Barlow's Beef: It's time straight talking and truth replaced obfuscation and deceit

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I think most would agree that these are dangerous and uncertain times. For those born after the Cuban Missile crisis of 1962 this is the most unstable time they have experienced.
The terrorist threat across the entire world is alarming. Far from defeating terrorists every move we make appears to create more. The United States, once the most stable of democracies, now has a President capable of anything.

North Korea remain steadfastly bonkers flexing their nuclear muscle in repeated attempts to trigger Armageddon.

During all this uncertainty the United Kingdom chose to exit the European Union and go it alone.

If ever there was a time for politicians of all shades and varieties to dump the spin doctors and speak frank and honestly this is it.

Messrs Blair and Bush, in their total ignorance of Middle East politics, opened a Pandora's Box of terrorism with no plan whatsoever for what was to follow.

Along with our own armed forces an estimated 150,000 Iraqi civilians lost their lives in a war based on lies and incompetence. How do you suppose their families feel about that?

While ex Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott describes this as a catastrophic misjudgement that he regrets every day Mr Blair acknowledges no such thing. Prime Minister Blair simply rewrote history (in his own head) claiming his reason for going to war was to rid the world of a tyrant. Mission accomplished-not.

There is a growing sense of injustice sweeping throughout Europe and North America that the Establishment has treated its people with utter contempt repeatedly promoting its own agenda rather than theirs.

Politicians have learned to live with this by endorsing each other until they believe their own lies. (It cannot be a falsehood if all your colleagues agree with you.)

Add to that their vocabulary of obfuscation where 'transparency' is an antonym for honesty and you see just how warped their understanding of integrity has become.

In the past we had politicians of great vision like Aneurin Bevan whose contribution to society was unquestionable. They have become all but extinct.

Only today on this website we see claims that councillors voted one way in private and another in public to give the (false) impression of public support while towing the party line. Is it any wonder public trust has been lost?

Do you really think the good people of the United States voted for Donald Trump because he was the wisest best-informed candidate? Of course not. They voted for him because he was not part of the Establishment.

It's a risky move but what option does a disillusioned electorate have?

The time has come for politicians at every level to start representing the people they purport to represent. It's time integrity and truth replaced obfuscation and deceit.

The alternative is revolution and widespread anti-establishment activity.

Hopefully, we have men and women of integrity able and willing to act on our behalf.

Residents of Wilmlsow and Alderley have already shown the way.

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of alderleyedge.com.

Tags:
Barlow's Beef, Vic Barlow
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Comments

Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.

Bob Bracegirdle
Tuesday 14th March 2017 at 4:11 pm
Come on. Trump not part of the Establishment? Of course he is. Just pretends he isn't. He is part and parcel of the rich establishment and just as manipulative as the rest.
Vic Barlow
Wednesday 15th March 2017 at 7:20 am
Yes I agree but he is not part of the Washington political elite of the Bush, Clinton variety and that's his attraction to those who voted for him.

The fact that he was financially able to fund his own campaign without towing the party line was a big attraction to all those tired or party manipulation.

It doesn't follow that Trump will be any better but the electorate was prepared to give him their vote and take a chance,