Fast on the road
May 9, 2010 4:48 PM   Subscribe

Precocious 14-year-old Alfie McKenzie writes an article for The Guardian on his Warholian 15 after voting in the UK General Election.
posted by Pranksome Quaine (14 comments total) 6 users marked this as a favorite
 
Warholian 15? Horrible phrasing, and I suspect we'll see a little more of this kid if he lives up to his promise. Though I hope he doesn't waste his time in politics.

Stupendously articulate, I'm very jealous...
posted by wilful at 5:03 PM on May 9, 2010


"I voted for something that lends itself to my socialism because I believe that everybody has a moral obligation to help their fellow man and promote equal opportunities; conservatism, regardless of its alleged progressiveness, urinates all over that obligation.

The working class/upper class contrast we have in this country is nothing short of an unofficial caste system.
"

This kid is a hero.
posted by jardinier at 5:03 PM on May 9, 2010 [9 favorites]


I do love his plan to divert suspicion by dressing as much like a Tory as he could. And this:

The highlight of my week was refusing an interview with the Sun, not just because I'm a Liverpool fan but also because I have some sense of decency.

For those outside the UK who don't know the story, this isn't a reference to supporting one football team over another, but to a pretty awful incident in tabloid history.
posted by Catseye at 5:23 PM on May 9, 2010 [6 favorites]


"I voted for something that lends itself to my socialism because I believe that everybody has a moral obligation to help their fellow man and promote equal opportunities; conservatism, regardless of its alleged progressiveness, urinates all over that obligation.

The working class/upper class contrast we have in this country is nothing short of an unofficial caste system."


QFT
posted by djduckie at 6:00 PM on May 9, 2010


Lock him up.
posted by HTuttle at 8:48 PM on May 9, 2010


Lock him up.

Oh, shush already you wicked old harpy. We already know your heart is three sizes too small, no need to keep reminding everyone at every chance.
posted by loquacious at 10:41 PM on May 9, 2010 [1 favorite]


What, so electoral fraud is OK so long as the fraudster is cute and votes Liberal?
posted by Phanx at 1:20 AM on May 10, 2010 [1 favorite]


Britain has a history of young aspiring politicians.
posted by adamvasco at 2:02 AM on May 10, 2010


So why did I vote for the Liberal Democrats? Well, I voted for something that lends itself to my socialism

He's going to be sorely disappointed when he reads the Orange Book - the LibDems chief negotiator with the Tories suggested an insurance-based national health system.
posted by I_pity_the_fool at 2:58 AM on May 10, 2010


"Lock him up."

"What, so electoral fraud is OK so long as the fraudster is cute and votes Liberal?"

Maybe more that the harm is de minimis and the accused is 14. He'll almost certainly get a police caution that will erase when he turns 18, which is probably the right thing to do here. It's important not to condone it, but it's not exactly like he's a hardened criminal.

I personally wouldn't want the state to end up paying £100k pa to imprision him*; it would be an appalling outcome for all sides. Doing so because of mere vindictiveness would be even worse.

*"Providing a prison bed in a Young Offender Institution costs about £100,000 per year. While these expenses are overwhelming, the results of Punishing Costs suggest that the long-term costs are even higher. Children that have gone through prison are more likely to be unemployed, to live in poverty and have unstable living conditions. They are also more likely to return to offending – making the overall reduction in crime created by prison very small." - NEF, "Punishing Costs" (http://www.neweconomics.org/publications/punishing-costs).
posted by jaduncan at 3:07 AM on May 10, 2010


"He'll almost certainly get a police caution that will erase when he turns 18..."

That the police will tell him will be erased when he turns 18, but which will tun up on every criminal background check he goes through betwee now and death.
posted by vbfg at 3:48 AM on May 10, 2010


Oh yeah and they'll keep his DNA if the Tories and LibDems don't change the law.
posted by I_pity_the_fool at 3:50 AM on May 10, 2010


the harm is de minimis

Yes, what he did is pretty trivial (though not at all trivial in what it reveals about the ramshackle, untrustworthy UK election apparatus): it's the Guardian that I think needs a rap on the knuckles (no serious question of jail, surely) for celebrating it.
posted by Phanx at 6:58 AM on May 10, 2010


This kid is a hero.

Agreed but he needs to ditch the Justin Bieber hair. It doesn't do any favors for my Congressman Dennis Kucinich...well, unless you count marrying a really good-looking smart woman half your age, but that won't fly here unless 7-year-olds are allowed to marry in the UK.
posted by bitter-girl.com at 10:33 AM on May 10, 2010


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