Isn’t it about time that we face up to the reality that our political and diplomatic environments are completely unfit for purpose?  That is, I suppose, if we assume that the purpose is to provide the people with representative government!  We need to stop lying to ourselves about our ‘democracies’ and finally admit that in actual fact we don’t live in a democracy, never have and that unless drastic action is taken; we never will either.

On a global level, we have a United Nations which is incapable of enforcing its own laws, is dependent upon the funding from major governments (which can be removed at any time) and has a system of vetoes in place which effectively means that the most powerful countries can do whatever they like…

On a diplomatic level, we have a world so utterly dependent upon the economic farce of perpetual growth that the only way we can maintain this facade is through trade which is as wide and as free as possible.  The result of which means that the system depends on the ability to exploit labour; which in turn means that we turn a blind eye to the atrocities in countries from whom we purchase for fear of losing our cheap clothes or our gas pipeline…

On an individual national level, we have allowed politics to become partisan and have lost all forms of accountability.  Governments set the rules for themselves, have no independent oversight, and even when subject to judicial review, are never penalised for any indiscretions merely ‘told off’.

Not only are the systems themselves unfit, but the people who inhabit the political environments are unfit; only last week the UK Government paid out taxpayer’s money to settle a case of bullying by a government minister – that Minister is still in post!  The only way that the Minister can be removed from the post (other than through being imprisoned for more than 12 months) is through the Ministerial Code, a Code determined, evaluated and adjudged by the Prime Minister; the very person who selected the Minister in the first place!!!  After an inquiry which found that the Minister Priti Patel had indeed breached the Ministerial Code the Prime Minister disregarded this completely.

The result then, is a system which is unfit for purpose, being run by individuals who are often also unfit for purpose, and the whole of which is kept in check by systems which are not only unfit for purpose but which are run by the very people that the systems are there to oversee!  To cap it all…  the only way the systems can be changed is by those in the system…    the very people who profit from the inefficacy of the systems that we need them to change…

Pitiful isn’t it?

Whatever used to exist in terms of democracy, whenever (if ever) such a thing indeed existed, is gone.  And immediate action is needed if there is any chance of restoring it.  Present governments sit idly by, either ignorant of, or complicit in actions which repress democracy or which even violently overthrow democracy.  These governments which proclaim adherence to democratic standards do nothing and say little, for fear of retribution – allowing the cycle to continue and the definition of what is ‘normal behaviour’ to expand ever outwards.  Many even incorporate these behaviours into their own political spheres through the introduction of lies, propaganda, gerrymandering and the like.

What has been the reaction to the Chinese government banning protesting (even with blank placards) and introducing a law to allow only ‘patriots’ to stand for election?

What has been the reaction to the attempted murderand imprisonment of Alexei Navalny?

What has been the reaction to the murder or the imprisonment of journalists by Saudia Arabia, Turkey/ Egypt et al?

What has been the reaction to the lies about corrupt elections which continues to be spouted by Republicans in the United States of America? or the Brexit lies that continue to be heard from MPs in Britain?

Has there been any reaction that would actually force a rethink?  Has any country stopped trading with these people? or did we simply say “Oh dearie me, I don’t think that’s cricket dear chap”, and then carried on regardless..?

I get it, I mean to some extent…  if you are corrupt in your own self/ system, then clearly it would be hypocritical for you to seek to hold others to account for THEIR corruption…  From my perspective however, if you can be a hypocrite which stands as a representative of democracy whilst in reality just being out for yourself, then fuck it, why not go all the way and attack others for doing exactly what you do yourself!!

All of our systems are dependent on the people inside them not being corrupt, or wanting to do the best for the nation/ globe whatever.  It is clear that this is not the case…  the people who run our political systems are out for themselves, and just as in the business world, they promote like-minded people because only like-minds will tolerate their incompetence and corruption.

If this is the system we have, then so be it – but at least let’s stop kidding ourselves that we live in a democracy, where our vote counts for something and where our politicians are accountable.  Because if we continue to lie to ourselves, then we will never see the situation as it is, and if we do not do that, there can be no hope for change.

Change is not a requirement here…  I mean I want it yes, but as part of a democracy I need to accept that if others don’t then so be it.  What I don’t have to accept however is that we lie about it.  You want to be happy being led by a corrupt system that will lie to you at every turn – fine, just admit that this is what you have and stop pretending that it is otherwise.