Why have people voted for Boris?

scorza said:
I agree. These voted for mayors have become a joke - Britain's population has proved once and for all that it is not deserving of elected city officials. First Red Ken (as endorsed by political heavyweight Fat Boy Slim), then Hangus McMonkey in Hartlepool, now Borris (lol what a legernd!).
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OMFG LOOK AT HIS FUNNEEE HAIR LOL!!!! BORRIS IS A LEGERND!!!!
 
nero120 said:
God you sound just like my grandfather. Pericles was a charismatic statesman who was devoted to his city, promoted the arts and led it into it's golden age. He may have not been perfect in the eyes of his critics but what politician is? As far as I'm concerned, there is no statesman who is more worthy of respect than Pericles.

Athens thrived because Pericles used the Delian League and their naval supremacy to his advantage. Oh but clearly that's not good enough for you...

As for Boris, we shall see, but I think he will do a darn sight better than that corrupt idiot livingstone.
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I was expecting that kind of reply, especially with a username like this :p

All I am saying is that Boris will never be endorsed the same way Plato and Socrates did not endorse Pericles - the populist/manipulist trait is annoying, and violates the fundamentals of democracy. An oligarchy of the educated is more preferable than the rule of the (manipulated) common man, imo.
 
Tefal said:
populist is kinda the very definition of democracy, not the man best for the job, but the best at persuasion.
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If you read some more Plato and Socrates you will find that the ideal of a democracy sees not common people get involved, but is instead limited to the educated classes. Furthermore, rather than appealing to the wide public, in a Socratean democracy the ruling of an educated tyrant is the more preferable option than the ruling of the weak-minded masses. From that perspective, Alexander's rule is actually preferable to rule by Pericles' successors.
 
Evangelion said:
He's keeping the congestion charge. Though he has said that he wants to eliminate the western zone, to relieve the terrible financial pressures on the starving millions of Kensington and Chelsea, who, as residents, only pay 10% of the charge anyway (80p instead of £8).

So you see, he's really a socialist in disguise.
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Because Ken was going to introduce the CC to Brixton and Stratford? Chelsea was completely pointless and another example of Ken Livington's bitter hatred towards the wealthy.
 
Ex-RoNiN said:
If you read some more Plato and Socrates you will find that the ideal of a democracy sees not common people get involved, but is instead limited to the educated classes. Furthermore, rather than appealing to the wide public, in a Socratean democracy the ruling of an educated tyrant is the more preferable option than the ruling of the weak-minded masses. From that perspective, Alexander's rule is actually preferable to rule by Pericles' successors.
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I believe Plato said that democracy is no better than mob rule and would lead to tyranny, and in fact the philosophers should rule as they would best be able to make decisions without their own interests at heart.

Obviously Plato was completely mistaken as in the practical world, this would never work, however he was right about democracy eventually leading to tyranny.
 
Ex-RoNiN said:
I was expecting that kind of reply, especially with a username like this :p
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What, water? ;)

All I am saying is that Boris will never be endorsed the same way Plato and Socrates did not endorse Pericles - the populist/manipulist trait is annoying, and violates the fundamentals of democracy. An oligarchy of the educated is more preferable than the rule of the (manipulated) common man, imo.
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Pericles was derided as a populist because he championed the lower classes and gave them rights that they would have never had. I agree with you in that I would have preferred democracy to have stayed more strict and not diluted with political powers dished out to every so and so, however, that does not dent my respect for him as a statesman. You don't have to agree with his policies to respect him as a successful leader and politician.
 
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