Blogger Humiliates Town Councillors Into Resigning 227
Dr_Barnowl writes "In an occurrence first postulated in sci-fi and later lampooned by stick figures, it seems that a blogger has actually been responsible for the mass resignation of elected officials — a British town council — largely by calling them 'jack***es' and Nazis. What's next? The deposition of a president with 'your mom' smacktalk?"
On the other hand, it's Somerton (Score:5, Insightful)
Now someone thinks they have the right to comment on Council decisions - and the toys get thrown out of the pram.
This is not about bloggers. It's about rural Conservatives finding their views called into question. It would be exactly the same if it was a campaigning newspaper, or if the people in subsidised housing started a resident's group and sent someone to see what happened in Council meetings.
This blogger was lucky (Score:5, Insightful)
Probably the traditional British tolerance for ecentricity is the only thing preventing the targets of his jibes from crucifying him in a civil court...
Re:This blogger was lucky (Score:3, Insightful)
They are only risks if what he said is materially untrue. Given the orchestrated resignations of most of the council, I suspect they aren't.
This really is NOT democracy (Score:1, Insightful)
If we believe all the media hype - that this guy's blog did actually have any bearing on the resignations of these people, then it's a bad day for democracy. They had been elected in a legal way, by winning the most votes from the people in their wards. Then one person, decides he doesn't like them and starts a personal assault on them: collectively and individually. Now, it could well be said that these unpaid officials shouldn't have put themselves in the public eye if they aren't prepared to take some heat - but they're really just volunteers (and a lot of them aren't exactly in the prime of life). As a consequence of this continual sniping, they decide they've had enough and quit. So much for giving the electors representation, so much for reflecting the wishes of the people. One person's ability to publicise his personal and (I am told) unfounded views about their personal lives and business interests reduces the democratic process to a farce.
If he objects so much, why didn't he stand for election himself?
Re:It finally happened! (Score:2, Insightful)
I'm going to kill Cory Doctorow right now. I know his chances of making it as Polemarch (or Archon or whatever, I can't be assed reading Ender's Game because I know the plot twist) are minimal but I can't take that chance.
Re:This blogger was lucky (Score:5, Insightful)
I refer you to the case of Simon Singh v. Assorted Lunatics [wikipedia.org]. What he said was materially true, but he will most likely lose the court case.
Mr Justice Eady [wikipedia.org] has a lot to answer for.
There's more details on the Singh case in the current Private Eye, for any Brits out there.
Re:This really is NOT democracy (Score:3, Insightful)
Much as I appreciate your concern, I think I can set your mind at rest here. Such abuses of the the system are rare and usually confined to the level of local politics. In this day and age, no one at a national level would consider resigning over something so trivial as criticism from the media or public. In fact even such one-time misdemeanors such as being caught outright fiddling expenses, or embarking on a war of aggression that no one on the country wanted are considered cause to resign. Of course, it has occasionally been considered prudent for a minister to step down if the furore should happen at an awkward time, such as shortly before an election. But you may rest assured that in all such cases, the minister in question has been returned to a position of power as soon as the election was safely past.
So as you can see, there really is nothing amiss with the democratic process in the UK.
That said, I do take your point. It really isn't fair of the public to go around making a fuss every time a politicians actions fail to match up with their election promises, seem ill-considered in terms of achieving those objectives, or when they generally fail to comport themselves with the high moral and ethical standards they expect of the general public. If only we as voters would learn to shut our collective gobs, turn a blind eye to such minor matters as dishonesty and hypocrisy and let them get on with the vital business of feathering their nests, I'm sure the world would be a much better place.
Re:Can we get rid of the US Congress so easily? (Score:2, Insightful)
Doesn't that happen on every council?
Read the blog itself (Score:5, Insightful)
Just reading a few of the last entries of the blog:
So no, I don't think it's exactly a newspaper. It's more focused and more dangerous, like being an opposition leader in an only semi-democratic country.
