If your party (any party) is in power be critical of it

Readers of this paper will have noticed over the years, that when a view on politics is expressed, there is always someone who will accuse the writer of being a red, a lefty, a Socialist, a right wing fascist or a crazed UKIPist!

Incidentally, a thought, when someone expresses care for someone other than themselves, critics say, you must be a socialist.

Does this mean that no member of another party cares the same?

How offensive is that?

To set his mind at rest, no I am not a socialist, but would not be ashamed to admit it if I was, nor have been since my 20s, having helped vote Thatcher into power to regain control of the country from the 1970’s iron grip of the unions. It was not necessary to defend capitalism in such a virulent way as I believe, as many do, in a regulated and moral capitalism, as I have done all my long life. My comment upon the USA was not ‘a sly dig’, but a valid criticism held by very many people, especially the underprivileged in the States.

One hopes that the capitalism he supports is not that of the States – unbridled, unregulated, raw capitalism.

There really are other less selfish and more successful forms of that philosophy – they once existed in the UK.

Another writer has already drawn attention to the USA’s proposed TTIP trade treaty and its dangers. In the past both main parties supported company and financial regulation, it was only in the 1980s that relaxation as an ideology was initiated.

This has produced greedy amoral bankers, a price cartel in supermarkets and the energy industry, a huge dissatisfaction with our railway companies and a private housing rental business which is a disgrace.

These problems didn’t happen by accident, but by following political ideology and ignoring the actual rather than the hoped for results.

One can be a critical supporter of a political party or a supporter who accepts their good and bad policies without question. The latter tend to quote avidly from the left or right wing national press to support their party.

Both main parties rely upon their followers who unquestioningly follow the crowd. Thinking for oneself can be tiring, but it can reveal the weakness in other’s arguments. It can be done without insulting them.

So my view is that when your party (any party) is in power , be critical of it, it’s not disloyal, don’t be mislead by the national rags. Use rational arguments, after research and not insulting generalities and clichés. Find the time to think for oneself.

IM Griffiths

Fontwell Avenue

Bexhill

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