Quick to judge, quick to anger… Slow to understand

I’ve just read this article on the BBC news website.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-20474120

I should declare at the outset that I am not a member of UKIP, nor do I share all their views, but that applies on my part to all political parties anyway.

But… What the actual feck?

Anyone who thinks that UKIP is a racist party displays their own blatant political ignorance. Their membership comprises people of all backgrounds, colours, faiths, and sexualities.

“[The social worker] said UKIP does not like European people and wants them all out of the country to be returned to their own countries.”

That’ll be why UKIP’s leader is married to a German then.

The accusation of racism levelled at UKIP is bullshit. The party actually campaigns for closer trade links with Commonwealth, ‘non-white’, nations. UKIP may have eccentric views on some issues (environmental policy springs to mind), but a cursory look at their policies shows that the party’s main arguments are based on the tenets of democratic accountability, decentralisation, and small government – not xenophobia.

UKIP opposes the European Union institutions – not European people – for precisely these reasons. Why is that such a difficult concept for some tiny minds to grasp?

Perhaps I can grasp it, because I share the same view. I’m a graduate of Modern Languages who greatly appreciates, even loves the cultures of our European neighbours, enjoys exploring these countries, has lived in some of these countries, and quite simply values the cultural differences. I like Europeans, but, like the Swiss and Norwegians, am quite capable of liking Europeans without wanting to force countries together into an outdated political union, which is too big to be effective, too varied to have a convergence of interests on all policy areas, and too undemocratic to offer real power to its citizens and to respect the outcome of referenda on the rare occasions when these happen.

I share UKIP’s contempt of the EU, not just because it is undemocratic and inefficient when it comes to decision-making, but because it runs counter to the political evolution towards decentralisation of power and increasing engagement of ordinary citizens in decision-making processes. At a time when the EU is struggling to agree on a budget, Swiss citizens enjoy the rights to vote through the Internet on everyday political decisions. Swiss politicians are the servants of the people – not the other way around. An MP who entered a reality show in Switzerland could quite easily be recalled (i.e. lose her seat) – her constituents wouldn’t have to wait until the next General Election to express their contempt for her flagrant disregard of her responsibilities.

But, I digress somewhat. I just mean to make the point very clearly for the benefit of those in any doubt that it is possible to be anti-EU but pro European. If you still can’t grasp that concept, drop me a line, and I’ll see if I can explain it further. Back to the news story…

I know it’s difficult for some politically naive people to fall for these lazy clichés, but when they make life-changing decisions involving children based on false PC assumptions, they should be held to account.

I sincerely hope that the social workers involved get dragged through the courts.