+UK local elections are taking place on May 4th. This will be the first set of elections where voters will be asked to provide photo i/d at the polling station. This new rule was introduced by the Conservatives as part of their attempts at gerrymandering—following the US Republicans’ playbook to the letter. People who can’t afford to travel abroad (no passport) or drive a car (no driving license) will just have to lump it. Stuff ‘em, clearly, perhaps such people are just the type to expect welfarism from birth to death without ever having to think about it. But apparently old photo i/d documentation will be accepted. That’s great! For the last 50 years or so I have carried my miniature Canadian citizenship certificate in my wallet, so come my turn to vote I will present this. I don’t know about you, but whilst I know the certificate's picture is of me, I’m not sure that 50 year-old photo looks anything like me now. So slim! So handsome! I doubt polling station staff would accept it as proof of my identity, so of course I’ll take a back-up. Perhaps an old expired passport, with me and my beard before it all went grey/semi-white. It would be interesting to see how the polling station staff react. At what age would my appearance become acceptable? This could become a project worthy of a social sciences grant.
+Talking of social sciences, I read the other week that when Trump lets his hair down, he has shoulder length hair on one side. Can you imagine him coming out of the shower? Sorry, that was unfair. But as he and his octogenarian opponent go head to head, their hair might be an issue. There is no reason why Biden couldn’t follow Trump’s comb-over —he still has enough left (just) to do it— but as a Democrat he is clearly more honest about what he’s got left, and I admit it’s not a lot. As Silvio Berlesconi recognised, hair is important for a politician’s image (not just male politicians—remember Thatcher?). In the UK the last time a bald politician became Prime Minister was in 1945 when both main contenders were bald and nobody had TV. I suspect one reason people didn’t take to William Hague (one reason amongst many) was that he was bald. How can you trust a thirty-odd year old with no virile mop on his head? At this precise moment I can’t think of a world leader with significant hair loss. Oh hang on. Putin comes close. See what I mean?
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