……do you feel lucky? Well do ya, punk?

CAUTION: The BBFC (British Board of Film Classification) has rated this clip as unsuitable for viewing for those under 15 years.
The 1971 neo-noir movie, “Dirty Harry” is a 70s classic which established the character Inspector Harry Callaghan in the minds of movie goers. The clip itself is perhaps the signature clip of the whole movie.
Doctor North refers to the phase in his blog-post today (http://eureferendum.com/blogview.aspx?blogno=87409) that is today’s post’s title in his commentary about the forthcoming general election on Thursday 12th December and NOT Monday 9th as La Sidekick and The Blackford would have wished!
We agree with Doctor North when he states that “….it’s going to be a tough election for the Tories.”
However, we agree with Sir John Curtice, FRSA, FRSE, FBA, Professor of Politics at the University of Strathclyde in his suggestion that both main parties could find themselves with significant losses.
For once, the Daily Express has actually managed to publish a real news story!
GOTO: https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1197306/General-Election-news-poll-polls-2019-vote-odds-Brexit-results-December-John-Curtice-UK
Of course, BG readers will know from their past experience we are going to be hearing rather a lot from Sir John and other pollsters throughout the election campaign. It is one of those “sad but true” FACTS that opinion polls form a very significant part of election campaigns right across the world. Which is why some jurisdictions ban them at various times.
The reason why opinion polls are so influential was hammered home to yours truly when I was canvassing during the 1980s for the SDP. I knocked on a door and the voter came out. I asked if she would be voting for the SDP.
She replied, “No.”
I asked, “Why not?”
She answered, “They’re not going to win. The Conservatives win here [it was Leeds North Ward]. I always vote for the winning side.”
This example of human behaviour is NOT unusual. This because it has an evolutionary logic about it. Humans are “pack creatures” and live in societies. These societies are hierarchical. There is an evolutionary tendency for humans to defer or otherwise seek to put themselves on the right side of those in charge. It also explains why so many male politicians tend to fall victim to “in flagrante delicto” situations! This because their status causes them to possess a degree of sexual attractiveness to certain members of the fair sex than would otherwise be the case.
I personally find it depressing that the future of the UK may well be decided as a result of this evolutionary aspect of our common humanity.

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