Tag: Hope

I’m with stupid!

So why is democracy seen as the worst form of government bar all other forms of governance tried?

Democracy is often characterized as the “worst form of government” primarily through a famous aphorism attributed to Winston Churchill: “Indeed it has been said that democracy is the worst form of Government except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time”. 

In the UK we could end up having a Reform government led by Nigel Farage in after the next general election or the very threat of this happening could in effect keep him voted out, the idea of a Britsh Trumping of social norms and political structures is a delight to some and terrifying to others. The political party Reform now has so many dangerous former Conservative Politicians in it they are more regurgitated Tories than they are reformed human beings.

Life, the world and technological futures seem to be creating the perfect storm for our future endeavours which as we vote and how we are governed will show the best and worst of us all. Do we care for ourselves or others, rich man, poor man, beggar man or thief. How should we act and treat one another when a crisis is right at our feet.

The political sentiment for democracy being the best of a bad bunch reflects a pragmatic recognition that while democratic systems are riddled with inherent flaws—such as inefficiency, corruption, and the potential for “mob rule”—they remain preferable to authoritarian alternatives that lack accountability and individual justice. 

Russia, China and Iran all must supress, lock up and kill their own citizens as well as ones abroad in order to maintain their supremacy and there are not enough words on a board to express the horror and suffering they inflict on others in order to get their own way. Democracies do not aspire to be brutal totalitarian regimes but in stead aim to fend of the madness of such regimes from inflicting their brutality and suppressing nature onto us all.

Core Philosophical and Practical Criticisms of democracies

The perception of democracy as a “bad” or “flawed” system stems from several long-standing arguments:

1. Competence and “Mob Rule”

  • Voter Ignorance: A central critique, dating back to Plato, is that democracy gives equal weight to the votes of experts and those who may be “incompetent” or poorly informed. Modern studies have shown that many voters lack basic civic knowledge, making them susceptible to emotional manipulation and propaganda.
  • Tyranny of the Majority: Critics like Alexis de Tocqueville and John Stuart Mill warned that a “poor majority” could dominate decision-making at the expense of minority rights and individual excellence.
  • Mob Law: Churchill himself distinguished true democracy from “mob law,” where armed groups or “gangsters” seize power under the guise of popular will to implement totalitarian regimes. 

2. Structural Inefficiencies

  • Slow Decision-Making: Unlike autocracies, where a single leader can act quickly, democracies require constant deliberation, negotiation, and compromise, which can lead to stagnation or gridlock during crises.
  • Short-Termism: Electoral cycles incentivize politicians to prioritize immediate, popular benefits to win votes, often ignoring long-term risks like climate change, debt crises, or pension sustainability. 

3. Corruption and Elite Capture

  • Influence of Money: Democratic systems are often criticized for becoming “oligarchies” in practice, where economic elites and special interest groups have significantly more influence over policy than the average citizen.
  • Iron Law of Oligarchy: Sociologists have argued that any organization, including a democracy, eventually becomes dominated by a small elite due to the practical demands of organizing power. 

Contemporary Challenges (2025–2026)

Current political analysis highlights specific modern threats that exacerbate these negative perceptions:

  • Erosion of Trust: As of early 2025, global trust in democratic institutions like parliaments has significantly declined, while trust in the police has risen. This disillusionment often leads to support for populist leaders who promise to dismantle existing democratic structures.
  • Information Ecology: The spread of algorithmically-driven disinformation and “fake news” has made it difficult to establish a common factual basis for democratic debate.
  • Polarization: Modern democracies are facing extreme political fragmentation and the formation of “echo chambers,” making social discourse across political lines increasingly difficult. 

The “Least Bad” Perspective

Despite these significant failings, democracy is defended as the only social order consistent with justice and human dignity. Proponents argue that its “built-in flaws” and tendency to decay are actually safeguards; a certain level of skepticism and the ability to change leaders without violence are advantages that other systems, which are often more brittle, do not possess. 

