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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Climate activists back solar energy bills Ashland High School cycling squad ready to roll, with help from South State Cycling nonprofit group Ashland Independent Film Festival movie review: 'A River Between Us' tells compelling story of 'the largest environmental restoration project in American history' Aging Happens: There are many different kinds of home health services Ashland High School's robotics team's season ends at district meet Education Bracing for Common Core Ashland Kiwanis recognize Lillian Huang Chautauqua series brings author Jane Hamilton to Ashland Ashland Runs on Volunteers: OLLI classes pay dividends in joy of teaching, learning New Southern Oregon University board votes to bump tuition nearly 5 percent in the fall Environment Lots to celebrate at SOU Arbor Day rites Mt. Ashland Ski Area to host party March 28 Mt. Ashland hopes coming storm will reopen ski area Wild Side: Selfish and other reasons for saving endangered species Business Ride & Drive: 2015 Ram ProMaster City Ashlander starts up a natural pet food supplement business Should workers be paid at least $15 an hour? Ride & Drive: 2016 Mazda CX-5 Cars We Remember: Car lover knows his 348/409 engines Politics and elections Arthur I. Cyr: Britain’s earthquake election Council wants changes to agreement with ODOT for I-5 welcome center Arthur I. Cyr: Afghanistan progress is uneven but undeniable Jackson County Commissioners plan no tax on marijuana for first year Grassroots group campaigns for Plaza paver do-over State News Runners to follow historic salmon migration path Nation - World Tsarnaev convicted on all charges in Boston Marathon bombing Obituaries Lawrence R. Hugo III Death Notices Gordon Geeseman William D. Enyart Death Notices Shareable Sports Latest Stories Ashland High School cycling squad ready to roll, with help from South State Cycling nonprofit group Grizzlies blow away Eagles Hits just keep on coming Ashland readies for Pacific Rim Bowl Baldrica sets pace for AHS girls High school Grizzlies blow away Eagles Hits just keep on coming Baldrica sets pace for AHS girls Ashland High events postponed to today Upset-minded Raiders swept by No. 17 Concordia Southern Oregon University Grizzlies blow away Eagles Baldrica sets pace for AHS girls SOU women's hoops coach Kennedy leaves to take Portland State job SOU-OIT softball games moved to Wednesday Upset-minded Raiders swept by No. 17 Concordia Voices Latest Stories Letters to the Editor, April 11 Herb Rothschild Jr.: How we get along Matthew T. Mangino: Shooting a fleeing suspect in the back Our View: Ashland is prepared, Firewise Jeffrey Gillespie: Ditching the Western burka Editorial Our View: Ashland is prepared, Firewise Our View: Council should stop stalling on welcome center Our View: AIFF does Ashland proud Our View: One tree vs. the Ashland community Our View: Ashland climate plan: Small steps add up Letters Letters to the Editor, April 11 Letters to the Editor, April 8 Letters to the Editor, April 7 Letters to the Editor, April 4 Letters to the Editor, April 1 Guest opinions Guest Opinion: Fremont cottonwood is not a hazard Guest Opinion: Ashland council vote on travelers accommodations was less than transparent Guest Opinion: Hannah Thomas-Garner's father thanks the Ashland community Guest Opinion: Ashland is asking for trouble with new room rental rules Columns Herb Rothschild Jr.: How we get along Matthew T. Mangino: Shooting a fleeing suspect in the back Jeffrey Gillespie: Ditching the Western burka Guest Opinion: Fremont cottonwood is not a hazard Arthur I. Cyr: Britain’s earthquake election Chris Honore Council Corner Editor's Notes Jeffrey Gillespie Herb Rothschild Revels Latest Stories Community blog: Rabbi David Zaslow teaches poetry Community blog: Submit a poem Best Bets, April 9-16 Rhythm is on tap at the Northwest Percussion Festival Community blog: Get a poem a day Theater Ticket Availability Ticket availability in Ashland theaters, April 7 Ticket Availability Ticket Availability Ticket Availability Music The Farr Side: Is Kelly Clarkson’s weight truly news?  Rhythm is on tap at the Northwest Percussion Festival The Farr Side: No Zayn Malik? One Direction stays the course A Country Cajun Revival comes to the Unitarian Futureshock: Kendrick Lamar release points to road ahead Visual Art More films, excitement than ever for AIFF Ashland's First Friday Art Walk Movies Ashland Independent Film Festival movie review: 'A River Between Us' tells compelling story of 'the largest environmental restoration project in American history' Movie review: ‘The Longest Ride’ is a sweet ride Movie Listings: April 10-16 'Furious 7' — buckle up for another great ride Movie review: Suspend all belief in reality — ‘Furious 7’ is just fun Food and Drink Business profile: Couple opens second Pita Pit in Ashland Tot owners buy Playwright, hire Amuse chef Cruelest Month: Poetry Blog Lifestyle Latest Stories Aging Happens: There are many different kinds of home health services Inner Peace column: Worldwide Conflict and Resolution, Part II: Who Are You? Community Blog: Judgment and Misery Poet laureate joins art lovers in Medford App Finder: Top humor apps Aging Happens Inner Peace Column Inner Peace Blog Rogues: Tales