Ist UKIP MP

Once a group has been objectified, dehumanised and isolated, anything can happen. Yellow stars - lest we forget

Yes, like chickens in a barnyard, humans are obsessed with defining otherness.

But is spreading half truths and prejudice the best use of ourselves?

Iam64 I think most of us know about yellow stars.

Making some people into 'others' is very common. Who are the 'others' in the Middle East at the moment?

Other is other to us. It is whatever you want it to be and that is the point.

I think Alan Johnson would have made a good party leader.

I tend to agree but, as has been said, whether he would stand up to the others I'm not so sure. He was very personable and probably quite capable. It's also a shame that David Davis didn't stand for election for the Tories - we might be stating what lovely political parties the UK has

I don't know whether Alan Johnson would have made a good party leader, but he didn't manage to sort out the huge mess Alan Milburn had made regarding GPs' pay and hours, did he?

I certainly don't see Natalie Bennett or Caroline Lucas as "jolly hockey-sticks types". They are intelligent, articulate, courteous and to the point - unlike many politicians today.

I didn't think we were talking about ourselves personally but about the electorate in general - and it would seem they disagree with you as the Greens do not do well at all. Voters tend to want someone that they can relate to and they feel can relate to them. I doubt that Bennett or Lucas can do that with those who live on the breadline.

You don't have to look very far to find some pretty questionable behaviour from members of UKIP.

Don't all Parties have their clowns?

Well said, eloethan, particularly about Lucas and Bennett. I cannot imagine Caroline Lucas with a hockey stick. Natalie Bennett is Australian, and very unlikely to play hockey, too. They did not dream up the Green Party; it was around long before they were involved. You are really letting your prejudice show, Holly.

It was meant as an analogy durhamjen - not as factual.

Oh, should have added durhamjen - as you have no idea which social class I belong to, how would you know if I was prejudiced or not? As I have said to Eloethan, I am talking about the electorate in general, not personal (I prefer our system to yours but there's little point in discussing that as it's a system you don't have).

I don't know whether Alan Johnson would have made a good party leader, but he didn't manage to sort out the huge mess Alan Milburn had made regarding GPs' pay and hours, did he?

No idea Ana - I can only go from what I've seen of him over the years and the lack of arrogance from him just made me notice him.

Ah well, you will, no doubt, have one of the usual two in power and it'll be no big surprise how things unfold (but I do feel so sorry for those who don't belong even to the lower-middle classes because it seems that is the cut-off point as far as politicians are concerned).

I think the comments on the news recently sum it all up: people are afraid of change and look for reasons to justify their reluctance to try it.