It won’t do any of these things of course. The party’s satnav has been set for Destructionville and the Follow Route button was pressed sometime ago. It’s now so obvious that they’re not even bothering to make any effort to keep up appearances. We have to conclude that the mission has been accomplished.
Unfortunately - this malaise is not confined to either the Conservative party or the United Kingdom. For years - I've been guilty of defining politics in what I considered to be the 'purest' form of the original Greek definition. As I got bored of hearing myself constantly parroting this - I started casting about for some other definitions - and I rather like the one Otto von Bismarck coined for politics: "The capacity of always choosing at each instant, in constantly changing situations, the least harmful, the most useful". Whatever one thinks of Bismarck, this is not a bad starting point. But this is really the point now. Where do we start to productively change things? It is (relatively) easy to point an accusatory finger at that which we think is sub-standard. I don't rule myself out of this process - in fact - long ago I ran out of digits whilst simultaneously shouting myself hoarse. Just today I was talking both with a contractor, and an architect - both of whom explained in great detail how the government is profoundly out of step with the industries they operate in. "So what are you doing about it"? I calmly ask in the naive manner anyone not connected with the specific industry has the good fortune to be able to ask. There is a shrug, some temporary awkward shuffling and then the conversation moves on. That is where 99% of us are. Annexed in some way from even believing that anything could be possible of change and consequent improvement. That is a state of mind that only the most relentless and determined autocracy regimes could dream of. Inertia. Self-imprisonment. Resignation. What is the solution? Ha - if I had that (no offence) but would I be typing this? Maybe to break a big deadlock - it is necessary to break a series of smaller ones. The problem so often is that doesn't feel like 'progress'. Little wins seem to mean so little when so much is made (in society) of 'epic' ones. Yet, waves of little wins - relentlessly crashing against the sands - wears away any problem. The secret is where the waves land. In the last few weeks - my thoughts have turned to small wins. If 10 000 people cannot get to head honcho - then hit head honchos system at the lowest level with 10 000 consistently aimed hits. Sooner or later - head honcho won't be getting what they want out of the system - because the system will be overheating way beneath them. It's a thought. It may prove to be the wrong one, but????
Unfortunately it's just as bad if not worse in Scotland under Sturgeon, the absolute, undisputed Queen of pots & kettles, and no prospect of any credible opposition.
It won’t do any of these things of course. The party’s satnav has been set for Destructionville and the Follow Route button was pressed sometime ago. It’s now so obvious that they’re not even bothering to make any effort to keep up appearances. We have to conclude that the mission has been accomplished.
Indeed Mr Peel - correct on all counts. When are you standing?
Unfortunately - this malaise is not confined to either the Conservative party or the United Kingdom. For years - I've been guilty of defining politics in what I considered to be the 'purest' form of the original Greek definition. As I got bored of hearing myself constantly parroting this - I started casting about for some other definitions - and I rather like the one Otto von Bismarck coined for politics: "The capacity of always choosing at each instant, in constantly changing situations, the least harmful, the most useful". Whatever one thinks of Bismarck, this is not a bad starting point. But this is really the point now. Where do we start to productively change things? It is (relatively) easy to point an accusatory finger at that which we think is sub-standard. I don't rule myself out of this process - in fact - long ago I ran out of digits whilst simultaneously shouting myself hoarse. Just today I was talking both with a contractor, and an architect - both of whom explained in great detail how the government is profoundly out of step with the industries they operate in. "So what are you doing about it"? I calmly ask in the naive manner anyone not connected with the specific industry has the good fortune to be able to ask. There is a shrug, some temporary awkward shuffling and then the conversation moves on. That is where 99% of us are. Annexed in some way from even believing that anything could be possible of change and consequent improvement. That is a state of mind that only the most relentless and determined autocracy regimes could dream of. Inertia. Self-imprisonment. Resignation. What is the solution? Ha - if I had that (no offence) but would I be typing this? Maybe to break a big deadlock - it is necessary to break a series of smaller ones. The problem so often is that doesn't feel like 'progress'. Little wins seem to mean so little when so much is made (in society) of 'epic' ones. Yet, waves of little wins - relentlessly crashing against the sands - wears away any problem. The secret is where the waves land. In the last few weeks - my thoughts have turned to small wins. If 10 000 people cannot get to head honcho - then hit head honchos system at the lowest level with 10 000 consistently aimed hits. Sooner or later - head honcho won't be getting what they want out of the system - because the system will be overheating way beneath them. It's a thought. It may prove to be the wrong one, but????
Great piece. That's what they need to do, but they won't. Sadly, nothing will change until people really start to suffer.
Unfortunately it's just as bad if not worse in Scotland under Sturgeon, the absolute, undisputed Queen of pots & kettles, and no prospect of any credible opposition.