The Uriah Heep Effect

[poliphilo]

Our politicians have got it into their heads that they should always smile at the public, no matter what they're saying. Theresa May was at it last night- smirking through a piece to camera about how she's going to cut the police budget. It was wholly inappropriate. Serious talk demands a serious face. Smile when there's nothing to smile about and you don't look friendly and reassuring (which is presumably what they're aiming for);  you look like a creepy underling trying to suck up to the boss.

It's the Uriah Heep effect. 

David Cameron doesn't do it- he's one of the few with the PR skills not appear to be doing PR- and that's almost certainly why he's prime minister. 

Comments

[michaleen.livejournal.com]

No, not the same thing at all.

I like the example of the Siamese cat that I once had. He was amazingly clever, probably the most clever cat I've ever lived with. But intelligent? cat's aren't particularly intelligent, even Siamese. Not sure what the difference is, but it's like the man said about pornography: I know it when I see it.

Cameron rather fascinates me and thus my interest. Allowing the Tories into power was probably the dumbest thing I've seen since Geo W Bush was allowed to steal our presidential election in 2000 and again in 2004. I should have thought that the British electorate would want less of what caused the world economic collapse, not more of the same, only harder and with more feeling.

Now, because the Brits couldn't tell the difference between cleverness and intelligence, it will take years for your economy to recover, if indeed it ever does. I used to believe that the American voter was uniquely drunk and stupid and feel like I should probably reconsider.