Rotten Boroughs from spartacus.schoolnet

“[Disproportional Borough representation is] the rotten part of the constitution.” — William Pitt the Elder, 1760

We certainly live in interesting times.  I can honestly say that 40 years ago when I was learning 18th century British History, and the ways in which democracy was perverted before the hard fought electoral reforms of the early 19th century, it never occurred to me that within my lifetime I would witness the British House of Commons willfully decide to return to these evil ways.

And yet they have done just that.  On the 29th of January 2013 the House voted against reforming the constituency boundaries to reflect changes in population that would safeguard the principle of proportional representation of UK voters.

They did this because they did not wish to risk losing their current respective electoral advantages.

You probably do not think it is important.  Certainly the media agree with you since you will be hard pressed (if you will excuse the pun) to find any newspaper coverage of this most shameful betrayal of the principles of democracy.

But since this blog is devoted to good governance and advancement I am duty bound to mention it, and to deplore the cynical way that our current elected representatives are misusing the powers given to them by their people.  They are doing this to pervert the very principles of a nation’s democracy for their own personal short term interests to stay in power.

Shame on them.

The principles of democratic representation should be something that they, above all people as professional career politicians, should see as the underpinning foundation of their power.

Their goal should be to serve their people and the interests of their people and so advance their nation and the collective community of nations.  Not pervert the very basis of democratic process in the feeble hope that they may or may not cling to power.

Shame on them.

“Democracy is when the indigent, and not the men of property, are the rulers.”

ARISTOTLE

“Sir Joseph Porter: I grew so rich that I was sent
By a pocket borough into Parliament.
I always voted at my party’s call,
And I never thought of thinking for myself at all.
Chorus: And he never thought of thinking for himself at all.
Sir Joseph: I thought so little, they rewarded me
By making me the Ruler of the Queen’s Navee!”

H.M.S. Pinafore by Gilbert and Sullivan:

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