We are a nation trapped in a cycle of self-harm. Politics may well have failed us all Respectable opinion has always deplored slackers who give up on politics. Our word “idiot” comes from the ancient Greek _idiōtēs_ – a citizen who took no part in the civic life of classical Athens. Aaron Sorkin picked up a quote variously attributed to Harry Truman and Woody Allen, and believed by everyone who demands a commitment to public affairs. “Decisions are made by those who show up,” says Sorkin’s creation, Jed Bartlet, a liberal president who seems even more of a fantasy figure now Donald Trump is in the actual West Wing. The sentiment remains undeniable. If you don’t vote, you must be content to be governed by those who do. The public-spirited go further. We are meant to campaign to reform our society, not just for selfish reasons, but for the sake of the greater good. I still believe that, but only just. It is a sign of the depth of Britain’s crisis that millions cannot. Continue reading...
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