The default setting of human consciousness hovers around apathy. Mostly we are oblivious to the goings on of the world and tend to focus out attention only on the things that are of direct concern. Even then, by and large, we may moan and complain but do nothing. Large organisations, including governments know this and major decisions are taken every day, with opposition only from a small vocal minority, whose voices are rarely heard and almost never heeded.
We are living in a society that our ancestors would find ludicrous. Inequality has always been with us, but the degree of inequality has reached new levels that we should find shameful. We have high levels of unemployment, much of the workforce working for a pittance and grateful to be in any sort of work. We have at the other end of the spectrum, celebrities and football players receiving huge incomes, and a financial sector that rewards its cronies whilst punishing the rest of us.
Many people can no longer afford to eat properly, let alone go to a football match or a cinema. It seems that prices for everything are rising unopposed.
Mahatma Ghandi was a pacifist and yet managed to bring about the downfall of the British Raj in his native India. His methods included peaceful protests and civil disobedience. He began alone but soon gathered huge numbers of followers. Only then did his voice make an impact, and his non violence became difficult to oppose.
We live in a democracy, a far from perfect solution to government, but so much better than alternatives. In theory power lies with the electorate, but of course nothing is quite so simple. In reality most people believe that their vote is worthless; the same candidates often being returned to parliament over and over again, and so many choose not to vote. This feeling of powerlessness is at the root of the lethargy and apathy that has got us into this situation.
I remember in the 60s, a mass movement that boycotted produce from South Africa. How instrumental that turned out to be in the downfall of apartheid, I am not sure but at least people were flexing muscles.
Maybe it is time to boycott football matches, movie theatres and the like, and begin a revaluation of people's worth.
We are living in a society that our ancestors would find ludicrous. Inequality has always been with us, but the degree of inequality has reached new levels that we should find shameful. We have high levels of unemployment, much of the workforce working for a pittance and grateful to be in any sort of work. We have at the other end of the spectrum, celebrities and football players receiving huge incomes, and a financial sector that rewards its cronies whilst punishing the rest of us.
Many people can no longer afford to eat properly, let alone go to a football match or a cinema. It seems that prices for everything are rising unopposed.
Mahatma Ghandi was a pacifist and yet managed to bring about the downfall of the British Raj in his native India. His methods included peaceful protests and civil disobedience. He began alone but soon gathered huge numbers of followers. Only then did his voice make an impact, and his non violence became difficult to oppose.
We live in a democracy, a far from perfect solution to government, but so much better than alternatives. In theory power lies with the electorate, but of course nothing is quite so simple. In reality most people believe that their vote is worthless; the same candidates often being returned to parliament over and over again, and so many choose not to vote. This feeling of powerlessness is at the root of the lethargy and apathy that has got us into this situation.
I remember in the 60s, a mass movement that boycotted produce from South Africa. How instrumental that turned out to be in the downfall of apartheid, I am not sure but at least people were flexing muscles.
Maybe it is time to boycott football matches, movie theatres and the like, and begin a revaluation of people's worth.
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