5 Examples of How Smug Egotism Harms the UK
Only 5 examples?
All looks yellow to the jaundiced eye. Alexander Pope
Fair enough, there are loads more than 5 examples, hundreds – probably thousands. No matter, you have to start somewhere. How do ignorance and apathy help politicians avoid dilemmas which enrage and terrify us?
Of course, we know that awful stories sell journalism, and politically motivated spin incites division. As a matter of fact, some of our politicians and commentators fan the flames of rage whilst avoiding responsibility with a let’s-throw-provokative-hand-grenades attitude.
Why was HS2 prioritized when we are broke?
What projects are essential? The NHS is wobbling, 21% of the UK population living in low-income households and government cuts leading to endemic failures in safety like the Grenfell fire. What about these 5 examples?:
Leadership
How discredited the economic debate is in the House of Commons at the moment. It’s actually of a very low grade and we should be ashamed of our politicians for making these sorts of comparisons … Ann Pettifor, economist, reflecting on Prime Ministers Question Time. BBC Radio 4: PM news, 5 July 2017
On the grand stage, at the moment, it’s hard to avoid the incompetence, arrogance and stubborn stupidity of many political leaders (that’s three of 5 examples without trying).
We see them for what they are with stunning clarity in the face of national tragedy and international negotiations.
Shameless attitudes, unsubstantiated beliefs, constant conflict, avoidance of accountability and an unawareness of facts. There, 5 examples leading to destructive, potentially cataclysmic, consequences.
No money … (DUP aside)
The money’s gone, they say. We need more austerity. What don’t we need to spend? For example, the HS2 budget doubled in under 4 months. Up from £24bn quoted by ministers on 27 December 2016 to £48.7bn (excluding rolling stock) on 3 April 2017.
How about sorting broken aspects of our infrastructure? How much of the £48.7bn can we save? Where might we spend it – public sector pay? Nor should we forget fraud and error. That’s another powerful, and generally ignored, one of the 5 examples.
Oh God, if you’d the gift tae gi’e us … Who needs ignorance and apathy?
When we get closer to a tragedy, we see ourselves for what we are … people who care, and who love one another. Poor, rich, disabled, elderly, official, unofficial, it’s all there: concern, empathy, generosity and a willingness to go the extra mile. And all backed by wonderful, if often over-extended, emergency services.
Failure at large
Where are the weaknesses? Where do incendiary stimuli fan the flames as the UK burns? Are our leaders, lost in their self-interest culpable?
We all face huge challenges at the moment as we have to acknowledge corruption, incompetence and dishonesty. What about:
- Brexit, which splits our government. The lies and dishonesty presented as truth by different factions persuade angry citizens to vote for a suicide pact, some gift for the next generations.
- Grenfell, which provides stark clarity about serial political ineffectiveness in setting and monitoring standards to protect our citizens from harm. Clear proof of how ideology serves no one.
- Terror attacks that punctuate our lives with raging, cruel, ideological terrorists who found their voice in the vacuum of ill-conceived wars, some of our making.
Citizen reality
In stark contrast to the Establishment lunacy and the fog of invective and mendacity, please pause and think for a moment. What did ordinary folk do when terrorists struck?
- Some stood and faced the evil. Some died doing it.
- Many, hands covered in blood, supported the victims and cared for them.
- All put in huge efforts and stood strong. They know what matters.
The Grenfell fire again showed the willingness of people to risk their lives, give love and support, demand answers and stand up to the Establishment.
The Strong Voice of Honesty and Decency
He has a right to criticize, who has a heart to help. Abraham Lincoln
Once found, can a strong, caring honest voice ever be silenced? We can clarify and face the facts in front of us — even if they challenge our angry feelings. In future, can face down the ideological, dishonest, emotional and destructive modes of leadership thought that permit the calamities we face?
Change or no change?
Ideology is a poor substitute for kindness … it’s our actions that define us. Mac Logan
Where is our ideal for the future? We need truth, compassion and conciliation. Are we willing to look under the stone of the UK’s failings and fix what’s broken?
Can we accept our country’s future is decided in a few short months by people who are weak, unstable, dishonest and incompetent?
Can we face reality together and ensure that what needs to be done will be delivered, audited and honestly reported by competent people?
Prejudice, dissembling and factoids don’t solve. Are we strong enough to direct our leaders? Who needs apathy?
Does anybody need a hug?
© Mac Logan
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