I spend a lot of my time these days trying to persuade those who love nature to become more politically active. I’m often told that all politicians are the same: they are not. They never were, and they never will be.
My last blog on the Atlas will appear this evening – maybe at 6pm but maybe a little later as I now have an unexpected assignation in the House of Commons in my diary.
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Hi Mark. Well said.
What was it the late, great and much missed Douglas Adams once wrote? ‘It is a well known fact that those people who most want to rule people are, ipso facto, those least suited to do it. Anyone who is capable of getting themselves into a position of power should on no account be allowed to do the job.’
I often wonder how JF Kennedy would have approached environmental problems today. I used to be able to recite his ‘Moon’ speech word for word, and often compare it now to the lack of ambition, idealism and inspiration to be found in today’s leaders. Although we have more important problems to tackle than space travel, ambition and idealism are needed more than ever. Compare and contrast speeches from those times with some recent remarks about ‘green crap’.
‘We choose to [destroy the planet, wildlife, sea life, etc] and do the other things, not because they are hard but because they are easy,’ seems to paraphrase what our leaders tell us now.
Yes, we have to be pragmatic, but I miss leaders with idealism, who choose policies not because they are popular, or test well in focus groups, but because they are the right thing to do.
Andrew Rawnsley wrote a piece recently, quoting one of Cameron’s own cabinet ministers that ‘The trouble with Cameron is that 90% of his ambition was fulfilled the night he walked over the threshold of Number 10.’ http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/nov/17/david-camerons-convictions What does Mr Cameron believe in? His own ministers aren’t sure”
It would be good to be able to vote today for someone whose ambition went further than their own personal interests – for someone whose ambition was for others, for the people who find it hard to make their voices heard, and, of course, for the environment.
Rob – brilliant! Many thanks.
Looks like Cameron and Osborne read your blog Mark! Who else could possibly tick the dislike box on Rob Yarham’s comment!
ps there might be something wrong with the tick boxes as they default to the Observer article.
Richard – I’m sure they are regular readers. Thanks for pointing out the error – I have fixed it (wouldn’t probably have noticed otherwise – so, thank you)
There are some conviction politicians but we don’t necessarily appreciate them if their convictions do not chime with our own. Since this blog post is based around an American political icon, I would point to another US example, namely the ‘Tea Party’ faction of the Republican Party who are undoubtedly ideologically driven but are not the kind of politician that I would ever wish to be represented by!
Who are you going to kill! Ups wrong word but this one means this – an appointment to meet someone in secret, typically one made by lovers.
“his assignation with an older woman”!!
John – terribly secret, sadly not with an older, younger, or same-aged woman.