Escape Velocity?

The only person who likes change is a wet baby. Roy Blitzer

What has gravity and escape velocity got to do with anything? It’s about breaking free of useless and wasteful old ways – explanation below.

‘Reduce deaths from fire,’ he said …

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Intent is one thing, outcomes another. What is your reaction to the video? Funny? What about the challenging content (wisdom of hindsight and all that)?
What has gravity and escape velocity got to do with anything? Big Change, that’s what … Here’s a list of  7 drivers of lasting beneficial change.

Tragedy and other reasons for change

Boy have we had a few tough weeks. Is change needed? Can you guess my response?
What about:

1. An awful tragedy at Grenfell Tower in London and consequent, immense political fallout. Blame, counter-blame. Political disinterest and probable negligence. Changes to the rules refused and buck-passed by ministers. Cheese paring on contracts may be involved.
2. A ‘snap’ general election failed to bequeath autocratic powers to a leadership who would most certainly have used them, with less certainty about in whose interests.
3. A deal with a political faction (DUP) with past terrorist connections. Can we ignore the hypocrisy after the caustic press and comments about Mr Corbyn?
4. An unexpected General Election result juddering through the Establishment, and they’re rocking still. Will they capsize? How can their honest commitment to change be won?
5. Young people and communities find their power and voice … just as our PM loses hers and the Westminster bubble flops about.
6. They say the UK is broke. Why did we buy HS2 and at what price? (up to £75 billion) How do we justify not using the cash for the NHS, feeding children and looking after the old?
7. 40,000 people a year die from pollution. We have plenty of ways of killing people. Who needs Trident?
8. The inequality, poverty and cruelty dumped on our hard-working masses is clear for all to see. This in stark contrast to the mendacity, spin and general disinterest of Ministers and apparatchiks.
9. Then, of course, we have the issues of Brexit so divisive as it fuels prejudice and conflict between our citizens, regions and the UK countries – who benefits from fanning the flames? Anyone know what Brexit means? It’s only been on the go for a year. Me, I want facts before I commit to any direction. Maybe you prefer soundbites, slogans and being fobbed off.

Oh boy! I’m getting angry … That’s enough then, there will be many, many more items for the list … make your own.

Why ‘Escape Velocity’?

If you want to win the jackpot, you’ve got to buy a lottery ticket. MalkyA

Familiar mindsets are powerfully embedded in our culture. Like a rocket to the moon, we need enough thrust to escape the pull of the status quo until the attraction of our shared/desired future is strong enough to pull us forward.
In our democracy we have choices unlike many disabled, immigrant, impoverished people (who some of us despise and blame for our ills). The puppeteers (press, politicians, ideologues) pull our strings, fuel our rage, invite blame and ill-considered aggression against innocents and the weak. Who are these manipulators? Must they go unchallenged?
How often do we cry enough at the ‘leaders’ we despise? Yet we can.
Pious and mealy mouths may intone: ‘will of the people’, and all that – and then they do whatever they were going to any way. What should we do? How do we change a harsh, arrogant, entitled mindset? Go figure.

Wow! Look at you … at each other

What love, support, generosity, care, selflessness and other fantastic qualities are in most of us, our communities, regions and countries. What amazing virtues to build on, while we’re energised and can see the failures, dishonesty and greed of our government …never mind ‘fraud and error’ (£22 – £44 billion per year). What’s stopping us demanding improvement, big time?

Constructive and strong doesn’t mean weak:

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We can chose change or allow our political leaders to continue as they do.  If we choose change, can we use the energy of our anger to achieve a hugely beneficial and constructive response? I believe we can.

© Mac Logan