I’ve often thought that freedom of thought is associated with being young and carefree.
Without the burden of the cares of the World on your shoulder,your thoughts can be expansive ,your sympathies and empathies can follow many paths and understanding show no limits.There is right and wrong and in-between ,all worth consideration and all worth your time.
And then the Real World comes crashing down ,the need to earn a living in a competitive Workplace ,to find a place to Live,to play a role in the Community you are a part of.All these are demands on Time and Energy.
Freedom of thought suddenly becomes a luxury. Discussions about Politics are irritating and in some cases inappropriate.The need to fit in and be accepted is paramount.Why argue?You need a system to work within,who wants constant controversy?
Stability,A Rulebook of Effort and Reward; that is what is needed. There are people more wise and talented people than you who can put that in place. They have the time,you don’t.
Over a period of time, thoughts and discussions about Politics become superfulous, and those who participate in them become clowns and the butt end of jokes and accusations of corruption. Who indeed would consider going into ” politics” as a serious career? Public Service ? My foot!
And there we are before we know it?A cynic,nothing will change.
Politicians are egotistical and selfish and known for feathering their own nests with our hard earned cash.
We are Powerless , Fearful, we have little or no control.Protest is pointless or dangerous.Democracy is purely an expression of opinion through voting ,not an effective mode of change or reform.
Yes,your chosen Political Party can lose an election,but the winner won’t be much different from the loser. You have voted for a status quo of Authority.Now die quietly.No-one cares.
Trying to understand why Politicians seem shallow and shady(well at least in the United Kingdom)
What attracted me about this book is it covers a period that saw the rise of some very odd characters in our National Politics. Boris Johnson (Prime Minister, Foreign Secretary and Mayor of London) ,Liz Truss (Prime Minister), Kwazi Kwarteng (Chancellor of the Exchequer).
Liz Truss meeting the Late Queen Elizabeth II and being asked to form a government in a hastily arranged meeting was I believe a very sad ending to a productive reign by a well respected Monarch. It was ridiculously sad,the Queen performed her duty even though she was very ill , and Liz curtsied.
Little did we know that Liz thought she had carte blanche to subject us all to her lunatic economic theories. Not just were we to lose our beloved Queen,but we were also going to have to cope with Liz and Kwazi’s ill thought out free market economics which almost crashed our economy and sent our finances into a dangerous free fall , indeed it made “austerity” look a ride in the park.
So ,yes, I would like to know how these dreadful people got the top critical jobs in Politics.What process allowed them to rise to the top.
I’m only on Chapter 4, so it would be unfair of me to review Rory’s book.I do trust his point of view ,though, and I’m getting a feel for The Party System. I think he has a high-powered Civil Servant’s brain aswell as the capacity to educate (Harvard Professor). A powerful combination.
With the recent news that the now “Lord Cameron” is going to be Foreign Secretary ,Rory was honest enough to say on the Podcast that he works on with Alistair Campbell (The Rest is Politics) that he would have liked the job as Foreign Secretary.
I think Rory would do a good job as with anything he took responsibility for. He obviously takes the role as Public Servant very seriously. Unlike it seems some of his contemporaries who seem more interested in their next promotion
Early Days though and I’m enjoying the read…(well listen,I’m an audio book fan).
To look after,to be attentive to care and nurture ,rather than destroy or ruin.That is why we look after Pet animals, or indeed Wild Animals that need our help. It is an amazing benefit to humanity.
Let us not forget the good that it does and the tragedy we all feel when there is suffering due to neglect or ignorance.
I could only reply effectively to this prompt with a video of me doing an aerobics routine to “Let’s Get Physical” by the Late Great Olivia Newton John.
It would make you all cry with laughing so much. Fortunately ,the video exists only in my dreams.
I started using WordPress some years ago.I have never really got the hang of it to be truthful.
Thankfully,I have been able to put some of my ideas down in an electronic writing format.This gives me a sense of achievement. The Book “The Cuckoo In The Nest” approaches the subject of an elite minority believing that some people are superior to others because of their genetic make up and how as a Society we can ignore the “danger” signs.
Thankfully there will always be pockets of resistance who will stand up for humanity both for a general cause,but also because it affects them personally.
My heroes are a couple who have to face the reality of loss and become embroiled in a complex effort to protect their son from exceedingly dark forces.
I believe it is a good story although perhaps I need to do more drafts .C’est la vie. I like WordPress even if I don’t really use it to it’s full potential.
What would you do if you lost all your possessions?
If I lost all my possessions,I would first have a good cry, not because Ownership is Nine Tenths The Law,but because they are familiar to me,part of me.
Next, I would have to figure out what I could do.Hopefully , my friends and family are not in the same position and could help me out until I could get back on my feet.
