Change & Belief

Politicians say we need change. The public certainly seem to want change. Buddhists believe that change is inevitable & we need to accept that & adapt to new circumstances. Change is very difficult to manage & deliver though.

Personal change should be under our control, but it is very hard to achieve. It necessarily involves putting aside the patterns of thinking & behaviour we have developed over many years, which are imprinted in our brain. It demands a sense of purpose & strong will to persevere. First we have to accept that we may have been misguided or wrong, then we have to modify beliefs & behaviour. 

Change on a societal or global level seems an exceptionally difficult thing to achieve. There are not only millions of individuals involved, but also countries. There are 195 countries in the world, comprising 193 United Nations (UN) member states and 2 non-member observer states (Vatican City/Holy See and Palestine). However, the exact number can vary slightly (up to 200+) depending on recognition of states like Taiwan or Kosovo. That represents huge variation in culture, ambition, attitude & development. Achieving consensus on what to change & how is seemigly impossible. 

Robert Jenrick defected from the Tories to Reform yesterday, making the 16th conservative to change allegiance. Notable among them were Nadim Zahawi & Nadine Dorries. On the surface it could be seen as a matter of conscience, a genuine change of mind. Or, if you are of the cynical frame of mind that I have, it could be "rats leaving a sinking ship". I am left thinking that the change of party is more about personal interest & ambition than genuine belief in Nigel Farage & Reform. 

How are we the public to trust politicians who "blow with the wind" rather than doing what is genuinely best for the future of the UK? Our country has been hugely damaged by 14 years of tory rule. All of our systems are at breaking point because of tory mismanagemnet, privatisation, cost cutting & lack of oversight. Not to mention the corruption & "jobs for the boys". 

There does need to be substantial change in the UK. We need to "put our house in order". Currently I'm not convinced that Kier Starmer & the labour party are the ones to do it. While I do believe that if new information / evidence comes forward, politicians need to be able to change their minds. I do not believe that lack of preparation & evidence based decision making is acceptable. It only results in vacillation & that is not a good look.

In order to achieve real change for the better we will all have to pay a price in the short term. We need politicians with the balls to take us down that road willingly & honestly.