchin compared to the Belgravia toff of Dickensian times – no, the clear and obvious lines that 24-hour television and social media make so apparent every day.

Resentment will grow; the ‘haves’ clearly need to be less ostentatious and obvious in their attitude, and we all need to accept that very tough economic times will last probably until 2014, at the very earliest.

By example, the UK political arena is run currently by a tighter bunch of Etonian, Oxbridge products than has been seen probably since before World War 1 – so much for democracy and equal opportunity!

Yet, they are spun by their suitably recruited, public school boy public relations and corporate communications chums as being men of the people – the façade will not last, trust me! Dave and Sam will be exposed as David Cameron, the wealthiest man in the House of Commons, and Lady Samantha, his wife.

The majority of these and many other people now working within the political circus have never worked at all outside of politics. They are not qualified men such as doctors or other professionals, even entrepreneurs or corporate types. No, they are simply professional politicians: people who actually know nothing about what is really going on in the real world, outside of their Cabinet offices.

The public shout, “We want hanging brought back”, but they cannot have it, as the politicians know better. The public in the UK want out of Europe, but they cannot have it, as the politicians know better.

They need the European parliament as a place for them to retire, a place with even less public accountability and yet still bigger perks. One such creature, Mr Peter Mandelson, once applied for a Bentley while working as yet another Euro politico – I kid you not!

So when will the electorate say enough is enough, force accountability and demand that manifesto promises are delivered upon, rather than binned in the first year of any new government?

I personally do not want hanging brought back, but I would be rather ‘strung up’ if I were part of the 70% of the electorate who did, and were told that some MP – living off me and my vote – knew better!

Vive la révolution!

Ian Kilbride