However, recent events in the US seem to be nudging me in to reconsidering my position on the matter. People and states are using the Constitution to limit the power and role of the Federal Government (See the 9th and 10th Amendment), the people are starting to say “Where did the Founding Fathers set out that the Federal Government have the power to impose the health care system?”. The Constitution it would appear is performing its primary function – to limit big government by setting out exactly what it can and can’t do.

I’m not in any way trying to suggest that merely writing a Constitution would solve all of Britain’s problems – it won’t – but perhaps the Old World could learn something of the New. The main problem I now see is I don’t believe there is anyone with the capability to write such a document, no modern day politician quite measures up to the likes of Jefferson or Madison.  Having seen one suggestion for a new Bill of Rights and Responsibility I could see any attempt to give Britain a Constitution would see the problem of too much government trying to be solved with more government (well it would make sense to Brown I suppose – solve the problem of debt with more debt?).

Tea Party anyone?

So here it is…

As I’m sure you are all very well aware, 2010 is General Election year. The University’s Conservative Society will be out in force campaigning for your vote. A cross on the ballot paper is especially important this year. We entered 2010 with Gordon Brown having spent more money during his term than all other Prime Ministers in this country’s history combined. We need to send a strong message to Brown that this is simply not good enough. Tough decisions will need to be made – only the Conservatives can bring this change. Neither Labour nor the Liberal Democrats can be trusted with your money. Only the Conservatives will make the cuts necessary to sort out our battered economy.

For the last five years Anne Milton has been a fantastic constituency MP and consistently standing up for the interests of the people here in Guildford – defending the Royal Surrey Hospital, protecting our green spaces from over development and keeping our post offices open. A regular visitor here at the University she will continue to work hard for students.

The Conservatives are the party equipped to deal with the problems locally and nationally. The Conservatives have a consistent track record for keeping Council Tax low. The Conservative Hammersmith and Fulham Council cut Council Tax by 3% for four years straight – while continuing to improve upon the delivery of front-line services. But in the final two years of the Lib Dem control of Guildford Council saw Council Tax rise by 8.86% in 2002 and 7.36% in 2003.

As students it is our future that is at stake – it is we that will be going out in to the world of work in the coming years and we need to enter a workplace founded upon a sound economy. We have a clear choice this election, a Conservative Party willing and able to tackle to problems faced by this country – or a devalued Labour government burying its head in the sand.

So, what are these new developments and how are they improving political communication in Britain?

Well, firstly, I’ll begin with the blogosphere – prior to the “coming of age” for the internet communication of different perspectives was very much limited, only those in major television companies and the big newspapers could really air their opinions with the public. But the internet smashes this clique and brings soap-box politics to the masses – no longer do people like myself need to stand on a box in Hyde Park bearing all conditions. I have on my bookshelf a copy of Total Politics Guide to Political Blogging, while not stating the exact number of blogs covered in the directory I can tell you it covers 24 pages with around 50 links on each page. This just exhibits the sheer number of different viewpoints and perspectives that are able to be expressed – a far greater number than could have possibly be imagined if we still relied upon the Fleet Street Barons to provide us with our full information in take.

I have in the past week twice been to the Conservative Party’s new GenEVA call centre in central office, this new state of the art call centre truly does bring telephone canvassing in to the 21st Century and is a significant asset to the party. It really does allow the party to hear the views of the electorate – a development that I believe can only be positive. From a personal perspective I really did enjoy speaking to the people, it is a truly unique experience – a sentiment I’m sure any of you who have done door-to-door canvassing will agree with.

But what about those aspects from the 20th Century that were positive and need to be continued? Cameron Direct is one such example that brings the the town hall meeting and the internet together. The formula is a simple one – take David Cameron and put him in a hall with an audience, but then to further the range of involvement include comments made via Twitter and the Conservative Website. It is a movement that has increased momentum since the Conservatives launched their draft manifesto. The education section of this was brought out the other week and it gave Joe Public the opportunity to ask questions to Cameron which were prioritised through Google Moderator  - I believe that the number of votes cast over proposed questions was in the region of 40,000. This really is an example of bringing policy to the people – I should also like to point out here that although I sound highly partisan in this section I do not wish to, I would be equally supportive if the other two main parties were to adopt a similar strategies.

Of course there are elements of political campaigning that can never really be replaced no matter how advanced technology becomes. Old fashioned pounding the streets delivery leaflets and door-to-door canvassing may be time consuming but it is highly effective and I’m sure that in this election year candidates and campaigners will continue this timeless tradition of fantastic public interaction – and long may it continue.

Also thought this being a piece on new technology I should give a quick closing mention to YouTube, enjoy!

Well, last night the Commons was alive with debate. The subject? Should the government go to the people with a referendum on a change to the voting system. Dumping First-Past-the-Post and bringing in Alternative Vote. This is a very nice step for the government I must say, I’m all for increasing the use of referendums and putting the power to make decisions in the hands on the people. But, why on electoral reform and why now? Before the government handed over yet more power to the European Superstate they made a pledge to hold a referendum on The EU Constution Lisbon Treaty, but rescinded on their pledge – as did the Liberal Democrats – the only party that made any effort to let the people have a say was the Conservatives, but sadly the Treaty was ratified before any action could be taken. And it is electoral reform of all the things that could possibly be voted upon that Gordon has settled upon.

But anyhow, so the government has offered to take this pledge to the people. Since their election in 1997 Labour has said nothing of Electoral Reform and their pledge made before the election (like Europe – see a pattern here?) was swiftly swept under the carpet when they realised the rules suited them nicely. A lot has happened since 1997, the Conservatives are once again an election winning force and Labour is swamped by bitter infighting and on the verge of imploding – and what is Gordon’s remedy? Move the goal posts. He knows that he cannot win under the present system – which seemed to be fine before – and so has decided to have one more roll of the dice and make a deal in a smoke (free) back-room with the Lib-Dems. Thankfully, I, unlike Gordon, still have respect for the intelligence of the British public and know they will see right through this unjustifiable piece of tinkering.

I haven’t gone into the problems with the actual change in the voting system this time, but perhaps I might some time soon