People are sick of infantile politicians

Sep 24 2010

IT never ceases to amaze how intelligent people in positions of power and great responsibility can be so infantile.

Goading and jibing between opposition politicians is nothing new and, most of the time, the juvenile levels to which the protagonists stoop in order to score points is mildly amusing.

But there was something deeply unedifying about watching these councillors at it again at a meeting last week held to discuss the small matter of the borough's long-term future.

Up in the public gallery were scores of residents from the White City Estate and staff from a threatened housing centre for the homeless, there because they wanted some reassurance about their futures.

Many are old and have lived there for 50 years. Some are so worried that it is making them ill. So worried, in fact, that they gave up a Thursday evening to sit in a council chamber.

And what did they get for their time? Middle-aged men making sheep noises at each other; one councillor speaking in a silly voice and mocking an opposition member 'because daddy didn't buy you an iPhone', and the sort of gurning from some members that wouldn't have looked out of place at a kindergarten.

Had these councillors even noticed the residents? Of course they had, which makes their arrogance even more astounding.

No wonder people are sick to the back teeth of politics.