"Plus Ca Change"- Part 1

"Plus ca change"- Part 1

It is very sad that so many of the facts listed in the blog I posted almost six years ago, on December 5th 2017 (please see it below) are almost entirely as valid today as they were then. 

In fact, with the biggest European war since the Second World War now raging in Ukraine and the increasing polarization of political parties continuing to widen the divide between left and right, we could say that the state of nations is even worse today; in addition, the world has endured a hideous Pandemic that has left multiple scars and the loss of millions of lives in its wake.

Instead of co-operation we are witnessing increasing confrontation; instead of a united front and joint action to roll back and adapt to the reality of the consequences of climate change, Governments are still kicking much of the urgent action required into the long grass.

By and large, there are few countries whose citizens are really happy with either their elected or unelected officials. In the past citizens took matters into their own hands but it is over a hundred years since the Bolsheviks and their followers expressed their anger with revolution and sixty four years since Castro toppled the corrupt Batista’s government in Havana. 

Little has changed in our world since Groucho Marx said:

       “Sir, these are my principles; if they do not suit, I have others”:

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Written December 5th 2017

So said Groucho Marx: he was a comedian- but never was a truer word said!

As we reflect on the past year we bear witness to the highest levels of deception, skullduggery, manipulation and shear disregard for much of what historically has been some of the finer aspirations of mankind .

The US has a President who openly states that he could “go onto Fifth Avenue, shoot people and it would not affect his popularity”. Meanwhile his friend “bunga bunga” Berlusconi who is still under indictment for a myriad of criminal charges is at the forefront of a return to power in the upcoming Italian elections. A dictator who turned Zimbabwe, at one time the breadbasket of Africa, into an economic basket case, reducing its population by literally starving his people to death has finally been forced to step down, but he is unlikely to face charges for his reign of terror and theft of billions from his own people.

The Venezuelan dictator Madura, whose country has the second largest oil reserves in the world has reduced a once prosperous democratic country into a one party state on the verge of Bankruptcy.

Saudi Arabia’s new power Prince arrests other Princes  on charges of corruption and conspicuous waste whilst he himself acquired a $500m yacht in one afternoon whilst partying in the Mediterranean. 

Kim Yung Ung could very well trigger a full blown nuclear war and presides over his starving population of twenty two million desperate souls whilst  holding the mightiest military nation on earth powerless to control what could be the most serious threat to world security.

Ethnic cleansing continues unpunished in Myanmar and once again the world stands by seemingly powerless to prevent mass slaughter; this humanitarian crisis ips no different from the horrors of Ruanda, Uganda  & Armenia one hundred years ago, to name a few;  so even in 2017,  world leaders and the totally ineffective U.N.  stand and do nothing other than issue statements of condemnation.

Whereas many who signed up to the Paris accord make similar noises of support for carbon emission reductions the truth is that they ignore the very treaties and accords that they sign if it does not suit them.

How the electorate and members of the US Senate and other political figures, not to mention the President himself could have even contemplated the election of Roy Moore is testimony to how corrupt and self-seeking so many have become. News concentrated on the allegations of sexual misconduct, but the real menace of the man is captured by his pronouncement that all Amendments in the US constitution after the 10th should be repealed. These include women’s’ right to vote and the abolition of slavery. If such views can gain the support of the electorate as he very nearly did, then what does that say about a country that purports to promote democracy at home and across the world.

Whereas overall our species has made great strides in improving our health, disease control and reducing poverty and extending human life, the basic instincts that have governed man’s behaviour since the beginning of time have not changed. We are selfish self-promoting animals who have learnt through speech manipulation to convey a multitude of promises to fellow human beings, which are more often than not full of deceit and primarily only seek self- promotion."