Category Archives: Politics - Page 3

On the Altar of Stability

Posted by on July 2, 2011 1 comment

The recent events in Greece have been an instructive lesson in how far our so-called leaders will go in the pursuit of their globalist dreams.  I’ve made no secret of my views, views shared by an increasing number of people now, that Greece is bankrupt.  Not only that, but that this contagion is far from contained and has already spread to the rest of Europe, maybe further.  The writing is, in my view, on the wall for the way our society currently works.

The idea of having it “contained” is impossible, the unsustainable way things have been run for quite some time means that we are staring at the end of the road.  Financially we are all bankrupt, accounting trickery aside, we are also running short on Oil and other resources.  The so-called “contagion” is in fact our collective Karma, it is the built in consequence of years (decades in fact) of short sighted behaviour and can’t simply be contained and more than gravity can be ignored.

Our leaders are trying to keep “stability”, they are trying to maintain the status quo in a world where the only thing that you can bet on is constant change.  A moments thought will reveal to you the long term chances of that being successful.  The Greeks were first, but more countries will be sacrificed on the altar of stability, to buy a few brief moments of respite.  Money is being printed and loaned, strategic oil reserves tapped and used; but both these things are only temporary stopgaps.  What when the currency is debased?  What when the reserves run out?

I’ve said before that we need to change the way we live and the way our society works, the situation that confronts us is quite survivable, but not with the status quo.  The powers that be will attempt to keep things going this way for as long as they can, but it will fall apart.  Along the way a lot of things will be sacrificed on the altar of stability.

Applauding Canterbury

Posted by on June 11, 2011 No comments

You know, I didn’t think I’d ever write this but I really must applaud the Archbishop of Canterbury.  Yes, I know what you’re thinking, “Who are you and what have you done with the real Richard?”

I may not agree with some of the content of the religion he espouses, but I must applaud his recent article in the New Statesman.  But not for the reason you think.  I am neither pro nor anti cuts, but rather I take a middle ground that regards the cuts as a tragic nessecity.  From my point of view, to be pro or anti cuts, well, you may as well be pro or anti gravity.  The state machinery has enlarged beyond the means of the country to support it, it really is that simple.  The government blames everything on the New Labour years, but the responsibility for what happens from now is theirs and I’m hearing buck passing.  As for the left themselves, I hear a lot of reactionary shouting but what could (or would) they do that was any different?

My concerns are similar those of Rowan Williams, things feel stuck.  There is nobody who seems to be able to articulate a clear vision, those in charge just seem to be bumbling through.  There seems to be nothing orchestrated to protect the most vulnerable, but also where cuts fall they are likely to fall in the wrong places as middle managers seek (perhaps, understandably) to protect their own positions.  It seems that the axe is falling, but in the wrong places.  Further to this, I humbly suggest that what’s needed is a pair of Bonsai shears not a woodcutter’s axe.

Finally, it seems that the Archbishop himself has come under attack for involving himself in politics.  Those who attack him should really take a clearer look at things.  Our politics has been shaped, from it’s earliest days by religion.  The values espoused by a faith, its morality and its ethics have a very direct and fundamental bearing on the local politicians and some of our greatest political figures were influcenced by their faith.  The political opposition seems tongue tied and an awful lot that needs to be said was not being said; our politicians don’t want to face a few very unpleasant home truths.  I suspect, neither do the rest of us, but that’s a post for another time.  At a time like this it does need somebody who isn’t enmeshed in party politics and special interests to speak up, somebody exactly like Rowan Williams.

Growth fixation

Posted by on January 25, 2011 4 comments

I’ve been watching the news in the last day or so with a sense of foreboding.

It seems our economy has missed its growth target, cue various politicians and media pundits talking earnestly about growth.  This is the mantra that has underscored the last few decades, and I recommend Annie Leonard’s “The Story of Stuff” if you want a little background to our fixations with growth and consumerism.  It’s 20 minutes long, and I highly recommend it.

There is a lot of talk of getting back to growth and not much mind room being given to the question “What if we can’t?”  I’ve talked about this before, but let’s make one statement: “Within a finite system, infinite growth is not possible.  Sooner or later, you will hit the edges of the system and stop”.  That’s not politics, it’s not economics, it’s basic unalterable mathematical fact.  We have finite space and resources on Earth, and we have to make do with what we have.  We must live within our means.

Given that the rest of the world is growing, what happens then?  Well, we in the west will inevitably see a lowering of our living standards.  Though that’s a very negative way of looking at things, it is maybe fairer to say that living standards will begin to balance out globally.

This isn’t optional long term, and will not only mean less plastic junk to buy and fewer expensive luxuries.  It will mean a return to mending and making do, we might even see the return of television repair shops, we certainly won’t be throwing the old sets away!  Speaking as someone who is refurbishing an old laptop and installing Debian Linux, rather than buying a new one, this sort of thing is deeply satisfying to do!

This will, ultimately, see the dawn of the Steady State Economy, I can’t see much of an alternative no matter how much I look.

One final thought that occurs to me comes from a time when I expressed the above opinions in a forum.  I was quickly met with the comment “It’s funny how everyone wants to force people to do things”.  I feel I should preemptively clear up a possible misunderstanding here.  The above isn’t about what anyone “wants”, we can argue and protest; shout and rage; scream and fume; reality simply is.  You can’t beat the maths, but if accepted in good grace, things could still be pretty good.