Old Time Religion

I left Singapore for many reasons, but one of them was because i simply could not agree with the way things were. Where would i begin? The neo everything project - conservatism, colonialism and liberal. The inability to change anything without being called a subversive - even if it was asking for rational things - like less inequality - which is enshrined in the pledge. The sexism. The crazy development which was being passed off was progress. The arrogance. The inability to see long term. I remember once arguing with James Foo, the Press Sec for the PM then, saying to him, you'd better be glad that Singaporeans are not aware of what is going on because you'd have a revolution on your hands. I was told i was being ungrateful and unreasonable. And i was treated as such.

It would appear that i was not only right about Singapore, 25 years on i was also right about the ENTIRE world. Watching the Four Horsemen, a film made in 2012, i am both elated and depressed at the state the world is in now. My only hope is that the rope has become so long that the elite are hanging themselves - or that the simple reality of running up against the limits of resources is forcing governments, who were previously colluding with the greed and psychopathy of corporations, to rethink long term. Are there any good people in government left? And can anyone survive is they get in?

I find myself a bit stuck now. I am perfectly happy that i am doing what i need to do to fulfill myself and my life. My life is richer than i could ever have hoped. My life is full of meaning, my children and family are loving and i have a wonderful community around me. But there is the small matter of the political structures. I can see now that unless they are changed, we are all going to go to hell in a handcart - and it is the structures that have to drastically change. But how the heck is this going to happen without violent revolution because talking nicely to these people, saying things sweetly, showing them stats and evidence and proof simply DOES NOT WORK because politicians are in the pay corporations and they don't give a shit about those right at the bottom of the food chain.

Socrates thought that the highest earners in society should take back 6:1, JP Morgan 50:1 - the current income disparity between the highest and lowest earners is 1000:1. How is that possible and what the FUCK do these people do with so much of money when the poorest of the poor live in abject poverty? How do they sleep at night knowing that in order for them to be SO FUCKING RICH - and i am not talking about simple well to do people - am talking about the people who own planes and yachts and measure their wealth in millions and billions - how do they sleep at night knowing that their wealth is based on the deprivation and misery of others? Children who work in mines filled with poison? Countries brought to their knees to finance vanity projects? Communities torn apart by war? How the fuck do they do it? Are they completely MAD? And why do politicians and governments who are supposed to protect the population, why do they enable them to do this?

And what am i going to do about this? Would joining the Green Party even help? What strategy do they have to dismantle the current system and put a just and fair one in place? It feels like i am getting back the old time religion once again.

Still i don't know what to do. I have lobbied and people never see sense. They only see money. How come politicians are so stupid?

Let us spend ten billion pounds - but to what end?

The other thing as well, as when i was sitting with the kids and laughing and chatting i thought, you know life is supposed to be about meaningful endeavour - at all times, that is what we should be striving for. That is what we need to enable at all times? Not drudgery, and pointlessness and overstimulation. The cultivation of the senses and the soul - that what it's all about. Isn't it?

Hmmmm.... I have never really engaged with this question, but watching that film has made me start thinking about politics and things that need changing. Anyway, what a great break this has been. So many things to think about and more to do as the school year begins once again.