..and that’s why dolphins aren’t in charge. Nowhere to put their wallets.

But seriously, I guess you are aware that capitalism as a stage and a certain point in development is actually a Marxist argument straight out of Das Capital?

I can’t get my head around the idea that people’s reasons for voting how they vote are irrelevant. Why do politicians – or anyone – bother, if people’s thoughts, feelings and desires are irrelevant?

Interestingly that comes back to ‘Marxist Archaeology’ – which as expressed by Gordon Childe, its principle British proponent, was about looking at the thoughts, feelings and desires – the motivations – of the people behind the artifacts. The Stalinist approach was of course different, and probably nonsense. Marx himself had absolutely nothing to say on the subject of archaeology. The ‘Childean’ take on archaeology is a living and widely applied method of approaching the subject. I speak not from Wiki, but courtesy of my missus, who is a graduate archaeologist (but not a Marxist).

So democracy works by people voting for the person they think will be the winner?

Hi Charlie

I guess the quandary was about people’s perceptions for a general election. I agree the Labour Party needs to consider a leadership candidates electability, no question there.

I have a subtly different take when it comes to a general election, though. In my world I would vote for the policies, and yes, my assessment of the character of the candidate as well, of course. But not their electability. My question is the rationale behind someone’s electability pivoting on their.. perceived electability. But then, in a society where you become famous for being famous, maybe it shouldn’t exercise me so much.

The ‘rant’ was the ‘people like that should be..’ bit. But then I have just edited my last post to remove a rant as well.

Yes, it does seem that ‘irrelevance’ is one of the main issues with Corbyn’s politics (I will not say ‘brand’ of Politics as that phrase sums up what is wrong, for me).

Of course, a lot of folks who say Marxism has no relevance are conflating the 1970’s with Marxism as the latter was big in the former. But I digress.

Is this the real issue – we now have two generations of voters who have been told everything was crap in the 1970’s because there was (real) Labour Government, then everything was made lovely by the Blessed Margaret, and if you vote for a man who wears chords and uses the ‘S’ word then we’ll immediately be plunged into a blackout and be forced to watch paedophiles on narrow-screen TV’s?

But yes. I am getting the idea that it’s a perception of irrelevance that might be the issue..

No, the interviewer didn’t ask for qualification.

Corbyn’s policies are here – http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-33772024 – Proper ‘left-wing’ certainly! I find it quite refreshing. And there’s nothing wrong with being nice..

I knew I’d get a lot of ‘kill the socialist’ rants – I am more interested in the ‘unelectable’ bit. My fear is that people who are skilled in making themselves ‘electable’ (eg Tony Blair) tend to profit from such thinking – and I am trying to understand it.

The point is that there will be answers, but they will come from the AAIB who have access to all the facts and data, rather than from this or any other internet forum, whatever the combined experience of its contributors.

Understood. Apologies. Yes, it is a serious matter, and a terrible time for those affected. I would hope that this can be seen as a separate attempt to illustrate, with an attempt at humour, my frustration at elements of the British press. I would not – can not – make light of the actual events.