Robert Reich wrote a post yesterday on why he cannot retire, and it resonated with me because quite often someone suggests I should slow down. They wonder why I continue to write, make videos, and post daily.
They say, "Why not just take it easy, step back, and let others get on with things?"
The answer is simple. I can't. I have things to do and say, and most especially, I am not going to sit back when democracy is under threat, when inequality is rising, when the climate crisis deepens, and when political leaders peddle division and hate instead of offering hope.
We are in an emergency where authoritarians, in the United States, here and elsewhere, are working to dismantle the institutions of a free society.
In America, Trump is centre stage.
In the UK, we have our own versions in Farage, Badenoch, Jenrick, and even Starmer, who, as Labour MP Clive Lewis is now openly suggesting, is paving the way for a far-right government.. The methods might differ by place and person, but the purpose is the same: to entrench the power of a narrow, wealthy, white, male elite at the expense of everyone else.
Let's be clear about what this means:
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Tyrants cannot be appeased. They treat compromise as weakness and always demand more.
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The use of force against citizens, without reason or accountability, undermines the foundations of democracy, but that is what Trump is doing, Farage is openly proposing, and which politicians from Labour and the Tories are openly supporting by suggesting that the European Convention on Human Rights now be suspended, in selective cases, which means it has no effect at all.
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The suspension of due process, as all of them are proposing, violates every principle of justice.
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Replacing civil rights and the promotion of respect for diversity with the language of “tradition” and “order” is code for white supremacy and patriarchal control.
Seen together, these are not isolated events. They are part of a pattern to promote the rise of white Christian male nationalism, dressed up as patriotism but intent on dismantling equality, pluralism, and democracy itself.
More than that, it is about placing most people in economic servitude to an elite because they will become too frightened to protest about it.
This is why I write, post, and speak out every day. The stakes are too high not to do so, and silence or retreat would mean complicity, whilst despair only helps those who would prefer us to give up.
I am not interested in “retirement” while this fight is underway. I keep going because I believe in and care for people, their values, and their right to a better future, and I happen to be blessed with the health and energy to keep saying that.
I believe that together, we can get through this. Together, we can resist authoritarianism. Together, we can build a more equitable, inclusive, and sustainable society.
We will prevail.
And you can help. These are some things you can do:
Action points
Here's how you can help turn these convictions into change:
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Share my videos and blog posts widely. Please share my blog posts and YouTube videos with friends, colleagues, and family. A conversation started is a step towards change, even if it may be an uncomfortable journey at times.
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Challenge falsehoods. When you hear lies about the economy, migrants, public services, or “culture wars,” counter them with facts and arguments from this blog.
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Engage with doubters. Invite sceptical friends or relatives to watch a video or read a piece here. Sometimes hearing it in another voice makes the difference.
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Keep talking. This is especially important. Discuss these issues at work, in community groups, and online. Authoritarians thrive on silence; democracy thrives on conversation.
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Stay hopeful and connected. Despair feeds the powerful. Action, however small, keeps democracy alive.
Together, those steps matter. Thank you if you can do any of them, whenever, however, and even if it feels like not much.
Thanks for reading this post.
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I’m with you. I stepped back from practice at the end of March as I was approaching 68 but don’t intend to step back from society. I believe our time will be best spent helping the future generations fight for the soul of democracy and for the things that we had – good genuinely affordable housing, properly funded public services (including the. higher education sector), employment protections and an end to all types of discrimination. Most of all, we owe it to them to fight against climate change and those that deny its man made cause. Age has given us the advantage of being raised in our youth in a far less unequal society where those before us knew all to well how costly the fight against fascism can be and, as a result, established the very institutions and legal systems that are now under attack. Our age and life experiences should not be left to either on the vine. My life has seen me go from a slightly annoyed young man into a real angry old git! I am damned if I will do anything to facilitate the neoliberal robber barons. So, you see, there is so much still to do.
KUTGW
Angry old gits have a definite role to play.
Keep going.
But more pertinently, how are you going to campaign? I am curious, genuinely.
White Christian males who, it has to be said, have not actually read and understood the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth.
And it’s not only white males. Maybe you saw and heard a lady called Dinah issuing a torrent of venom yesterday, in discussion with Sky’s Katerina Vittozzi, while sporting a crucifix around her neck.