Democracies hold a kinship to freedom like a shining beacon in the dark

Political freedoms to vote, freedom of expression, Freedom to think and freedom to do and be.

Though these freedoms have in some ways restrictions so that one persons freedom does not inflict damage or disregards another persons freedom it is I feel our freedoms that are the eternal beacon of hope which guides and shapes our democracies to not just survive but to live on into a forever future like the eternal flame of freedom, hope and democracy.

The “eternal flame” serves as a global symbol for freedom, hope, and democracy, manifesting in several prominent memorials and monuments worldwide: 

Key Memorials & Symbols

  • The King Center Eternal Flame (Atlanta, USA): Located at the tomb of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., it was recently restored to reaffirm King’s vision for justice and peace. It serves as a reminder that the work of freedom and democracy is a shared, ongoing responsibility.
  • Flame of Democracy (Constitution Hill, South Africa): Lit by Nelson Mandela to commemorate the 15th anniversary of South Africa’s constitution. It burns outside the Constitutional Court as a symbol of the country’s liberation and the enduring spirit of human rights.
  • Flame of Peace (Hiroshima, Japan): Lit in 1964, this flame is intended to burn until all nuclear weapons are destroyed, representing hope for a world defined by peace rather than conflict.
  • Freedom Park Eternal Flame (Pretoria, South Africa): A symbol of gratitude and remembrance for those who played pivotal roles in South Africa’s liberation struggle.
  • The Centennial Flame (Ottawa, Canada): First lit in 1967, it commemorates the first hundred years of Canadian Confederation and symbolizes the spirit of national unity. 

Cultural and Global Context

Artistic Expression: Musicians like Bruce Springsteen have recently launched tours (e.g., “Land of Hope and Dreams”) explicitly centered on themes of democracy and defending the American ideal. 

United Nations: Secretary-General António Guterres has used the metaphor to urge the world to “keep the flame of democracy alive” for future generations.

International Day of Democracy: Observed annually on 15 September, this day reinforces the idea that democracy must be nurtured and defended as a “flame” that requires active citizen participation.

Don’t Cry – Seal












So Spring has sprung

Now in March I hope that spring brings green shoots of optimism and a little bit of budding of new and fresh positivity like from the first sighting of snowdrops to blue bells in fields of raw emotion in woodlands of ages past. Where hope spring eternal and I am pleased to hope that a little bit more of a positive attitude and things to believe in are finally here.

Though life does not unfold like a story written in a book, often enough with chapters of trials leading to happy endings. We still interpret what is happening and write it down to share as if it were a story or as though we have a tale to tell.

One thing I am grateful to discover and am seeing alot at the moment is the value of friendships, in work, within family, at home and socially too from talking , texting, meeting and greeting and sharing moments too.

That lift you up too!

People really have shown compassion, strength of belief in me and support in a way I sometimes don’t expect. Or I sometimes expect to have to cope alone in life or on my own without the support of others, where as in reality to have that support of a call or text at a certain time or a shared drink in a bar or cheering of a song I have sung and assistance with a task in work are all very much valued moments in time which are very much appreciated.  

A rare last min photo of me, late night and scruffy but well its been taken now!

I am very much normally expect to rely on myself, but I have had a number of people remind me that I don’t need to do this all the time and that is comforting to see hear and know. As you get older you might think in some ways you are more alone but I feel if you give life and people a chance and reach out to others there is a chance that they will reach back to you too.  

Fast Changes by Seal

The birds in the breeze

During lockdown due to Covid-19, this feels like a life time away now. I bought myself a bird table and began to regularly feed the birds outside my front window by where I would work at home and just from watching them feeding I was able to appreciate a simple truth – that life is not perfect or harmonious balence and there is a continues battle for the pecking order for how things are and how they should be.

