The Dumbest Council in Britain?

Edinburgh council – presently best known for spending £700m on half a tram system (and the wrong half at that) – has mercifully moved on to more important business: congratulating the Occupy Edinburgh “movement” on whatever it is they are doing camping in St Andrews’ Square beneath the disapproving (I’m sure) gaze of Henry Dundas, Viscount Melville. Never knowingly out-ninnied, however, the cooncil has decided to “recognise” the movement (for whatever this may be worth), passing a motion approving of its aims and sympathising with the campers and wishing them well.

Given that financial services are a significant, even vital, part of Edinburgh’s economy and the campers are expressly and especially hostile to financial services this could be considered an odd move by the council. Nevertheless and naturally, all parties with the merciful exception of the Conservatives agreed to recognise and endorse the Occupy movement. This alone provides some reason to support the Tories at the next election.

In response, the Occupying people issued a press release. They seem quite pleased by this bauble of recognition.

We are pleased to announce that Edinburgh City Council has set a worldwide precedent by voting in favour of the motion to support the aims and sentiments of Occupy Edinburgh and the aims of the Occupy Movements as a whole. This motion was presented by the Scottish Green Party, was seconded by the Scottish Labour Party and was slightly amended by the SNP and LibDems. The only party not to back the motion was the Conservatives.

We regard this as a fantastic step forward in the opening of dialogue with the Scottish government. With this historic decision, Edinburgh City Council are setting an example in local administration, as well as sending a message to the governments in both Holyrood and Westminster. They have shown willingness for open dialogue and respect alongside a fundamental commitment to the concerns of the people they are elected to represent. The current systems for economy and resource distribution are grossly outdated, and as the people educate themselves we begin to demand changes. Symptoms such as the “austerity/bailout” response of our government only serves to solidify the attitude of cynicism toward our current economic system, which has already moved far into general acceptance. Local Councils are the first step in the re-population of democracy, and should be following the example of Scotland’s capital by aligning themselves to a grassroots paradigm that places people and community before profit and unsustainable growth.

Few people have been especially impressed by the banks in recent times, nor by the excesses of big business. Nevertheless, how can one possibly have “open dialogue” (as opposed to closed dialogue?) with people who, though representing no-one and nothing more than their own discontent, appear to believe “people” and “profit” are necessarily opposed to one another and who consider “unsustainable growth” (that is, people becoming more prosperous) one of the mortal dangers of the age. (Never mind that there will be no growth, unsustainable or not, for some time yet.)

Nor, frankly, do I know what a “grassroots paradigm” might be when it’s at home (or anywhere else) or how you go about the “re-population of democracy” whatever that may mean. Note too that, in the typical style of leftists who view the public with some contempt, what’s holding the people back is their lack of education. If only the poor, gullible proletariate weren’t so easily gulled by junk food and plasma teevees foisted upon them by their plutocratic oppressors they might come to their senses, stir themselves and get up and do something. But, alas, they are stupid and unaware of their plight, the poor boobies.

Note too the hysterically grandiose prattling about “this historic decision” that will, natch, be recorded in any and every respectable history of the 21st century. And, again, the grim seriousness with which they propose to “open” some kind of “dialogue” with “the Scottish parliament.” But what is there to talk about and why should anyone care? Who elected the campers and who thinks your “voice” becomes more credible simply because you’re sleeping in a tent in an Edinburgh park?

Camp and protest to your heart’s content and that’s all fine and dandy, but the idea that this is a movement of the people whose views must be heard is laughable and it is typical of Edinburgh council, as mediocre a group as has ever mismanaged the city, to concern itself with such matters and elevate this inchoate protest movement to something it ain’t and never will be. And since these people require no encouragement anyway there’s no need to offer them any.