For the avoidance of doubt, the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth are clear about our duty towards asylum seekers. He tells us that when we welcome the stranger, we welcome him. He praises the foreigner who shows mercy as the true neighbour. He commands us to love others as we love ourselves and to treat them as we would wish to be treated. For Christians, asylum seekers are not intruders but brothers and sisters in need. Compassion, hospitality and justice are not optional extras.
I agree with you entirely.
The teaching could not be clearer.
That is a good question. It is very much a work in progress at the moment. I had intended to get more involved in my local Labour Party but a growing disenchantment with Starmer’s government and some local administrative concerns – important information about upcoming meetings and a lack of real response to complaints about this – forced me to conclude that the Labour Party only wants a certain type of member to be involved so earlier this year I resigned. At the moment I am taking a small steps approach. We support local wildlife and environmental charities and take our custom to local producers and suppliers. I also write to the local councils about various issues e.g. when some local residents claimed to speak on behalf of all residents and opposed a small housing project I called them out and pointed out that a photograph that they relied on in support was doctored. My views were published online so all could see what I had done (and I am happy to identified). I have done this with other matters such as local plans where the nimbys had ganged up and licensing applications. I also see my role as one of education and this is where your blog really helps. I take very opportunity to challenge those that refer to the household budget argument. I also challenge those (diminishing) number of Brexit supporters. We also have joined and attend local meetings of organisations such as the European Movement and the Wildlife Trust. I intend to get more actively involved in writing articles for the press (having written for a number of publications and books in my career). The only hesitation I have at the moment is due to the growing resentment of us so-called “lefty lawyers”. Following the Brexit calamity and the cases involving Gina Miller and the “enemies of the people” slur, many of us at the Bar experienced a growing public hostility towards our profession egged on by some politicians. My work often had me participating in public inquiries and I sensed a definite menacing public attitude towards myself and my colleagues from certain sections of the public. Hence this is a work in progress that has to be carefully considered.
If you want a platform to try ideas, if necessary under a pseudonym (I know the risks I take by being out there) let me know. I am open to hosting occasional pieces.
I have learnt so much from your writing & that of your followers Richard. Thank you.
But I still remember you saying a while ago, ‘Anyone who questions Israel’s right to exist will be blocked’.
Your writing is so vibrant and accurate that I still expect you will have changed your stance on Israel and will say so.
I think Israel has a right to exist.
But not in its current borders.
Why should you behave like a stereotype if you don’t want to/it doesn’t suit you? 10-15 years ago, in my early 70’s, I was producing a couple of books and running a local abcient-woodland group and my church (a Liberty, run by a PCC). I’m now 85 and can’t do that anymore, but I can still try to comment/argue with friends/keep up with thoughts. Some people are old at 60, some not till much later. KUTGW, Richard.
Thanks, Linda.
I know some people who were old in their 20s. They are now positively ancient and I don’t get why they chose to be that way.
Did they read any of the following ‘newspapers’?
The Scum
The Daily Hate
The Daily Excess
The loonygraph?
All cause severe premature deterioration in cognitive faculties, as well as increased levels of bile, cynicism, blood pressure and severe anxiety.
Leading to rapid physical and mental ageing.
🙂
So agree with you and Reich.
But your daily output is really exceptional – and would be for anyone of any age.
I’m older but still participate, even though not making much impact.
I was born with an excess of energy.
Another good post Rochard.
Just a small quibble – you say the purpose of the likes of those you (rightly) cite is “to entrench the power of a narrow, wealthy, white, male elite at the expense of everyone else”. As far as I can see, Badenoch is neither white nor male (and would be among those who would lose some of her rights under Farage’s proposed bill!).
It appears that, while in Europe & the USA the authoritarians mostly fall in this group, they can also be non-white and/or female. Nor are they necessarily (INO) Christian.
But Badenoch supports an ideology that is white, male and decidedly anti-feminist.
Indeed Richard. Amazing as it is, I fully accept that and was cetainly not attempting to defend her in any way whatsoever – rather the opposite (that she should not escape criticism because she is non-white and non-male).
