Scribd
Upload
15 views

A Unit4 Page37

Uploaded by

Tuan Anh Tran
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
15 views

A Unit4 Page37

Uploaded by

Tuan Anh Tran
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 1

home news OPINION blog get involved contact

Symbol of democracy is a joke


T
here are some who say that
Prime Minister’s Questions
(PMQs) is a great symbol of
democracy. Every Wednesday the
head of our government is forced
to attend parliament and answer
questions from MPs. As MPs are
representatives of the people, PMQs
offers a direct line of access to the
top where we, the public, can hold
the government to account for their
actions. That’s the theory. However,
the reality is somewhat different and
actually symbolises much that is
wrong with politics here.

What usually happens is this: the


leader of the main opposition
party stands up and asks a
question about a new policy or
about some recently released
figures that show the government
is failing. I say asks a question, but
half the time it’s just a joke at the
prime minister’s expense. The prime
minister then essentially ignores the
question and pokes fun at the leader
of the opposition, who then has to ask
another question or say something
funny. All of this is accompanied
by MPs on both sides shouting or
laughing like hyenas as they compete a five-minute slot on the TV news. This But elsewhere it seems humour can
to demonstrate loyalty to their leader. is not satire championing truth and engage voters. For example, a popular
exposing the corruption of power. It’s blog by the satirist Bepe Grillo in Italy

“ What has this got to do with more like kids in a playground throwing led to the formation of a movement
politics or democracy?
”
Defenders of the ritual note that this
insults. The kids don’t really mean
it – it’s just a game – and the same
goes for the politicians. As ‘opposing’
that gained 25% of the vote in the 2013
elections. And as can be seen from
the exploits of the activist duo Jacques
type of humour has a long history in parties have more or less adopted the Servin and Igor Vamos – better known
British politics. Records of politicians same economic outlook, the only way as the Yes Men – laughter can still pose
insulting each other in this manner to mark a difference is through this a serious challenge to the rich and
date back to the eighteenth century. mock abuse. powerful. The pair have developed
They also claim it engages voters in a technique they call ‘identity
And those comedy writers for PMQs correction’. Posing as representatives
issues and represents the values of
are probably the same kind that write of entities they dislike – the World
free speech. They even argue that
for the TV satirists, who the academic Trade Organization, for instance, or
such satirical humour prevents the
Russell Peterson says are undermining the ExxonMobil oil and gas company
emergence of dictators by using
the value of politics. He argues that – they issue shocking, ridiculous press
mockery and ridicule to reduce fear
real satire adopts a moral stance – it releases that exaggerate official
and build confidence.
has an agenda and seeks change – positions in order to force back into the
While there may well be elements of whereas most satirical TV programmes news stories that corporations would
truth in the historical claim, the bottom only seek balance. They aim to take rather bury. Whatever your politics,
line is that what we are really seeing the mickey equally out of all politicians surely such tactics serve as a braver,
here is politics being turned into mere based on character more than policy. better symbol of democracy than a
entertainment. The politicians actually As a result, all politicians are seen as couple of comfortable middle-aged
pay professional comedy writers to bad and political engagement is white blokes exchanging empty insults
write jokes for them and the rest of the discouraged. once a week.
media love it because it fits neatly into
Comments 146 | Add a comment | Share

You might also like