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1 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 Students at Walker Elementary School in Ashland get hands dirty for Earth Day Do you go to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival shows? Rotary Club of Ashland names Clara Honsinger Student of the Month Owner of Mix and Amuse to bring Flip burger joint to Ashland Police Reports Education Students at Walker Elementary School in Ashland get hands dirty for Earth Day From AHS to paradise: Ashland High alum Wolf runs successful snorkel tours in Maui Official hopeful whooping cough case at John Muir contained Bracing for Common Core Ashland Kiwanis recognize Lillian Huang Environment Students at Walker Elementary School in Ashland get hands dirty for Earth Day Ashland Fire & Rescue Alarm Box: There are good fires and there are bad fires Lots to celebrate at SOU Arbor Day rites Business Owner of Mix and Amuse to bring Flip burger joint to Ashland Ride & Drive: 2015.5 Volvo V60 Cross Country From AHS to paradise: Ashland High alum Wolf runs successful snorkel tours in Maui Ride & Drive: 2015 Ford F-150 Cars We Remember: Chevy Impala SS history Politics and elections Arthur I. Cyr: Cuba’s enduring challenge to American foreign policy – and American politics Kent Bush: Clinton 2.0 is neither new nor improved 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 State News Oregon lawmakers begin minimum wage debate Runners to follow historic salmon migration path Nation - World Tsarnaev convicted on all charges in Boston Marathon bombing Obituaries Cecil L. (Mike) Michael Death Notices Death Notices Ralph Neuman Lucille Chapman Shareable Sports Latest Stories Playing through the pain SOU's Maguin pockets fourth CCC honor Fantasy Sports: Injury bug still biting Toronto’s Reyes Beating in Memphis Ashland community pitches in for coach's dream trip High school SOU swept, but gets help in playoff race Grizz softball team keeps rolling AHS girls edge Roseburg Raiders remain No. 1 in spring poll Grizzlies blow away Eagles Southern Oregon University SOU's Maguin pockets fourth CCC honor SOU swept, but gets help in playoff race For Raiders, a homecoming Raiders remain No. 1 in spring poll Grizzlies blow away Eagles Voices Latest Stories Granlund cartoon: Minnesota ISIS Our View: Close gun-sale loophole City looking for ways to create a healthy Ashland for all ages Dianne Williamson: Beneath beauty, ugliness Letters to the Editor, April 20 Editorial Our View: Close gun-sale loophole Our View: Help fill empty bowls in Ashland Our View: Jackson County should say yes to Circle of Teran rehab request Our View: New cat on the block in Ashland Our View: Ashland High benefits as cycle racing club gets rolling Letters Letters to the Editor, April 20 Letters to the Editor, April 14 Letters to the Editor, April 13 Letters to the Editor, April 11 Letters to the Editor, April 8 Guest opinions Guest Opinion: Allegations unfair to Dr. Tomashefsky Guest Opinion: Fremont cottonwood is not a hazard Guest Opinion: Ashland council vote on travelers accommodations was less than transparent Columns City looking for ways to create a healthy Ashland for all ages Chris Honoré: Faith-based rejection of vaccines Guest Opinion: Allegations unfair to Dr. Tomashefsky Herb Rothschild Jr.: Spreading the risk of vaccination Matthew T. Mangino: Mass incarceration enters the national consciousness Chris Honore Council Corner Editor's Notes Jeffrey Gillespie Herb Rothschild Revels Latest Stories Community blog: Poetry events and calls for submission Community blog: Go to the poetry reading at the library on Sunday Community blog: Poems for parenting A tale of two plays at OSF Joanne Rand at the Unitarian Fellowship Theater Do you go to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival shows? Ticket Availability Ticket Availability 'Secret Love' playwright Stan Lai appears in Ashland Modern Chinese classic not lost in translation Music On TV: Your guide to the Academy of Country Music Awards The Farr Side: Intriguing time on the Hot 100 Joanne Rand at the Unitarian Fellowship The Farr Side: Is Kelly Clarkson’s weight truly news?  Rhythm is on tap at the Northwest Percussion Festival Visual Art More films, excitement than ever for AIFF Ashland's First Friday Art Walk Movies Movie review: Based-on-fact ‘True Story’ asks, ‘Who’s fooling who?’ Movie review: Lots of monkey business in ‘Monkey Kingdom’ Russell Crowe discusses WWI and being a first-time director 'Cinderella' revisited is stunning, magical Ben Steelman: Big-screen showings to mark anniversary of ‘Sound of Music’ 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 Season Stepp: Learn how to cook asparagus with a few easy tips Garden Cameos: Spring is time for azaleas in the garden Barbara Presnell: What wife does when husband is away Wholesome baby foods: Chef, nutritionist team up for book of homemade recipes Dear Monty: Seven costly mistakes of new real estate investors 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 Ticket Availability ... Our View: Close gun-sale loophole ... City looking for ways to create a healthy Ashland for all ages ... Ticket Availability ... Our View: Close gun-sale loophole ... City looking for ways to create a healthy Ashland for all ages ... Arthur I. Cyr: Britain's earthquake election Comment By Arthur I. Cyr More Content Now DailyTidings.com By Arthur I. Cyr More Content Now Posted Apr. 9, 2015 at 12:30 PM By Arthur I. Cyr More Content Now Posted Apr. 9, 2015 at 12:30 PM » Social News 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. 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