tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216265298625671683.post8250175952972890031..comments2012-10-30T12:22:24.252+00:00Comments on SO WHAT CHANGED? POST ELECTION 2O10: Not posh enough for Labour?mrsgthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16616528405033447350noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216265298625671683.post-25510469352443042982011-01-27T20:59:59.705+00:002011-01-27T20:59:59.705+00:00Although grammar schools are not without their pro...Although grammar schools are not without their problems - I think you have to question why politicians in general are willing to stand up and say no to selection based on ability yet allow selection based on wealth to continue and indeed encourage and support it through affording 'charitable status' and public funding of private sector teachers. This is where everything starts.It's not just politics dominated by public school educated people, but large swathes of most public and private organisations. Policymakers need to address this if they want to change things - until they do I fear we'll stay largely as we are .. i.e governed by people who really have no idea how the majority of people live/what drives them and the pressures they face. Add the career politician to the mix and you start to understand why so many mistakes are made!!! That Douglas Adams quote springs to mind - anyone capable of becoming president should on no account be allowed to do so .. almost written for the current crop really. Greater diversity of representation and proper links to the community are definitely the way forward. On that note Helen - you have my vote :0))). SamHAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216265298625671683.post-34578740144568207712011-01-27T14:04:53.665+00:002011-01-27T14:04:53.665+00:00I suspect Open Primaries may just be a way of the ...I suspect Open Primaries may just be a way of the best funded best organised person prevailing... (which tends to be the rule of thumb in politics) - which once again favours careerists...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216265298625671683.post-46851805040502095102011-01-27T13:45:03.778+00:002011-01-27T13:45:03.778+00:00Good post - did you see this from Matt Gwilliam on...Good post - did you see this from Matt Gwilliam on LFF? http://www.leftfootforward.org/2011/01/private-schooling-goes-right-to-the-heart-of-who-we-are/<br /><br />I agree with much of what you've written. It seems to me that unless you prepared to put 24/7 into political activities you're going to miss out, or perhaps that's just how it feels in London. <br /><br />I wonder if we'll see a rapid decline in those who come into politics after pursuing careers in teaching and nursing because the barriers to entry are just to high. I think of friends who teach, people who'd make great MPs but just don't have the time to dedicate to political meetings at the same time as juggling their career and a life. You can't go to conference because it's in term time, etc, etc.<br /><br />Its also really interesting to read some of studies that organisations like Progress have put together about the other barriers - http://clients.squareeye.com/uploads/prog/documents/Labour%20PPCs%20research%20pdf.pdf. What do you think of open primaries? Could they be part of the solution?Tom Bakerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14145811398069588789noreply@blogger.com