Time for a Change I Think – Don’t You?
My father calls me a Communist! But before you turn off completely – for the record, I am not.
I don’t know about you, but I don’t believe in tribes, don’t really go for any particular religion and certainly not any political party.
I do believe in equality in all its forms, justice and fair play but when it comes to current politics I just can’t be bothered with it – simple as that.
And when my newsfeeds are constantly peppered with yet more sleaze allegations from all colours of the political spectrum, is it any wonder?
My father, on the other hand, is a staunch Labourite, supported them since he was a teenager through thick and thin. It doesn’t matter what happens – he still sticks with them . There’s no swaying him.
Now don’t get me wrong, he’s perfectly entitled to his own opinion but I find it remarkable in this day and age that someone can be that dogmatic in support of a political party.
And I mean any party…in my mind, they’re all as bad as each other
I wholeheartedly appreciate what the suffragettes did and understand we wouldn’t have the vote without them so I still turn up at the polling station whenever there’s yet another election, but I’ll hold my hands up and admit I deliberately spoil my vote. Every time, regardless of the names next to the boxes.
I don’t trust any of them
The electoral system has to count spoiled papers so I readily form part of the, I suspect, silent majority, where a whole host of us are stating we don’t wany any of them in power.
Call me naïve, but I’m a great believer in it shouldn’t matter what party you decide to align yourself with, our government should be based on the best person for the job.
I don’t think we should allow career politicians in positions of authority…they have no real idea of what it’s like out in the real world, what you and I have to face.
I would prefer a system where people have to do five or ten years of normal living before they can apply to be elected to run the country.
We do get some good politicians occasionally who do serve the community and show genuine leadership qualities. But in general, it seems to be more about climbing a career ladder, more to do with money and power and that’s wrong.
I don’t have the answer to political utopia.
But I do believe we should have a ‘none of the above’ on the ballot paper for genuine freedom of choice and I do believe any candidate worthy of my vote needs to show they have walked the walk as well as having the gift of the gab to talk the talk.
Think of leaders you honestly admire, whose qualities you try to embody in your daily life. It’s a pretty safe bet, I’m sure, that politicians don’t feature too highly on your list.
After all, isn’t one of the key leadership criteria not asking those you lead to do anything you wouldn’t be prepared to do yourself?
Hmmm..time we reviewed how we’re run and who runs us, methinks.
I’ve always been a big fan of economist Kate Raworth’s theory of Doughnut Economics – capitalism is outdated and isn’t working, but neither would something as extreme as Communism.
It’s clear we need another way.
People more intellectual than I need to sit down and work it out. Maybe over coffee and doughnuts would be as good a starting place as any?