Have you ever stepped back and thought to yourself, why does everything have to move on, grow and get better?
When thinking ostensibly about accumulation of wealth, increased sales, new ideas for goods and services that people largely do not know they need or want, and the creation of an ever expanding and in motion economy, the idea that everyone benefits is largely perfunctory. It's pushed by those who stand to gain the most onto those who are likely to gain the least.
We live in a strange world where those who are the exploiters and power brokers are able to invert the telescope and convince society that it is those who take and live on the least who cause the moral and economic damage to the country. And, in some gruesome way, you have to recognise the skill and craft that goes into advancing this kind of trickery and its undoubted success in our society. Though it's with a heavy heart that we should do so.
Our political landscape in the UK is currently under the cloud of such connivance, with the marginalisation of people who have made their way by any and all means to this country being used as a political football in an ever decreasing race to the bottom. They are demonised for the nefarious political means of retention of power at all costs. The current government is prepared to have the population at large believe that these people are a threat to us and that if left unchecked they will swamp (their words not mine) our public services.
The government forget to mention that these self-same public services have been continuously starved of resource over the entire period they have been in power. Sleight of hand writ large indeed. Even more scary is that this idea seems to be accepted and supported by a sizeable chunk of the UK population.
Change can be a pleasure in our growth as individuals: discovering and being open to new ideas and practices, as well as being introduced to new tradition and cultural values. All things that project us forward in a humane way. That is the kind of change I favour: change with personal growth. As opposed to the ever increasing exploitation of the world's resources. To what end? To increase the tensions around the globe as power-hungry national leaders and competing ideologies attempt to wrestle for control.
Our response to all of this? We just keep our heads down, continue shopping and marvelling at the gewgaws and baubles we accumulate. We ignore the big stuff.
Frank Eardley
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