The birds fly in so elegantly on their wings, but they would always be squabbling amongst themselves on the bird table trying to boss each other around to ensure they got what they wanted. I do not know whether this was because they were hungry or starving or just the way they do things.  

finches at feeder

The big birds such as seagulls would also often be the first to the table and would have the first cuts of bread put out on the table. The Pigeons or sparrows would never join them at the table but would wait their turn for the seed too small for the seagulls to successful take off the bird table or bird feeders. I never saw a seagull attach a smaller bird but then again the smaller birds would never challenge the gulls.

We picture in our heads birds such as seagulls, pigeons or sparrows as peaceful creatures of the animal kingdom. But to see up close the squabbles and infighting that goes on in order to enable them to feed is an eye opener. There is no humanitarian or religious distributor of food to the birds it is in fact every bird for themselves.

My point I hope I am making is that even though our natural environment is beautiful and offers much wonder. The natural environment can be harsh and brutal place and a daily struggle to feed and survive.

Life for us humans can at times be harsh and brutal and many times in human history our darkest times have been when man inflicts darkness and pain upon man. But ultimately this should not detract us from the beauty of the human spirit and hopefully its ability to overcome daily struggles and the desire and will to survive, prosper and flourish.  

Onions have layers, like people have secrets

I started this blog on 1st February 2020 nearly two years ago hoping to shed a skin or two of layers of my perception of life and write about my mental health experiences and my view on politics, loves and life. It’s such a good form of self expression having a blog and just as much fun reading and seeing what other people view and share too. I tend to go through phases of wanting to read others, wanting to look over my own and also wanting to write on my own or find new ones to follow.

But one thing I still have not had the ability to do yet on here is come out about my mental health (both past and present) and I am not sure if or when I ever will. The thing about publishing on the World Wide Web is although not many people do read this blog, it has the potential for anyone I know or even don’t know to read it and judge me. That judgment might then result in someone thinking less of me which is not a big deal, but if that judgement resulted in a work colleague or employee then making life difficult for me or even causing me to lose a job over then that would be a huge problem for me.

I work hard to pretend to be normal in a work environment and that hard work enables me the comfort of sleeping with a roof over my head in my own flat in a comfy bed and with relatively few nightmares. To come out about my mental health difficulties on here makes me feel that I risk all of that. So I don’t really discuss it or go into great detail about it really so as not to be at risk of being found out. Maybe my circumstances will change one day or something like that but I feel safe in my own skin leaving it as it is for now.

I take very few photos of myself although I have found one that a friend took in the most awesomely friendliest bar in Exeter called the Arcade that I was in recently.

Me, Will, Kev, and Nate (all legends on their own barstools)

Birthday Bash

Well it was my birthday on 12th July so had planned to go out with some friends for drinks on Saturday night which was great and ended with me safely home after a great night out. Then on Monday 12th July I had booked some time off work and met up with some friends for a meal which was lovely and the first time we had all been together since last March. I then went on to a bar on my way back to mine which is usually a lot of fun and had a couple of drinks on my own before heading home at 8pm.  

All was going well Saturday it was a fab night and met some new people as well as had fun with some old friends. It’s like I am playing catch-up now and meeting with friends that I have not seen since pre-pandemic times.

Things went a bit sour in the last bar I went into on Monday because suddenly it appeared I was fair game to shout threats to and give insults to simply for where I worked. As I work for the council in environmental health and a very drunken stranger was told by the owner of the pub where I worked which results with threats of potential violence and the only compliment coming from this complete stranger nut job was that well at least I’m not a traffic warden because they are worse than environmental health officers. Gee thanks pal!

He was taking about getting the lads around to sort me out, bare in mind this is a drunken complete random stranger, that I had only just seen and not even spoken to at all, who felt it amusing or necessary to hurl this drunken abuse at me.

I always try to be careful when I am out not to act like an idiot, bring to much attention to myself or in anyway put myself into a situation that could lead to violence or for want of a better possibly slightly melodramatic way put myself in a situation that could result in my untimely death due to violence at the hand of another.

