Like
a growing number of people, I do not accept that capitalism is the only way to
run a western economy.. I don't accept that some people always have to be poor
in society.. I don't accept that every person who isn't wealthy has to do a
paid job, for long hours and often to the detriment of their own health and the
health of their families.. I don't think education should be reserved for rich
kids, I don't think it's right that governments can sell off our beloved
institutions like the NHS and I dont think it's civilised to wage blatant
attacks on the unemployed, the sick and the elderly...
So
what do I believe in...
Respect
yourself.. respect your fellow humans and other creatures.. respect your
planet... Adopt the philosophy that says ...I am as good as anyone else, and no
better than anyone else...
Ethical
economics, working together -
The
obscenely rich need to be weaned off their addiction to capitalism, consumerism
and the exploitation of human beings, other creatures and the planet for the
sole purpose of satisfying their endless greed. If you can't produce it without
inflicting misery on someone or something, somewhere, then we really don't need
it, be that the latest iPhone, lipstick or drug to "cure
depression"...
Leaders
with integrity -
I'm
never convinced by the anarchy argument (too many egomaniacs run anarchist
groups for my liking...) so I can see that good leaders do benefit society as
things stand at the moment. Many in positions of power do however seem to have
a shocking lack of empathy and compassion and this can be seen in the way the
coalition government has been so nonchalant about attacking the poor, the sick
and the elderly, regardless of how brutally cruel most of us consider those
attacks to be. Chronic lack of empathy tends to be indicative of severe
personality disorders - these people are not well equipped mentally for
governing others and need to be encouraged away from politics and other
positions of power, for the good of mankind.
Health
Service, Education and Ethical Care for the Elderly -
In a
civilised society all of these things are provided to a high standard and
completely free... paid for out of general taxation. What is taxation for if
not to provide these essential elements of a compassionate society. Without access
to health, education and elderly care there is no civilised society.
Low
carbon housing available at genuinely affordable rents -
It is
not civilised to live in a society where some people have 3 or 4 homes and some
people have no home at all. Those with extra and 'holiday' homes they seldom
live in should be encouraged to forgo these luxuries in life that society
really can't sustain. New houses need to be built with sustainability in mind
and also at the heart of planning needs to be consideration for people's mental
wellbeing, concrete jungles contribute more to mental illness than anyone will
admit.
The
Citizens Income in place of inhumane means tested benefits -
Under
this approach every person leaving school would get a basic monthly
income - enough to meet basic needs but not enough for luxuries like holiday
homes and 3 cars on the drive. This would be paid automatically and a person
could then choose to top that up with a paid job, or work in a voluntary
capacity for a cause they might be passionate about, they might choose to stay
at home and look after their children or they might prefer to go into education
or pursue other activities to enhance their sense of fulfilment in life such as
art and culture. All four main parties are said to accept the Citizens Income
will inevitably come in one day because, for one thing, it's more cost effective than
the deeply flawed benefits system. Only the Green Party and Labour appear to
have party members who openly embrace the idea at the moment, but the day will
come and I'd have it sooner rather than later.
Commitment
to society's mental health -
Mental
health problems are on the increase again, with latest figures suggesting
around one in three of us now will suffer a significant spell of psychological
illness in our lifetime - so that's a similar rate to the figures for cancer.
There is a relatively simple way to reverse this trend but politicians don't
want to know about it, partly because terms of office are only 5 years long (so
future governments may reap the rewards of a current administration's
investment in mental health) and also mental illness as an industry is worth
billions. But mental illness, including addiction, personality disorders,
depression and anxiety could be solved, to a large degree, for future generations by
ensuring that all pregnant mothers are psychologically well throughout
pregnancy and in the months and years after birth. That includes support with
any psychological problems, it also includes making sure these women have their
physical needs met such as adequate housing, good nutrition, good social
support and a general good quality of life. For so many pregnant women the
exact opposite is the case and this is, in fact, the root of many of the mental
health problems we see in society today - if you don't care for the mother, you
are in fact neglecting her baby too. We know from studies that pregnant women
who suffer prolonged stress will produce high levels of cortisol and
norepinephrine and this is tranferred to her baby's blood supply and affects
its developing brain - it changes the actual architecture of the fetal brain
with the amygdala (the emotional centre of the brain) growing larger than
normal. This will make emotions harder to manage - the child (and then adult)
will physically feel negative emotions more intensely but will find it
harder to register positive emotions. Children whose mothers were stressed in
pregnancy have a much greater predisposition to addiction later in life and
they will also struggle to form secure attachments, as babies to their care
givers and as adults to their friends, partners and their own children too, so
the cycle goes on. Therefore it really makes sense to look after pregnant mums,
particularly those who are less well off and don't have a good support network
or the love of a reliable committed partner. Society at the moment actually
punishes such women for getting pregnant in the first place!
These
are just a few of the relatively easy ways we could increase our individual and
sense of collective health and wellbeing. They're ideas that could be quite
easy to sell to the voting public - what's not to like for goodness sakes - all that
is missing is the political will from those currently in control of the levers
of power, those who are unfortunately all too often bankrolled by the huge
corporations whose own continuing wealth relies on a large number of people
having miserable lives.
Ultimately I guess it comes down to the health of millions of ordinary people versus the continuing wealth of those few big corporations...
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