Vote Early Vote Often
VOTE TACTICALLY
This is a political broadcast, so strap in. I make no apologies for this. As a small business owner, a citizen, a subject (if you must), and a human being, society matters to all of us or it should. The sort of society we live in at a very structural level is defined by our political system and in the case of UK, the leading political party.
That means politics affects your life, your neighbourhood, your business, your children and grandchildren's future and the future of our planet. I’m not being dramatic, this is factual and we all know it.
Right now in my homeland, it feels like there is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to dramatically turn around the direction we have been hurtling towards over the last ten years. The Britain I see, I hardly recognise. It’s almost broken and certainly toxic - after years of appalling austerity measures that seem to start and end with the most vulnerable members of society being pushed further below the poverty line.
Is it any wonder people are brewing for a fight? It’s an old, old tactic of divide and rule and point the other way for an enemy to blame. I cannot comprehend a society that sets a minimum wage that is below the accepted living wage - think about what that really means? It’s no wonder the use of food banks is the norm for so many people that are actually in full time employment and still cannot feed their families.
It’s not ok is it? Are you ready for another five years of that? Can you accept another five years of climate change denial while we watch the likes of BP (other polluters and plunderers are available) buy more self-serving politicians and see the future slip away into a black smog?
If you are, feel very free to stay home on polling day by all means. If who watches the Queen's speech on Christmas day is the most important aspect of this election, then I congratulate you on reaching your life goals. But if you want a change where you live then you HAVE to go and make it happen. Not voting or spoiling a ballot paper will mean another five years of this Eton mess.
A government that elevates the poorest, elevates EVERYONE. A government that comes from a place of kindness, equality and fairness, creates a value system that benefits EVERYONE. It lifts us all up - especially those of us who are self employed and small business owners. A society that eliminates poverty, gives consumers more spending power, more choice, better public services. We all win.
If you do nothing, nothing will change. To make a change you have to vote, tactically.