from the Valley Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Photos Videos Blogs Business Business Services NEWS NOW Ashland Independent Film Festival movie review: 'A River Between Us' tells compelling story of 'the largest environmental restoration project in American history' ... Aging Happens: There are many different kinds of home health services ... Runners to follow historic salmon migration path ... Ashland Independent Film Festival movie review: 'A River Between Us' tells compelling story of 'the largest environmental restoration project in American history' ... Aging Happens: There are many different kinds of home health services ... Runners to follow historic salmon migration path ... Arthur I. Cyr: Britain's earthquake election By Arthur I. Cyr More Content Now DailyTidings.com By Arthur I. Cyr More Content Now Posted Apr. 9, 2015 @ 12:30 pm By Arthur I. Cyr More Content Now Posted Apr. 9, 2015 @ 12:30 pm » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2324,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> Britain will have a general election on May 7, and the contest already demonstrates dramatic profound shifts taking place in the nation’s politics. Traditionally, the system has been characterized by stable two-party political competition, but no longer. A televised debate on April 2 featured the leaders of no less than seven political parties. In addition to the leaders of the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government and the Labour Party, leaders of the Green Party, Plaid Cymru of Wales, Scottish National Party (SNP), and the UK Independence Party (UKIP) were present. There was no clear winner in the seven-way interchange, but SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon is generally acknowledged to have been an impressive standout. Last year, Scottish voters rejected independence in a special referendum. Since then, however, the SNP has enjoyed a membership boom. The other main beneficiary was UKIP led by Nigel Farage. The party received impressive support in elections for European Parliament representatives. Farage’s skill in condemning immigration, membership in the European Union and other aspects of the status quo generates significant support as well as alarm. In the last general election in 2010, the Conservatives led by David Cameron won a total of 306 seats in Parliament’s House of Commons, where governments are formed. This was short of the 326 M.P.s required for a governing majority. The Liberal Democrats’ 57 seats added enough to form the coalition government, the first since the special circumstances of World War II. During the 2010 campaign, Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg’s strong performance in first-ever American-style televised debate with Conservative and Labour party leaders generated great visibility. Traditionally, Liberal Democrats have represented anti-establishment groups and sentiments. While the coalition has provided the party with credibility in government, the attraction of being an “outsider” force waned. Measurable Liberal revival began in the early 1960s, spearheaded by the charismatic party leader Jo Grimond. A stunning 1962 Liberal off-year election victory in the suburban parliamentary constituency of Orpington seemed to provide evidence that British voters were in the mood for radical change. For a time the Liberals rivaled the other two parties in opinion poll support. Yet the Liberals of that era never won more than a handful of parliamentary seats. An early 1974 general election also resulted in a House of Commons with no clear majority, but no coalition resulted despite some limited Conservative-Liberal discussion of possibilities. The 1980s brought the new Social Democratic Party, led by breakaway Labour Party leaders. The Liberal and Social Democratic parties formally merged into the current Liberal Democrats in 1988. Odds are against either the Conservatives or Labour securing a clear majority in the House of Commons. The two parties have been neck and neck in public opinion polls, each struggling unsuccessfully to pull ahead. The Liberal Democrats lost substantial support after joining in coalition, but likely will survive with a smaller House of Commons delegation. Maintaining governing coalition has involved intense strain, starting with Prime Minister Cameron and Deputy Prime Minister Clegg, but could survive. There is also speculation about a possible coalition between Labour and the Scottish Nationalists. Scotland traditionally was a Labour stronghold, but the rapid growth of SNP support has upended that. Karl Marx has had profound impact around the globe, inspiring socialist and communist movements that defined much of 20th-century politics. End of the Cold War, and growth of market economies, seemed to discredit him. However, Marx also emphasized alienation along with class conflict. British political shifts reflect growing alienation. Americans should take note. Arthur I. Cyr is Clausen Distinguished Professor at Carthage College. Email him at [email protected]. By Arthur I. Cyr More Content Now DailyTidings.com By Arthur I. Cyr More Content Now Posted Apr. 9, 2015 @ 12:30 pm » Comment or view comments /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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