Shambles. This seems to be the operative word to describe the current state of world affairs. A scene or condition of complete disorder or ruin; maybe even, a place or scene of bloodshed or carnage. I heard, on the radio, a comment made in relation to Italian politics, that the Italian people were ungovernable, or rather that the Italian people carried on with their lives as if the country had government at all. This attitude towards government would indeed make a populace ungovernable. It was suggested by the commentator, who followed up the remark, that the United Kingdom’s citizens were becoming like the Italians.
In my view, it is not so much that the people are ungovernable, but that, despite the elected government, the population could carry on as if the government had no real affect on their lives, hence they carried on regardless. The shit show that appears to be the political landscape is one that can be argued about and discussed at great length (in some news programs ad-nauseam), and yet allows people to carry on with their daily activities, occupations and other endeavours; but, because it is a shambles, people are less inclined to be dragged into political discussion, listen to or watch current affairs programs. It is just too irritating and depressing. It appears to suggest that what happens in Parliament, stays in Parliament, which is the problem. What happens there, seeps out and does affect the lives of others to a greater of lesser extent depending on where one sits on the eco-socio spectrum
It comes down to expectations. We elected a party whose representatives produce a manifesto, or list of legislative measure, which is meant to improve the state of the nation, and the individual lot of each and every one of its citizens. This instills in the electorate an expectation of what a government can actually do. We expect violence and dishonesty to be curtailed because political parties claim they have a program through which crime, in general, will be tackled and reduced if not eradicated. They also claim they have a grip on the economic life of the nation. Employment will be universal, wages will continuously rise, inflation will be reduced and there will be perpetual growth. The ideal economy will include not only a free market but a thriving welfare state. Some claim that while the state may not be able to provide 100% of health and welfare, the private sector will be able to take up the slack. The levels of taxation therefore are flexible depending on which side of the political spectrum is in control. Some institutions are of course wired in as being essential to the state, the NHS, the Armed Services, Police and Security, the Legal System being the most prominent.
These institutions are therefore expected to run with 100% efficiency, but as we all know, they do not. Various governments claim they have the solutions to improve these services and make them more effective and efficient. They boast of budgets and funds assigned to these public sectors in the belief that the amount of funding will no doubt be channelled to improve the service. For some obscure reason, the efficacy of services is equated with the amount of money allocated to provide the service. Again, the reality is that money is not the issue. The issue is the people to whom the money is given to provide the service. It’s to do with skills, integrity, levels of ambition and a real idea of what is expected and what can be made possible. The idea is for expectation and possibility to go hand in hand, and reality is an ever changing landscape. It is the conduct of humans across the globe that affects every nation’s well being. Economies and welfare are variously dependent on the actions and consequences of this global activity. Violent upheavals, both natural and man made shape what happens on a daily basis.
The cost of repairing natural disasters, of prosecuting conflicts and repairing the aftermath, is substantial. The sheer scale of funding required can have nothing but a negative effect. The waste and deployment of men and arms, followed by reconstruction is an insanity, and the complete opposite of efficiency. It should have no place anywhere. It is a scenario entirely man made and funded. The people who are paid and control the budgets of these destructive institutions are clearly not worth the salaries they receive. It would appear that they are not only incapable, but are fraudsters of the worst kind. Claiming to be suing for peace and security through aggressive self defence is a sham. The collateral damage engendered by these charlatans is to cause world wide ruination and should receive universal condemnation; yet somehow, that does not appear to be expected.
Whilst there are public demonstrations against wars and injustices in countries that permit these processions to take place, there is still the expectation that individual governments are able to cope with and deal with the trials and tribulations caused by actions taking place abroad. There is somehow the belief that these foreign entanglements really have little or no local effect whatever, and that it is a poor excuse of blame outside events for local failures. In my view this is shortsighted. There are no longer any outside events. If ever this was demonstrated, the closing of a 75km (45 miles) stretch of water has made that abundantly clear. Equally clear is that the perpetrators of this insanity should be prosecuted under international law, yet that is unlikely to happen.
Instead, the difficulties of many national leaders are exacerbated by public expectations. Why is their leader not taking charge of the world? Why is our nation in such turmoil? Why is our party not unified but thrown into disarray? How is it that our leaders fail to live up to expectations? Oppositions thrive and heckle with no real solutions either. There are no ‘knights of the round table’ ready to change in is actually capable of delivering relief, with slogans and quick instantaneous fixes. It is not going to happen. A temporary blip of political fanfare is not solving the problem. Unity and realistic expectations however, might see a way clear. A collective cross party unity would be preferred, but humanity has somehow avoided that possibility owing to prejudice, bigotry and small minded nationalism which is actually the least patriotic position to be adopted. I do not expect a coalition of minds, but then what else does one have a right to to expect, and just because a local mayor has been able to make the busses run on time is not a sure fire certainty that he can make a Nation more efficient. The Nation expects.
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