Labour pains...II

We need to renew the party. Bring back internal democracy. Under New Labour, it feels more like we're members of the Blair/Brown group rather than them being part of our movement. And members are so vital for elections. Canvassing year in year out. Knocking on doors, fundraising, getting out the vote, making the arguments down the pub, and telling MPs what's really happening. Any party renewal has to involve a remodelling from the bottom up. Learn from the Obama campaign. They have a massive grassroots machine. Hundreds of campaign HQs across each state. All registering voters, etc etc. Who are people more likely to listen to? The papers? The news? politicians? Or their neighbour or friend or sibling. Get the party out fighting. There was all that hope and ambition in 1997. Making Labour a million strong party. Membership of parties are desperately low now. The combined numbers of all parties is still less than that of the RSPCA. People want to feel their membership means more than a few quid and the odd vote [if MPs let us] We should make leadership more accountable to members again. Prevent MPs from holding coronations. No new leader without every member and union voting.

Really, this kind of thing is unavoidable. Opinion and debate is becoming more democratised and personal. I don't switch on the TV or read the paper for a debate. I don't wait for them to ask the questions. I go to forums, start threads, talk to people all over the world. I debate what I want, where and when I want to. The media can't control the topic. Thank god. If we only had TV. All that would have been discussed the last few months is threats to Gordon Browns leadership. They've had a one track mind. All events must be related to challenges to Brown. What does the economy do to Brown? Will the Olympic wins rub off on Brown? Was this speech, was that speech a hint at Brown? What does Browns holiday show about his leadership? blah blah blah. The traditional media doesn't say or ask anything new and yet we're supposed to be so influenced, and in respectful awe of its views. Inevitably, I'm still influenced by what many of the media say or do [ especially the Guardian] But its changing. The internet is full of big ideas, not just the status quo of Auntie Beeb, bless her.
What I'd really like to see an end to: speculation and opinion from newscasters. They have far too many 'editors' on Newsnight. Tell us the days events, and by all means explain economic events in simply terms. But enough of the speculating what one line meant in a speech, what a missed handshake means for the relationship between chancellor and PM. Tell us the news. Then we can decide what to think. Its the media debating with the media. Its like sitting in on an editors meeting or a campaign stategy, where they forget that your actually in the room.
'So Micheal, how will Labour voters react to the PMs speech' 'Well Jeremy, many will feel reassured at his explanation of the economy, blah blah blah' Why don't you just wait and see? Why don't you just report the reaction tomorrow? Why speculate and second guess what we're all thinking. Or is it what you want us to think. 'yeah, now you say it, I am reassured' Its just like the US. The debate happens. But thats not it. No, no. You don't make your mind up then. You have to wait to see what spin the campaigns put on it. You could think Obama won it, then whats this, a bright, confident man on the TV says Obama looked shifty. -Does that suit the channels editorial line? Yeah, lets go for that. Edit all the bits where Obama looks at his hands- 'o, he did look shifty'

We're not their yet. But the web offers both relief and adds fuel to this problem. Theres still plenty of opinion on the web. Its full of it. [Look at me, who the fuck am I to say anything] but its also got plenty of raw data, and perspective from millions of views all over the world. If you're sick of the BBCs coverage of the US debate. Go find it online. Watch it on Youtube. Make up your own mind. Then debate what you really took issue with. Not Obamas speaking style or McCains tie [horrible btw] but whatever you want. If you get bored, well theres plenty of downloaded Family Guy and clips of people falling over, just a couple of clicks away.