From Julijuxtaposed
My thanks to Russell, without whose timing I may have written about something else…
Apathy: lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern:
Origin: early 17th century: from French apathie, via Latin from Greek apatheia, from apathēs ‘without feeling’, from a- ‘without’ + pathos ‘suffering’
Is apathy the right word for the public’s attitude to politics and the democratic process?
Is there really a lack of interest? Perhaps in the current content spewing from most mainstream mouths but this is not the same as a lack of interest in the issues.
Is there really a lack of enthusiasm? Perhaps for the direction in which said spew wants to take us. Perhaps for some issues: immigration gets some people very heated, for instance, whereas others refuse to see it as an issue worthy of so much time.
Is there really a lack of concern? I should bloody well hope not! Considering…
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Mike Sivier's blog 
We need Old Labour back again, but what we have is the TUSC that has 1% to 5% of the vote, not enough to make a difference even in a pure PR system let alone first past the post.
The TUSC is not be going anywhere, electorally or otherwise. It is a cul-de-sac for the same factions that have managed to bring the left into unelectable squabbles many time past.
We need the return to the old Labour of Bevin, even Wilson. Wilson had the rhetoric that suited the moment – his speech on the “white hot” technological revolution and the massive funding of prime polytechnics science department’s, for example where the actions fitted the need and the mood.
We need unions that understand and educate not just their members but the wider public about the need to protect our basic needs for living wages and a safety net that is currently being turned into a grotesque version of the Victorian Poor Law. We need them to get their money out, and their campaigning to form the broad alliances needed at local and National levels
Benefit Sanctions Must Be Stopped Without Exceptions in UK?
Petition Calling For Benefit Sanctions To Be Scrapped Hits Nearly 2000 Signatures In First Few Hours
http://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/benefit-sanctions-must-be-stopped-without-exceptions-in-uk
Yes – we covered this on the day it came out, but thanks for the reminder.