“Retirement” is just about leaving the day job, not about leaving life. It’s about having enough pension to do what you do want, to go where your passions drive you. The financial independence of retirement means that you can carry on fighting for a fairer world through your blogs and writing, and I can fight for nature by exhausting myself doing manual labour on nature reserves. It doesn’t mean sitting in an armchair all day watching TV.
Much to agree with.
Most do not see it that way.
Golf and cruising seem the limit of their ambitions.
I have never played golf as I prefer a good walk – I tried cruising and gave that up although I did visit some remarkable places, but never for long enough – but that is cruising – deep waters and shallow experiences! As Eleanor Roosevelt said “Life was meant to be lived, and curiosity must be kept alive. One must never, for whatever reason, turn his back on life.” Thanks Richard for keeping our curiosity alive with your writings.
Thanks
In the nicest possible way, you seem curious too.
curiosity killed the cat – satisfaction brought it back —
David Attenborough, Noam Chomsky, Rupert Murdoch, Bernie Sanders, George Soros
Jeremy Corbyn
I hope I pass your new commentary criteria, but no worries if not. “Retirement” is merely a word. It means – in Humpty Dumpty terms – just what you individually and personally want it to mean. What you seem to me you have, is a Life (deliberate capital L there). Live it, and enjoy it your own way. You embrace diversity, so embrace your own way of “retiring”. But I hope you keep blogging! Yesterday, I understood for the first time (and could if asked explain it to someone else – the real test of understanding) the inverse relationship between bond price and interest rate. Thanks muchly!!
Thank you!
As long as the retiree has health, and enough income to live on.
For many, retirement involves juggling new part-time poorly paid jobs, grandchild-care, and NHS waiting lists while also worrying about the lack of social care for their own parents. It involves very few real “choices”.
Neither gov’t nor opposition seem to want to change that.
I am aware I am fortunate in many ways.
You talk of challenging falsehoods , including culture wars stuff. I am currently reading Minority Rule by Ash Sarkar – a riveting rollicking read, recommended.
And retirement from my day job made me a semi full time veg and fruit grower and sometime compost making teacher. We are a long time dead, retire then.
I like that!
It’s great, Richard, that you have the passion to do what you’re doing. That you have your health to complete the tasks you do. That you have the finances (I assume you have a pension that tops up your state pension) to do this work without payment. So many pensioners cannot afford to stop working as living on the state pension is not enough. So many pensioners are now working in supermarkets and diy stores just to make ends meet. They do not have the choice to take it easy. But look on the bright side, they will be warm in the places they work rather than wrapped in a blanket because they can’t afford the heating!
(…And, yes, I know you fight for such pensioners to have enough to live on, but it is very much a middle class thing generally to even have a job when working age that is chosen, brings satisfaction and financial security).
All accepted.
I know I am fortunate.
The aim of Tax Research is to break even. Sometimes it does better, others worse, but I admit I have a pension as well, most of it by living within my/our means, but it meant I could take the risk.
Yes, and it’s wonderful you can do what you want and follow your passion for justice for all.
I’ve been following you for years and love what you stand for and promote justice for all. Never being part of any party as an official advisor, as I think you were invited to be, by Jeremy Corbin. Admirable to remain independent and be free to comment on any government’s policies without prejudice.
Keep going Rchard! This link on how dictatorship starts may be off-topic, but I think it is relevant, and its message is that anything you can achieve in the next few years is vital.
https://cmarmitage.substack.com/p/i-researched-every-attempt-to-stop
Thank you. A good piece. I am msuing on how to sumamrise it. A blog may follow…
Yes Israel has a right to live in Palestine and it should also have a right to live in America!
Tongue in cheek and always a right to resist!
No borders!
https://youtu.be/yxsNGXoGVok?si=GzzqFo2dhnsoWdfO
“Don’t let the old man in”: The answer Clint Eastwood gave to Toby Keith when he asked him what kept him going. Eastwood was in his eighties at the time.
Toby Keith subsequently wrote a song of the same name.
You can never retire from your passion, or raison d’être as many notable musicians and artists have said. They simply carry on, doing, composing, writing or whatever it is they do.
I Think you and many people of the same mind are trying to make their world a better place. We may be old, but in Tennyson’s words:Old age hath yet its honour and its toil.
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.
Thanks