A Short Review of 2016

I've been away for a good while, not made the time to get my thoughts down, too busy being busy. Thought it;s time for a change and to make time to think and reflect, hence a return to blogging.

It has been a good year personally, I'm happy with myself, content with life and learned many things about myself. There are lots of things to improve upon but a recognition of that and a commitment to make improvements lead to contentment. A full realization that my lack of a wish to have "stuff" is fine, that spending time and having fun with people that matter makes for a much richer and happier life than the urge for a nice watch, a new car or any possessions can have. I feel that I'm in a good place mentally and emotionally.

I'm not sure the rest of the World feels the same way.

In the UK, another year of austerity, another year of over a million people, many of them working, who rely on food banks to make ends meet, a year that has seen the rise of far right ideas (and I do include UKIP in that) where racism, homophobia and sexism have become acceptable.

I fear we are in a rerun of the early 1930s:

• The same language Hitler used about Jews then is being used against Muslims and Eastern Europeans
• Racist abuse and racist attacks are becoming commonplace
• Hate crimes against gays are on the increase
• Food banks are the modern day equivalents of soup kitchens
• Homelessness has increased massively
• Zero hour contracts are fundamentally the same as the queues for casual work outside the docks in the 1930s
• The parasitic rich continue to make super profits at the expense of the majority even though "we're all in it together"

Unfortunately many people look for a simple solution and buy into the scapegoating of "others" as a simple, yet false, argument and solution. Their own difficulties in making ends meet can easily lead to see things this simply and with hate propaganda pouring out of mainstream media rags like the Mail it makes things worse. 

There seems to be a lack of a mainstream, sensible, alternative argument. The Left is either incompetent, too busy infighting or has a "holier than thou" attitude and simply suggests the people voting for the far right or Brexit are just idiots. The reality is that many are people having a bad time, who are fed up with politicians lining their own pockets and are voting for the only alternative they see. (the Left need to re-listen to Pawn in Their Game by Bob Dylan).

What is the answer to Brexit, Trump, the rise of UKIP, and the rest of the European far-right?

I suggest a good place is to work with other people who have a different view. The majority of people, including those who have voted for Brexit or UKIP, are not haters, they have voted for an alternative to the mainstream that has led their lives to be harsh. At the same time as the voices of hate rise there are many who are doing good deeds, who are working to help those less fortunate, who push for co-operation, honesty, ethics and mutual respect. When they do good work and it gets reported in the press or on social media, the response of most people is supportive.

To make 2017 a better place to be than 2016 simply work with the positive people and publicise the positive whilst speaking out and standing up against hatred in whatever form it appears.Be brave. Stand up for what is right. Do good things. Surround yourself with good people.

We can all make a difference, we just need to decide to do that.

The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men (and women - Ian E) to do nothing - Edmund Burke