Podcaster and satirist Blindboy Boatclub has shared his vision for a fairer society if he were prime minister for a day. In an interview with The Big Issue, Blindboy agreed with current prime minister Andy Burnham on the need to nationalize key industries such as water, energy, rail, and public transport. He believes that these essential services should be run for the benefit of the public, not private profit.
Blindboy's vision for a fairer society includes a focus on social welfare and addressing the impact of private wealth on politics. He argues that billionaires are using their wealth to shape politics and media ownership, and that this is having a corrosive effect on democracy. He believes that a more equal society would require stronger unions, collective bargaining, and public ownership of key industries.
Blindboy cites the example of Antanas Mockus, a former mayor of Bogotá in Colombia, who used humor and public participation to change behavior and address social issues. Mockus replaced traffic wardens with mimes, who would mimic the behavior of jaywalkers, and this approach led to a reduction in road deaths. Blindboy admires this experimental approach to government and believes that it could be applied to other areas of public policy.
If he were prime minister, Blindboy would also use his power to challenge the influence of private wealth on politics. He would ring someone like Peter Thiel, the founder of Palantir, and tell him that he had a dream about him burning in hell. Blindboy describes Thiel as a "lunatic" and would try to coax him into repenting and using his wealth for good.
Blindboy also has a unique approach to honors and recognition. He would give a knighthood to a snail, a wasp, or a nettle, highlighting their importance in the ecosystem and challenging the traditional notion of royal entitlement. He argues that these creatures play a vital role in the natural world and that their contributions are often overlooked.
Blindboy's big idea to save the world is to stop the new billionaire class from using their wealth to shape politics and media ownership. He believes that this requires a collective response, with stronger unions, public ownership, and democratic institutions that can resist the influence of private wealth. He also argues that people need to become more engaged with politics and aware of the issues that affect their lives.
Finally, Blindboy believes that people need to be aware of why voting can feel pointless. He argues that under neoliberalism, governments can change while the deeper machinery of the economy remains the same, leading to disengagement and frustration. He believes that politics needs to become more material and focused on the issues that affect people's lives, such as rent, wages, and public services.
Key points
- Blindboy Boatclub advocates for the nationalization of key industries such as water, energy, rail, and public transport.
- He believes that billionaires are using their wealth to shape politics and media ownership, and that this is having a corrosive effect on democracy.
- Blindboy cites the example of Antanas Mockus, a former mayor of Bogotá in Colombia, who used humor and public participation to change behavior and address social issues.
