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The Lines Are Open Get Voting, Personality Tests & Long Odds
December 16th, 2009
The Lines Are Open, Get Voting!
I’m sorry, I simply can’t imagine anything more awful than Simon Cowell hosting an X-Factor type show to select political candidates. (He is reported to be considering this.)
I know that our whole parliamentary system has fallen into disrepute over so many recent issues but the solution is not to cover it in garish tinsel, slap thick make-up over it, then present it scantily-clad and giggling and force it to dance for scraps.
The worst thing is that it would probably be quite popular, cause something of a sensation in the media and maybe, just maybe, be championed by the parties (none of whom are famous for ignoring a convenient bandwagon when it happens along.)
Even though this would, I suppose, be a form of Direct Democracy, which I support – it is a perverted and grotesque parody of a noble idea. I’m not against people presenting themselves to the public and asking for their support. But that’s what open primaries are for when selecting a candidate, and elections are for when selecting the winner.
The way to restore dignity and prestige to government is not ever going to begin with the words: “The lines are open, get voting folks!”
Personality Tests
I have just returned from the second part of my leadership training course, called “NG4″ (Next Generation 4). (Which is why I’ve not blogged or approved comments until now!) I stayed in the capital last night, under the shadow of the London Eye and across the river from the Houses Of Parliament (a truly awe-inspiring view from my hotel window.) In fact the hotel itself and the rooms where the training took place were inside County Hall, the historic old center of government for the City. Inspirational, and then some!
The morning consisted of a very interesting and informative presentation concerning communications; how to use them, what works, what doesn’t work and how to make sure you are letting the public know what you are trying (and managing) to achieve. The afternoon had a more “workshop” format covering Speech Writing, Public Speaking, Group Decisions – and a personality test. Yep, you heard me, I had to take part in a personality test.
At this point, some people who know me are probably laughing. After all, whatever else I am nobody would normally accuse me of being “conventional.” I was quite tempted to play the test a little and have some fun with it, but of course that wasn’t why I was there. So I did it straight. Some of the other people on the course were wondering: “What if we don’t like the outcome? How will we change?” My own thoughts never strayed that way. I am who I am. If that means I am well-equipped for local politics – great! If it doesn’t, it wouldn’t stop me giving it a go nor phase me in any way. I’m pretty comfortable with myself, warts and all.
Anyhow, I had no need to panic. When the psychologist (a very nice lady, nothing at all like the stereotype you sometimes see in parody) brought me in for my one-to-one to go over the results they were, surprisingly, pretty balanced. I sat in a fairly safe central area in most skill sets and character evaluations. “You are happy to work alone or as part of a team.”
“You challenge issues where necessary but are happy for others to take a lead when appropriate.”
That sort of thing. Pretty boring, I know. Maybe I should have had some fun with the questions after all…
Travelling back from London to Wisbech reminded me why it is that I prefer to use my car, rather than public transport, when going South. Three and a half-hours travelling, £38.00 for the train from Waterloo to Kings Lynn (three train changes if you include the end-of-service change at Cambridge) and £25.00 for a cab back to Wisbech (or try and find a bus at 9PM in Kings Lynn in the zero-degree temperature while carrying a suitcase.) By car it would have cost me half that and I’d have been home twice as quickly.
Long Odds
I was tickled to see local newspaper editor John Elworthy’s new twitter about the ‘odds’ for who might be selected as the next leader of the District Council. He had included my name at 33-1! Given that I’m not a Disrtict Councillor if I were to have such a lofty ambition it would require a Djinn and a reliable trio of wishes. And let me tell you, if I ever brush a bronzed lamp and a turban’d elemental pops forth and offers me my heart’s desire, I can’t honestly say that my first thoughts would run to a power grab at Fenland…
But I do appreciate the thought. It was funny and I enjoyed it (though I’m not sure everybody else did… )
3 Responses to “The Lines Are Open Get Voting, Personality Tests & Long Odds”
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Lets get this straight, you’ve been on your leadership course again, but it’s not ‘that sort of leadership’ ? And you’ve undertaken personality testing, while trying to appear normal ? Why does the image of Dr Strangelove spring to mind ? How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Lisbon ?
Smiley
Moderator (Steve Tierney)’s Monotone Response: All is well in the world. I love quantitative easing. I love Gordon Brown. Higher taxes are great. The state must rule the individual. All is well in the… all is well…. all…. …. does not compute…
This is a bad idea as ppl would just choose who they thoought was prettiest
Also a certain type of people watch xfactor and it woulf be scary if they could choose a leader, we’d get jordan standing for the BNP as our prime minister!
Moderator (Steve Tierney)’s Response: I’d rather watch Jordon on Question Time than Nick Griffin…
I still don’t understand how ther X-Factor for politics would work.
Does the policy that gets the most votes get passed, do we have a politician for the constituency of ‘TVland’, or do we have a show for each constitiuency?