I know I would be optimistic,as long as I was fit and healthy. I would also become philosophical.Perhaps I would ponder that I was too attached to the past, I needed maybe to simplify my life. Whatever; I would approach the present and try and move forward.
No doubt I would have some limited choice in the matter and would do the best I could .Hopefully ,I could access help ,support, and advice from others who would have my best interests at heart . Thus , I could move on confidently with my next chapter.
Well “Comfort Food” so called is just not comfortable .Let’s face it what most of us know as quick and easy is a con. Over Processed Food ,off a quick serve shelf and served up so we don’t even notice it moving from serving bowl to our mouths.
It’s a comfort to me to have time to cook,consider the ingredients, or even better grow them.There is no such thing as Fast Food only good Food.Take your time ,research…for comfort cook in advance or use fresh easily stored ingredients.
Oh I do hope I survive the next 10 years.I would like to be a subversive writer or media creator who does not need to worry about making money.At the same time I ‘d like to be working part-time in the Pet Shop I’m working in now and helping people with their pets.
On the side, from my “Brilliant ” Media career ,I’d like to have a massive rescue centre ,employing like minded animal lovers to rescue and rehabilitate all manner of life’s strays and reprobates.This would include humans too. We all need rescued from time to time.
If I survive and thrive,that is my plan,not a bad one eh?
I would always have to earn money some way to pay my self-generated bills,that is my destiny like so many others. So my “free job” would have to be done in my own time and with my own furry friend on his normal walks.Given my little four legged terrier is a sociable character,having an easy arrangement with a few local dog owners would work really well.
So basically,pick up a friendly pooch from their house and head off with mine in the car to some of the lovely local walk I know.Both dogs would have to have the same energy levels…mine loves to play in short burst and then likes to get on with serious sniffing and investigation.
My dog would love a companion to show the ropes to and to share his excitement at finding something new.
Arriving at the Car Park with them both having had an enjoyable car ride safely secured in the back of my car , they both of would have had a “chat ” in the car and would be contemplating their route on arrival.
They would both hop out of the car on their leads and would walk nicely through the Car Park and once we got through the kissing gate,they would be released to run around the top of the wooded area.This would be their crazy time,running at speed,bumping into each other,jinking out of each others way.There would be other dogs too who would want to join in. In a few minutes there would be a gang of about five or six .Some big or small just larking about ,tumbling and playing around the trees
However,the job walk must continue as this is a serious business.So a quick call to my two and we are off down the hill,me along the path…them through the undergrowth. They rejoin me on the path as Nature is calling and they do their business and I pick it up with my poo bags and put it in the side pocket of my rucksack to dispose of later.
Business done ,we continue on our walk down the steep gravelly path and take an off piste turning into the wild woods.The ground here is covered by dried pine needles and The Spring’s emerging plants . The two dogs are fascinated by the greenery and the nooks and crannies of the woodland . The chirping of wild birds ,a high pitched cacophony of twittering and the occasional woodpecker.All this means something to both dogs . Then when they notice the flash of squirrel tail scurrying back to it’s home in the tree, the two dogs are off a in pursuit.
Neither have a chance of catching anything their delight,however , in the chase is evident. As the squirrel scurries around on the top branches gazing down on the two culprits ;the two dogs ,after a half-hearted attempt to climb the tree, start to sniff around the bottom and mark it as much to say we were here.The squirrel looks at them as much to say, well that was pointless! The two dogs don’t care they don’t even bother to look up,they are on to their next adventure.
There is a field at the top ,which is the border to the wooded area and the two dogs nimbly jump over some of the branches that have been cut and have fallen onto the forest floor,as they make their way uphill to the edge of the forest.
I follow on a lot slower,but nevertheless keeping them in sight.They are obviously very interested in the hedgerows near the edge of the field.There are many small animal trails coming through the bushes which they follow with their noses.
As I watch the two dogs interact together I can tell they are both getting tired. They are having fun ,but they know their limits,they spend a lot of time in the same place to catch their breath.
Suddenly out of some greenery,not far away from where they are.A muntjac deer runs out and past the two dogs and runs over the field. The dogs look up in suprise and they look as if they will chase…I shout “No” and my dog gratefully uses it as an excuse to stay put,and his companion does the same.
“Come On!” I say,and we continue our walk,the two dogs happy to follow me along the trail which follows the edge of the field on the forest side. The deer is quickly forgotten and the leisurely sniffing,scenting and marking continues with little diversion and I thankfully now am able to keep up. So we three walk along together.
We continue our walk following a circular route.We stop and I give both dogs some water and some treats.When we get back to the Car Park,both dogs are tired and are happy to put their leads on and hop in the car.
I drop our companion dog at his home , the owner is pleased to see his dog looking so content and happy and ready for his dinner. My dog and I have enjoyed the companionship and we look forward to doing it again next week.
thenotsomightyom 