I've been enormously fortunate, IMHO, to have experienced life from several different perspectives. For example, as a young child, I lived in houses with no gas, electricity, or running water. At around the same time - and in the same area - the most common means of getting from A to B was by horse and cart, or on Shanks's pony.
At the other end of the scale, in more recent times, I've stayed in the most luxurious hotels imaginable and visited various parts of the world in the most up-to-date aircraft. Paradoxically, it has been during these travels to 'exotic' places that I've witnessed the most extreme forms of deprivation.
Going on from that, after national service, my work experiences ranged from being a bus driver, through various levels of management, to company director (and back again). So, during that time, I've been both a member of a Trade Union and an Incorporated Trades House.
Anyway, although none of the above is intended to 'impress', I'm attempting to suggest that the breadth of these experiences might have given me a greater understanding of life than may be the case for those with less experience; in particular, many of those with whom I have become associated with through the medium of Twitter.
Now, at this point, I'll get straight to the point by declaring that I cannot see why so many - in the most part, apparently well-educated people - are so eager to undermine the current government. As I've said before, I voted for The Green Party; so, I have no axe to grind; but I'm at a complete loss to understand why certain elements seem unable (or unwilling) to accept that the previous government were responsible for the situation which their successors are trying to sort out.
To some extent, I can understand the resentment caused by the 'Thatcher' effect. However, that's no reason to continue to blame the present Tory party. Furthermore, I can assure those who continue to hold that particular grudge, that history will judge the legacy of the union-dominated Labour party of the seventies far less favourably than that of The Iron Lady. Coincidentally, she faced the same problem as young Cameron and Clegg - i.e. sorting out the mess they inherited.
More generally, what I find most difficult to understand amongst those who 'lean to the left' is their failure to realise that the problem with socialism is the Socialists. No one in their right mind could argue against the fact that principles of Karl Marx, for example, are entirely admirable. However, no matter how sincere they may be at the outset of their political careers, too many of those who progress within the system are beguiled by power. The former Soviet Union is probably the most obvious example; however, the UK fares little better when the records of Blair, Mandelson, Prescott and decades of corrupt trade union leaders are scrutinised.
This 'poacher becoming gamekeeper' factor is the main reason that I dislike those who claim to represent 'the left'. Put simply, the moment they assume power, they become Tories. The problem then, however, is - unlike most Conservatives - their backgrounds are not in management. In other words, they haven't been trained to 'manage'. Is it any wonder, therefore, that they make a bit of a mess of it?
So, to conclude, the next time some of my fellow Twitterarians are inclined to criticise the present lot, stop for a moment to consider why they're doing whatsoever is irking them; because, at the end of the day, votes are what matter and NO politician wants to commit political suicide. So, they won't deliberately upset the electorate.
