As Churchill famously said "Many forms of Government have been tried, and will be tried in this world of sin and woe. No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise. Indeed, it has been said that democracy is the worst form of Government except all those other forms that have been tried from time to time."
Andy Burnham is a creature of the system, and we should criticise the system not Burnham.
Unfortunately, I have no idea how to change the system to get a better result, and even if I did it would never be adopted. The only way forward is to recognise the flaws in the system and try to minimise the damage
Andy Burnham may be "a creature of the system", as you say. But he is by no means the inevitable result of the system. If the Parliamentary Labour Party want Andy Burnham to lead them, they are entitled to choose him and we, the people, must live with that. But it shouldn't mean that we must all sit silently whilst Burnham goes about his business. It is an essential feature of our democracy that the people being governed are allowed not only to have a view on their government but also to express their view.
Agreed that we have the right – if not the duty – to point out where we consider Burnham is going wrong. But it is futile to complain about his elevation – we have to accept it as a product of our system, and – as I said – try to minimise the damage.
As Churchill famously said "Many forms of Government have been tried, and will be tried in this world of sin and woe. No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise. Indeed, it has been said that democracy is the worst form of Government except all those other forms that have been tried from time to time."
Andy Burnham is a creature of the system, and we should criticise the system not Burnham.
Unfortunately, I have no idea how to change the system to get a better result, and even if I did it would never be adopted. The only way forward is to recognise the flaws in the system and try to minimise the damage
Andy Burnham may be "a creature of the system", as you say. But he is by no means the inevitable result of the system. If the Parliamentary Labour Party want Andy Burnham to lead them, they are entitled to choose him and we, the people, must live with that. But it shouldn't mean that we must all sit silently whilst Burnham goes about his business. It is an essential feature of our democracy that the people being governed are allowed not only to have a view on their government but also to express their view.
Agreed that we have the right – if not the duty – to point out where we consider Burnham is going wrong. But it is futile to complain about his elevation – we have to accept it as a product of our system, and – as I said – try to minimise the damage.