Clear and Present Dangers!

BRIGHTEVERYDAY Clear and Present Dangers!

Not usually stuck for words, loss of momentum and enthusiasm, harbouring disheartening inclinations, all demands erudite intervention, and honesty. When we despair and feel helpless, searching for a panacea, one feels humility and humanity are the cornerstones of moral rectitude. Much in modern life, however, is left to chance and bad management, often leading to disillusionment and isolation; it is what we do not say, what we feel is nihilistic or an exponential threat to the core values of society, what we fear, and feel intimidated, silenced, by. These nebulous acts, clear and present dangers to all, require great fortitude.

Trust and hope are implicit tenets of an egalitarian society, one which gives inspiration and accedes to an aesthetic and meaningful life. This suggests an enchanting existence, a life in harmony, with each other, and with the generous natural world. In its simplicity it is like an aurora, uplifting and true; but in the darkness, it is malevolent and spiteful, draining, and bewildering. There is undoubtedly innate goodness in the world, but conversely there are forces of evil and destruction. We have a responsibility to ensure which is victorious, for humankind!

We could be forgiven for thinking that discord is the currency of international relations and

socio-political policies. As good, and fair-minded people, are we truly represented in a tumultuous political arena? More often self-interest, craving position and status, greed, and profligate authority, are the tenets of ambition in industry and commerce, indeed in the corridors of political power. One should apply judicious scrutiny to assess their fitness for purpose and propriety.

A catalogue of failures in diplomacy, economic and political ineptitude, suggests sweeping changes are both desirable and necessary. Action and governance is much needed for a robust, and eloquent, electorate to demand a refined, benign, and educated overhaul of divisive party-political dogma; to obviate the Punch and Judy, ping-pong dogfight of puerile, vacuous debate and deliverance. This is the time for serious deliberation, articulation of agenda, truth, and transparency, perfectly aligned with the crisis-management accord of the electorate! Now, is indeed the time for unity and governance, at last transcending meaningless dialogue, discord, dishonesty, and division. It is therefore, surely essential, that the rush to “ramp up” public spending on infrastructure, rather than rejuvenate our beleaguered industrial, manufacturing base, we be informed of the new fiscal rules allowing such huge borrowings, and indeed the true source of lending, which after all, is paid by every one of us!

All too often we have witnessed the prize assets of the country, sold off to the highest bidder, igniting the inexorable drive to mediocrity; a Capitalistic drive for profit and margin, casting aside loyalty, integrity, fair-play, indeed sovereignty and moral obligation. What thought for traditional protocols of decency and honesty, diligence, co-operation, all assumed rewards for dedication, and assiduous application of skills, fortitude, and human endeavour.

Rather, our industrial and political leaders, seduced by the most basic, or base, incentives, (even personal reward), sell off tracts of publicly owned assets, and intellectual property, entirely without public mandate. This suggests, rather than naivety, corrupt or injudicious negligence, an aberration, showing the profligate and destructive detachment of their charge, and office. The lack of foresight, and erudite understanding of the function of state, is equally astounding and catastrophic. Witness the constant stream of indiscretions and hypocrisy of senior politicians, granting favours, courting nefarious androids, yet again failing their sponsors, but chasing the moonbeam! It is a dreary, repeated indictment, of our flawed political system, and deep-rooted deceptions, within our institutions of political power and governance.

A little research will shock the most ardent student of politics. We cannot blame the emerging economies of the Far East when we so freely give our industries, and valued businesses, to them! Strategic and logistic resources planning, and supply inadequacies, have been woefully, indeed, tragically, exposed in recent months. An underfunded NHS, possibly primed for break-up, and imminent sale, and our Health Care sector, still unable Four Months later to properly resource and manage the appropriation and supply of PPE and essential goods in a national crisis.

This now applies to strategic supplies shortages, and corrupt overcharging on a vast scale, in our efforts in kickstarting industry, and re-igniting the economy. It has cost extreme hardship and more so, many lives.

Our dependency on the totalitarian Chinese State, and emerging nations of the Far East, for medical supplies and for colossal numbers of manufactured goods, is a national disgrace. Which way were our successive governments looking, as they diminished our power and manufacturing base, with monumental negligence; strategic industries and businesses wilfully presented for sale, on a silver plate? There is little point in detailing individual aberrations, rather we should study the information readily available, and see what sensitive industries and businesses were “gifted”, and by whom, and why! It does shine a light on doctrine, political dogma, and ineptitude, but more significantly, the real possibility of untrustworthy practices, in high places.

We have a live situation at this very moment of opaque due diligence, and shifting sands, of a mercurial housing development; diminished affordable housing and profit margins raise concerns, as indeed does ministerial interference, and collusion. Perhaps these hapless members should be reminded of their sworn duties, as public sector workers, all be it, with a significant stipendiary, to honour the ethics and integrity of their office and discharge their responsibilities judiciously.

We, the public, are weary with “sleeze” and impropriety!

Why have we chosen to educate so many overseas students, particularly those of the dominant Chinese State, rather than make those places available to our own UK students. Some Five Thousand Chinese students and more, are currently educated at individual Universities across the UK, and this is repeated in significant numbers. Perhaps the Education Minister can elucidate on the total numbers, the philosophy of such philanthropy, and further explain the implications for diminished control, of intellectual property and the threat to national security. We are of course, made aware that overseas students pay substantially more for their places at Colleges or Universities! Well, if that is not a sad, and lamentable, situation, god knows what is!

Such pathetic diatribe is contemptible. Cut your cloth, or seek investment from within, to promote education nationally, and equitably. Should we not be investing in our own industrious students, to continue their deserved education, vaunting centuries old traditions and spirit, of endeavour and indomitable excellence, and rebuild our depleted, deflated, misappropriated, and compromised economy? We relinquish title at our peril, and we should remember our many recent failures, and the exponential threat of relying on survival, as a nation, on a predominant and unsustainable service industry!

Now, is an opportunity to unify our fractured country, to educate, invest in, and train our youth for an inclusive and rewarding future; to build a sustainable model for commerce and industry, and to build new relationships with rejuvenated British industries, value their innate importance, strategically, and spiritually, as the talisman of an evolved, and fair society. We need not grow up with a disenchanted, and bewildered youth; perhaps instead, we should celebrate, and invigorate our long traditions for excellence in education, opportunity, outstanding innovation, indomitable resolve and assiduity, again, to revitalise and energise a new hope and belief in ourselves, and our communities. It is in our hands, and we have the power to deliver great deeds, and to share that impetus and rejuvenated spirit, offering hope and fellowship across all borders, and throughout the world. Let us not, thus, deflect in purpose and determination, by subversion and division, but recognise the transcendental goodness and elegance of humanity.