By John Charles Dyer, UK Correspondent
30 June, 2012. This week news of Barclay's role in the Libor scandal broke on the British consciousness like a hurricane. Politicians fell over themselves seeking to at the same time get ahead of raging public anger while protecting the politically powerful banking system. "Damage Control" was unspoken but the heralds scrambled frantically. As Opposition Leader Ed Miliband opined, Liborgate could dwarf Hackgate.
Introduction
This article is in the form of an open letter, especially addressed to the politically discouraged, marginalized, exhausted and abused of Britain. Of these there are many too many.
Their exhaustion and their discouragement is understandable. They ask themselves, "What will it take? How much damage must be done before it is stopped?"
Public and activists alike struggle daily and heroically against the inertia of an elite who too often have more in common with each other than they do the public they serve. Even when serving as the Opposition.
They struggle up the steep hill of a Parliamentary system with limited built-in checks and balances. It would be unfair to label it undemocratic. I often envied the British the British system when I wanted to institute a policy against the US deck, so often stacked against change with its seemingly interminable Marathon of hurdles. But the decisive British system can be decisively wrong, A decided and determined Party in Power can do much damage doing much wrong. Stopping it takes significant effort.
To them I offer this open letter.
Dearly discouraged:
Press on.
In a fight, it is the cumulative effect of body blows that most often brings the knock out.
Having been both fixer and the fixed for many - too many - years, let me assure you it can be done.
You will not see the knockout. It will take place behind closed doors over 1-3 brief exchanges of punctuated and pointed words and body language. It will happen something like this:
1) The Prime Minister will turn to the embattled Culture Secretary in Cabinet as if the Secretary is the only person in the room and say, “can’t you get those bl***d* old @&£^ on Twitter out of my hair?” The Secretary will resign.
2) The Prime Minister will turn to the Chancellor and Business Secretary in Cabinet as if they are the only persons in the room and say, “It’s hurting, but it isn’t working.” We will have a Plan B.
3) The Prime Minister will turn to his strategic Housing Secretary in Cabinet as if this operative is the only person in the room, and say, “I want the spilt milk off my plate. Fix it. Now.” A new team will conduct a new strategy more responsive to the people than the current.
The government will redirect. It will declare victory as it move sideways in a U. But it will be your effort, your values that will have won. However much they want you to think they don’t care what you think, they do. I've been there. Admittedly not against the Eton Wall Game. But regardless of game, what the public thinks does matter to our political leaders.
However little acknowledgement they give your contribution, you will have contributed. You will have won ... the battle.
But a caution against celebrating when that time comes. it won’t be over even with a complete change to suit your values. It won’t be over if they fall and a new Party comes to power.
It is never over. The price of freedom is eternal vigilance.
So take a deep breath. Take a shower. Do whatever you do to regroup.
And never say, “I quit.”