Re:Revealed as feeble... (Score:3, Insightful)
And they do get paid - this is a town council, not a parish council. Quote from a Mail Online story (yes I know) [dailymail.co.uk] "Local councillors pocketed pay rises of double the level of inflation last year, a study has revealed. Nearly 20,000 picked up an average of £9,300 in 'allowances', the basic pay they get from town halls. In some local authorities, the sum was more than £20,000 a year."
Re:So? (Score:5, Insightful)
Seriously, if they resigned over one persons so called ravings, then they didn't have much authority to start with, not to mention cahones. I know that if I found financial irregularities in a councils spending and could reliably document it, it would be my duty to inform the electorate. I have no interest in being a councillor, but that doesn't mean they can get away with it. Why should I invest time and money in making myself electable merely to point out the illegal activities of others ?
I repeat, if the whole council resigns over 1 persons unsubstantiated rant, then either they have got skeletons to hide or they are worthless as politicians. Politicians argue all the time, that's what they do. But one non elected person can force their resignation ? Please
Re:Can we get rid of the US Congress so easily? (Score:5, Insightful)
I agree entirely. There's this meme going around that holds that if newspapers die, investigative journalism will vanish from the face of the earth. I think this case could well serve as a counter example.
Incidentally, is it me or is there a a strong subtext of "don't try this at home, kids!" to many of the posts on this topic? You'd almost think some people were worried in case this sort of grass roots political activism should catch on....
Re:Read the blog itself (Score:5, Insightful)
The blogger's car was torched and his house vandalized.
Another good example of why the net should be as anonymous as possible
Re:Can we get rid of the US Congress so easily? (Score:5, Insightful)
Just because something is common doesn't mean it's right.
Re:On the other hand, it's Somerton (Score:3, Insightful)
Really...because from what I read (rather than what you postulate) of the story it appears that the council members were trying to push through various commercial and industrial ventures that would benefit themselves privately (wow very "21st century"!) and the blogger was calling them out on it.
So it would be the blogger who was the "rural conservative" (apparently just about the worst person in the world in some areas of the Internet it would seem) and the council members who where in the "21st" century with their impropriety, open corruption, torching his car, etc...
Whats rather funny is how the reality appears to be completely the opposite that you claim it is, yet you're at +5 because you somehow make it sound like those nasty rural conservatives are the councilors and it's a cool twenty something urban dwelling blogger who's doing the good work to bring them down. Certainly in my mind after reading your post I had the Councilors pegged as old white "rural conservative" fat cats. A fantasy which suits the metro demographic of this site far better than the reality it would appear given the current moderation of your completely bullshit made up post.
Re:Can we get rid of the US Congress so easily? (Score:3, Insightful)
Having watched small town politics for a while, I think many people get elected filled with idealism and then quickly get disillusioned by how petty and nasty the politics can get. Imagine being put under a microscope where saying hello to a couple fellow board members at the only grocery store in town can become an illegal non-public session?
I'm not saying that local government is pure as driven snow. There's certainly plenty of sweetheart deals and backroom stuff. But from what I've seen, being in local government means taking abuse on a level that's pretty the same thing as that kid in 7th grade who was lucky if he only got beat up once in a day.
Re:This blogger was lucky (Score:3, Insightful)
You're wrong. Truth is an absolute defence against being sued for libel in England and Wales.
Re:Can we get rid of the US Congress so easily? (Score:3, Insightful)
+1 Troll - classic mix of truth and rampant hyperbole.
Local councils have been given way more power than they need allowing them to spend money on total nonsense - but;
I'm sure these were honest slips of the finger and that you of course had no agenda of your own to ply. But please try to remember that not everyone's definition of Freedom involves being left to fend for yourself while amoral corporations and modern day lords and barons in the forms of bankers and CEO's tie up the legal system for their own ends and prey upon those to small or poor to defend themselves. Also please remember that at least 75% of those civil servants (the 1 in 4 apparently :s) are low-level administrators who earn just above the min wage (current A-band salary in local and national Gov goes from approx £14,300 -16,500 - this band also covers cleaners, binmen, street cleaners, so called menial jobs etc.). Don't even pretend these are people you could do without, as the national outcry and massive disruptions caused by industrial action in just a few places pretty much proves their worth. The 1 in 4 also include teachers, nurses, GP's, doctors, police, paramedics, firemen, the civilian forces that help maintain the previous list, the armed forces in all its forms and the various arms of the MOD. These are the people that keep you alive and guard your freedoms, your children and your future. Yet well over 50% take home less than a supervisor at fucking McDonalds.