There is something about masculine culture that can result in violence occurring for some people especially when alcohol is involved and the last thing I want to hear the next day or when I am unlucky or lucky enough to wake up in hospital or pick myself up from the floor is ‘Oh sorry mate it was not my fault I was drunk’!

I think like most males that have lived and been around the block a few times I have in the past been assaulted and it’s a nightmare situation that no one asks or volunteers for and I am so angry when someone tries to put me in that type of situation. In my younger days I used to make a move to try and stop fights when I saw them happening and that mostly went well and either stopped or prevented violence. But I am older now and feel like I should not be stepping in any more if I can help it.

I am not going to stop going out but I am also not wanting to put myself in harm’s way due to some drunken idiot the suddenly finds a kinship with violence due to how many beers are in his body.

I was the one that had to wake up my father in the middle of the night and tell him my brother’s life had ended. If I can help it I never want anyone else to have to wake either of my parents to tell them that my life has now been lost too.

Rag’n’ Bone Man – Human

Turned my light down low

Simon & Garfunkel – The sound of Silence

Well as I write this its 18:10 and my brain in the last few days has become more silent. I am not saying that less horrible things are happening in this world or that I could not quickly find something terrible to tell you or terribly good for that matter.

But as for my ability or will to write about them now has diminished (for now). I have been working in my day job since lock down and am due to start my new job on the 13th July.

I have been preparing for this next chapter of my life. By walking into the city, shopping in the city and wearing my mask when I get the bus. But throughout all this preparation my will and ability to express myself on here has decreased.

It would be nice if the job goes well, covid-19 is defeated and politicians do the right thing by the whole of humanity and not just for their own pockets of supporters or potential supporters. I tend to criticise those in power the most because they are ultimately the ones that can actually save lives and make sh*t happen. The ones out of power are just peeing in the wind waiting for their next chance to get into office normally or at least that is how it seems to work in the UK from a shallow perspective.

I hope if you have got this far in reading this that you are well and continue to be well. I really have enjoyed writing every darn word and if you get bored anytime I dare you to look over old posts there is a lot of my heart and soul that has gone into making this thing.

I will try and continue to post on here but like I say my mind has become more silent of late and I don’t yet know what that means but it feels like a positive necessity to heal or recharge my batteries.

God bless us everyone.

Florence + The Machine – Shake it Out

Well maybe tomorrow?

Before I went to bed yesterday I knew I was struggling and looking for guidance and so I picked up two books looking for help but with the views that I hold and the hopes that mean so much to me I could find no inspiration from the pages that I turned to.

I feel a little burnt out at the moment running on an emptying can of gas. Not quite arrived at my destination but knowing that in order to get anywhere now there is no turning back. I have no idea about my final destination it’s rumoured it might be nice. But so long as it gives me comfort and a rest I know I will be fine.

So I have the start date of my new job now July baby here I come. I am trying to set things straight in my old job and make sure my colleagues know how to do the job I have been doing before I leave.

I am very nervous about what lies ahead not just for me and whether I will be able to do the new job (as I feel a little damaged from what has happened this year). But also nervous about the whole Covin-19 future and how that will shape out.   

I always hope that each day the world gets a little kinder, a little bit of a better place for souls to be born into and live and die. But sometimes you just don’t know if that is a mirage or really happening.

That kind of sums up where I am too at the moment don’t know if it really is getting better or just a mirage in which I am waiting for the next thing to happen.  

Stereophonics – Maybe Tomorrow

Hyme for the Harvest

 from the Shih Ching (The Book of Songs)

Grant that this year abundant harvest reign,

And be our granaries piled with rice and grain.

Let sheaves in myriads and in millions fill our barns.

From these sweet wine we will distil,

To pour as solemn offerings at the shrine of those, who, passed away, are now divine;

The sainted sires and mothers of our line.

Pleased with such sacrifices may they bestow unnumbered blessings on the folk below.

BEN Né en 1935 Take care - 2016 Lettres synthétiques blanches sur panneau en aluminium brossé