I was listening to the Leader of the LibDems, Nick Clegg, saying that it was time for the Speaker, Michael Martin, to go.  His argument is that tradition, and ‘good form’, dictates that MPs don’t criticise the Speaker, but he condemned the Speaker for “dragging his feet” over the issue of MPs’ expenses, and as someone who is “a dogged defender of the way things are” at a time when radical change is required.  Mr Clegg feels that now is not a time for being discrete and ‘playing the game’, but one for changing it!

One can look at the banking system and ask the same same question, does it need modifying or radical change?  Change is like this.  The perpetual question is “Do I bend it or do I break it?”  There are costs and advantages both ways.  Radical change ends up losing all the elements that  worked in the previous system, marginal change always just nibbles away at the problem but never eradicates.  Radical change is exciting at the beginning but takes a long time to become effective, and there is a lot of mess in the interim. 

Which approach do you prefer?  What strategy has worked best for you?

“The (American) Revolution was effected before the War commenced. The Revolution was in the minds and hearts of the people; a change in their religious sentiments of their duties and obligations. This radical change in the principles, opinions, sentiments, and affections of the people, was the real American Revolution.”  John Adams

Resources:

• BBC Story
• Sky News