Keep your freedom to be fucked - I'd rather live in a country that recognises the need to protect certain freedoms by building an infrastructure - even if it does have to pruned once in a while (keeping in mind you prune from the top down :)).
Re:Read the blog itself (Score:5, Insightful)
I think you need to read up on the historical role of newspapers. Pedro Chamorro Cardenal was the editor of La Prensa in Nicaragua, and he was a powerful opposition leader in his own right. His murder effectively started the Sandinista revolution.
You've just become accustomed to "newspaper" meaning "establishment drivel."
Re:XKCD SUCKS! (Score:3, Insightful)
Seems to me more like... (Score:3, Insightful)
An organized walk-out in order to sabotage the council.
They can't or won't fix the things they are responsible for - so they stage a walkout and blame it all on the opposition coming from a vocal minority.
Being called "clowns" and "nazis" is hardly a cause for "Businessman Mr Canvin, 61" to storm out cause he is "not going to tolerate it when [he's] working for the town."
Re:This blogger was lucky (Score:4, Insightful)
I've provided evidence. You have not. IF you had a case, you be explicit about which "examples" and why.
Meanwhile here's more absolute proof that I'm right. A case summary by the Law Lords.
http://74.125.77.132/search?q=cache:3u0QFtSeHFsJ:oxcheps.new.ox.ac.uk/new/casebook/cases/Cases%2520Chapter%252026/Spring%2520v%2520Guardian%2520Assurance%2520plc%2520and%2520others.doc+england+truth+%22absolute+defence%22&cd=49&hl=en&ct=clnk&client=safari [74.125.77.132]
It can't get much more clearly stated than that, or by anyone with more authority on what the law in England is. You have swallowed an internet meme that's a myth. You're wrong.
Re:Read the blog itself (Score:2, Insightful)
The blogger's car was torched and his house vandalized.
Another good example of why the net should be as anonymous as possible
Why do you need anonymity if you don't have nothing to hide? Oh, wait ...
Re:Can we get rid of the US Congress so easily? (Score:5, Insightful)
There is always an alternative choice, though it may not be the most pleasant of things to think about. Us American's kicked your government to the curb over a few tax disputes (and a few other issues). Placing cameras in private citizens' homes seem to me like a much bigger issue.
You guys could at least throw a few riots or something. And no, angry postings on slashdot do not count. By excusing this sort of behaviour all you are doing is shifting blame from your government to yourself.
Three big flaws in your argument here even at a casual glance:-
1) The proto-Americans had the advantage of an ocean between them and the people they were rebelling against, and the advantage of being on home territory against an enemy who had generally never even been to the rebels' continent. The situation would have been radically different if the American rebels were living in Clapham.
2) It's not "Us Americans" who rebelled at all - you personally had nothing at all to do with it - so it's rather precious of you to advocate that others risk their lives to do something that I suspect you have never done yourself.
3) The modern USA is exactly the sort of imperialist superpower that England was back then.
Overall, the pretense that modern Americans are some kind of ninja rebel outfit who would overthrow their government at the first sign of totalitarianism isn't helping anyone, especially when you sit in your comfy chair behind your (no doubt very rebellious) warrior keyboard and advocate that others risk their lives.
Re:This blogger was lucky (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Can we get rid of the US Congress so easily? (Score:3, Insightful)
Personally, I'd have thought that investigative journalism was where someone investigated something, and then wrote about it. I don't really see where international espionage like activities form a necessary part of that.
I take it you mean "there's no overlap at all with Reuters and AP, because they don't do local news", and not "Reuters and AP don't do local news, therefore this doesn't overlap with investigative journalism at all". I'm not disputing the former.
Re:Can we get rid of the US Congress so easily? (Score:3, Insightful)