Is Ian Jack a complete idiot?
There's a particularly stupid piece in the Guardian today by Ian Jack, based on this premise:
Next week 7 million Londoners may wake to discover Boris Johnson is their mayor. Some time before the summer of 2010 60 million UK citizens may discover that David Cameron is their prime minister. If you live in London as I do that means living under a double yoke of old Etonians.That's the problem with elections, Mr Jack. You get who you - or someone else - voted for.
I'm sick of reading about how awful it is that old Etonians are involved in politics. So what? Why is it worse than having alumni of Bog Standard Comprehensive in Inner City Wasteland? Doesn't the calibre of the man or woman. and what they are offering, count?
Then again, Jack asks the right question but in the blinkered, stupid way of so many of his ilk fails to grasp the obvious answer:
The front bench and Cameron's private office are stacked with old Eton boys. Journalists write about it continually, but with remarkably little sense of shock, as though the grammar school years of Heath, Thatcher and Major had never existed and the old routes to power (a school, a club, a good marriage, a trust fund) were just the inescapable, unalterable facts in the web of English life.Why do you think it is that "the grammar school years" are over? Difficult one, eh? Might it not be because they were abolished? Doh. Is it any wonder that the alumni of schools providing a great education to those who can afford it have risen to the top of politics because those who can't afford a great education have been condemned to dross?
Sometime you have to wonder if our supposed intellectual glitterati have any brains at all.
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Ian C
April 26th, 2008 12:18pmWell said. But there's a (small but some deem it worthwhile) market for that sort of inbuilt 'auto' prejudice - quite where it came from I am at a loss to know. Unfortunately, all media only print/show what sells not what is worthwhile or honest.
Ted
April 26th, 2008 12:53pmThe bigger hole in his argument is that the Front bench isn't stacked with Old Etonians - its Cameron & Letwin. Neither is his private office. But facts, what are facts to a Guardian journalist. There is hope though if his prejudices mean he moves north and writes only for Glasgow labour leaning papers.
Agreed a majority are privately educated but only just a majority.
Water
April 26th, 2008 12:58pmPollard there is a typo where you entered "Doesn't the calibre of the man or woman. and what they are poffering, count?".
John
April 26th, 2008 2:37pmSupposed intellectual glitterati??? Come again??! He writes for the Guardian, for f***'s sake.
Ann
April 26th, 2008 2:39pmDo remind us, Ian, how many MacLabour ministers send their kids to private schools, you dimwit?
Ian C
April 26th, 2008 4:25pmAnn, if you're talking to me, perhaps you would explain your point instead of making ad hominem attacks. I was agreeing with Stephen and simply having a little go at the media as a whole. Never seen that done before? Certainly no need to be rude.
Ann
April 26th, 2008 4:56pmI was talking, as it were, to Ian Jack, the subject of this thread ... He was talking about Eton, which you were not.
Max Kaye
April 26th, 2008 7:05pmWhy is anyone surprise about the stuff that's written in The Guardian? If you step in shit are you surprised that your shoe stinks?
Stephen Pollard
April 26th, 2008 9:19pmThanks for pointing out the typo.
Lee Jakeman
April 26th, 2008 9:58pmGreat piece. Goes straight to the point like a punch in the mouth.
Water
April 27th, 2008 12:14amNo problem you're human like the rest of us.