*The Debatewise Blog
Dear Ms.Blears
I must have passed by your comment Ms.Blears. You know, the comment you made on 5th November about how political blogging has produced a "spreading corrosive cynicism" among the electorate. A disengagement. But do you know how this 'politically disengaged' citizen eventually discovered your comment? On a blog.So let's get this straight, you spoke about how, essentially, blogging promotes apathy and disengagement, and yet the blogosphere responded. What is this if not engagement? Democracy is elected representatives being held to account by their electors, no? The rest of your statement would seem to show you do not hold the same definition of 'Democracy' as I do:
"commentators are viewed by some as every bit as important as elected politicians, with views as valid as cabinet ministers" - the views of bloggers (the electorate) are not as valid as the views of those they have elected to represent these views. Uh-huh.
"The commentariat operates without scrutiny or redress. They cannot be held to account for their views, even when they perform the most athletic and acrobatic of flip-flops in the space of a few weeks." - Right so we bloggers aren't being held to account? OK. That's probably because we aren't running the country.
I shall continue to blog, Ms. Blears. Despite the fact you don't think I should because I have not been elected, and my views are therefore less valid than yours. This site allows people to voice their opinions, and we dont hold elections. Perhaps you would like us to stop? I don't think so.
On a lighter note I love the way political commentary can be easily slipped into other web phenomenon, such as this combination of http://icanhascheezburger.com/, and the recent controversy over the leaked BNP membership list --> genius.
