Most politicians are clueless when it comes to ideas.
On the supposed left, few of those elected now appear to have any clue as to what an ideology that might inform policy or action is.
When it comes to real-world experience, far too many politicians have none of any consequence.
When watching the House of Commons, it strikes me that a lot of them can't articulate a question without reading it.
All of this implies a vacuum at the heart of them that suggests that far too many lack a purpose apart from self-advancement, that is.
So, I was pleased to note US Senator Bernie Sanders writing this in The Guardian today:
In the richest country in the history of the world we must establish that:
Healthcare is a human right and must be available to all regardless of income.
Every worker in America is entitled to earn a decent income. We must raise the minimum wage to a living wage and make it easier for workers to join unions.
We must have the best public educational system in the world, from childcare to vocational training, to graduate school – available to all.
We must address the housing crisis and build the millions of units of low-income and affordable housing that we desperately need.
We must create millions of good paying jobs as we lead the world in combating the existential threat of climate change.
We must abolish all forms of bigotry.
Not only must we continue to fight for a nation based on the principles of economic, social, racial and environmental justice, we must also lead the effort against Trump‘s reactionary legislative agenda.
There is not an 'ism' in sight there.
There is no grandstanding.
It is the proposed actions that speak of caring, above all else, and of wanting to create a world that is a better place for most people who live in it - who the forces of concentrated power are denying that opportunity to.
This is politics as the world wants it to be.
The world is not interested in left or right. They are interested in how the power of government can be used to improve their well-being, which is the promise that democracy was meant to offer and which it is failing to deliver because it has been subverted by those who are only seeking power for themselves by serving the best interests of those small minority of all businesses (which do however dominate by size) that offer those politicians the best prospect of post-political careers and wealth.
These solutions cannot be built by the government alone. Let's not be naive enough to suggest that such a thing is possible. Government has a massive role to play in life, but to pretend it is good at everything is quite absurd.
These ideas can be built by better regulating big business.
They can be built by fostering small businesses.
They can be built by wealth redistribution.
They can be built by governments who want to release the power of the state - including its power to create money - for collective well-being.
They can be built by having a vision of what must be delivered.
They are why I am so bored by 'isms' of all sorts.
What I want is action.
'Isms' are promoted by those who do not know what action is.
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Hmmm………….
The world unfortunately is interested in Left and Right as it has been taught that Left is bad, and it just so happens that quite a lot of Sander’s aims and objectives would be slurred with a Left tag anyway to put people off. I hear – too often – the Left being berated in a way that just makes no sense to me at all – by everyday people I work with or come into contact with. Anything new – and much wisdom from the past – has been doused in Right wing denunciation of the Left. Tim Snyder’s latest book must be read.
I share your frustration and have struggled long and hard to build affordable housing with measly funds, carbon intensive (for lack of innovation), with Reform Councillors telling their constituents that I’m building them for immigrants to top it off.
I have concluded that I am on the losing side. I just need to become happy with my lot and accept defeat with dignity and grin and bear it pointing out things when I can. Even my two university student kids tell me that no one is reading Stephanie Kelton.
I have come to think of most of society as simply suicidal maniacs.
I still have my ‘Bernie for President 2016’ t-shirt though. At times like this, you take what you can.
If we give up there is no hope
Sorry.
It’s not about giving up.
It’s also about coping.
I accept
The stress of that is making me grumpy this morning
I empathise. I too am going through a phase of feeling very despondent. Pretty much everywhere I turn I see both individual and corporate greed and selfishness. I am starting to think that those with the power to control and manipulate will not stop until they have completely crushed democracy and have heralded in a new age of feudalism
Very good 100% agree.
Which is why, in the energy area I NEVER mention de-carb or Net-zero – turns many/most people off & I have no intention of trying to educate them – when low cost energy & warm comfortable etc are immediately understandable & supported – by ALL.
I like Sanders’ list – it is a good list. Some can stick a “left” label on it – but – what is the alternative to well paid workers? – ah yes – poorly paid that need state subsidies = socialism for the capitalists (who are at heart all good socialists).
No time for ‘isms – just gives angles imbeciles to open a pointless argument.
Bernie Sanders gets it
Others on the left it seems don’t
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/feb/19/leftwing-activists-less-likely-work-political-rivals-other-uk-groups-study
Which has consequences
A video or blog may be coming on that
Phil Moorhouse did a video on this yesterday…
https://youtu.be/S-rhx1hRIW4
More in Common is run by a former tory advisor. I would ignore anything they come up with.
The whole Grauniad report is garbage.
No it isn’t
If the left does not learn to talk outisde its bubble it is fucked
And yiu are, in any case, a troll
Meanwhile J.D. Vance (for whom Trump is the ‘gateway drug’) claims that most of what universities teach is just a load of wokery, taught by people who should be made to get a ‘proper job’, who just swan about in their very nice places of work with their lovely buildings and extensive grounds which, thanks to AI and the Broligarchy, aren’t needed anymore and should be sold off to real estate developers.
Bernie Sanders has been talking sense for decades. Let us not forget that it is the Democrats who have consistently manoeuvred to ensure his chances of nomination for presidential candidate were destroyed. Similarly, it was the Labour Party who destroyed Jeremy Corbyn.
It’s good to see Sanders out on the stump, talking grassroots activism. He’s right that the Democrats don’t have what it takes to counter Trump.
We on the left need to focus somehow on channelling our anger into positive action to fight back.
Where’s our Bernie Sanders?
Or Elizabeth Warren, or AOC..?
Aye, Aye and Aye again!