It All Needs to Change!

I'm presently suffering from three conflicting feelings ... call them emotions if you like.  First, at my age I'm reasonably content with life and I'm probably old enough not to be around when the worst of climate change takes effect.  Second, while I feel concern for those who are in need, I don't have any practical way to identify needy individuals in my immediate vicinity, and third, I don't have great physical energy, finance or particular skills to do much anyway.

It's an iceberg of a problem, this business of concern.  At least that's what I fear: there's probably far more for people to worry about than the few things that hit the headlines.  Outside of my own comfortable nest, there are three things in particular that worry me as I reflect upon the wider aspects of life in the autumn of 2021.  First, and perhaps most seriously, is the climate crisis.  Given the nations' track record following previous conferences, I find myself sceptical firstly about any positive outcome of the upcoming COP26 event in Glasgow, and secondly how many of any commitments that might be made there will actually come to pass.

My second major concern is the sequence of extreme measures that the present government of this country are adopting.  Let me give you just three examples.  One is measures against voter fraud, very much a solution in search of a problem, if ever there was one.  The likely outcome is that many will become disenfranchised and that few of these would be Tory voters, making the government's position more secure.  Another is the clause in the Policing Bill that will deprive individuals of the right to protest.  The third is the way that refugees are being treated.  I acknowledge that the arrival of Afghan refugees was somewhat thrust upon us, but news bulletins reveal that many are being herded into temporary accommodation, e.g. in tourist hotels, and simply left there with no plans or discussions with local authorities - and little or no economic assistance - to facilitate their integration into the local community.  

On the other hand we see boatload after boatload of asylum seekers arriving - or attempting to arrive - on our shores in the most dangerous manner.  The focus of all the action surrounding this situation is aimed at making it more difficult for these voyages to take place.  This just plays into the hands of the smugglers, who will devise other routes, more difficult, but more lucrative, and keep trying.  If these people - many of whom possess skills that we need! - were to be welcomed with open arms, there would be no market for smugglers, and an enhancement to our economic strategies into the bargain.

And my third major concern is our present economic situation.  Someone - and it's so long ago that I can't remember who or on what occasion, but its history doesn't undermine its relevance - once described the government as 'lurching from crisis to crisis with all the dignity of a ruptured duck on an ice rink!'  The proud claim of those who supported and contrived to achieve Brexit was that it would enable us to take back control ... of our trade, and our borders and, by implication, of our population, too.  

So far, trade with our most profitable partners has declined; what survives is burdened with a seemingly impenetrable cloak of new paperwork, and one of the most loyal sections of our multi-faceted nation has suffered the most stringent difficulties by the introduction of a border that they were told would never come about.  

Our borders - which I understand were never controlled before Brexit to the extent that was provided for by EU legislation - are now so unwelcoming that hoards of loyal citizens born elsewhere but happy to live, work and pay taxes here (and never had any need to get a British passport until Brexit came about) have now either been expelled or have decided voluntarily to go back to continental Europe.  The effect on our economy has been disastrous, The contribution to our social and economic structures that was being made by their skills and diligence has suddenly evaporated.  While there is a logical argument that British people should be doing jobs here, the management of this changeover has been far too precipitant - or non-existent! - and the time needed for our own nationals to gain those skills has never been taken into account.  In some cases - perhaps many, for all I know - there are no native-born applicants clamouring to replace these unappreciated, and now missing, workers.

Another - and more topical - strand to the economic situation is the removal of the temporary enhancement to Universal Benefit payments.  A woman interviewed on the radio this week admitted that, when the additional payment was introduced, it was indeed an 'extra' and enabled her to catch up on some outstanding bills.  However, increases in the price of food and in the general cost of living since that time has taken up that 'slack', and she is now back where she started; the removal of the enhancement, though not a surprise, hits her hard.  James O'Brien on LBC asked this week how many of those opposing the retention of the enhancement actually had any idea of the effect of the loss of £20 ... even on a single occasion, let alone every week.  It's all very well to say that the intention is for people to work harder and earn what they need to live on.  Many are doing their utmost already.  Many others either can't physically work and rely solely on benefits, and many who are in work can't increase their hours - even if they had the stamina to do so - because their present out-of-work time is committed to caring for either children or older family members.

Underlying all of these distressing situations, and the desire for change and improvement, is the need to reform our electoral system.  This would relieve, and hopefully remove, the dissatisfaction that many thousands feel that those whose decisions control their lives either don't listen to them, or don't care about them, or both.  Very few Tory MPs are willing to support, or give any thought to, the introduction of proportional representation (in other words making seats in Westminster match the way the population actually vote), knowing that any such a change would work against them and deprive them of the power they presently wield.

I don't often devote this blog to a political rant, but I'm tormented by those emotions that introduced this post.  There's guilt at my present comfortable situation, and frustration about not being in a position to help others.  Many years ago, in response to feelings like this, someone whose situation was far better than mine is now, and whom I greatly respected, told me, "I could sell my house and give away all my money, but what good would that do, other than make me part of a still unresolved problem?"  At least I can write about all these things and hope that others will read and react in the most constructive way they can.