A lot of wibble is written on the presumption that the older you get the more conservative you get. Whilst this may be true a number of people it’s by no means a rule. Meanwhile media moguls trade on this prehistoric assumption as much as they possibly can.
Even this simple question on politics is open to challenge. Every year the political landscape shifts. What might seem to be conservative a decade ago can now be painted as lefty liberal. So, do you and I change or does the world change around us? Naturally, both.
Again, put the British tabloids and social media aside. They run a shabby soap opera every day. All is not what it seems. Asked “Which political ideologies do Britons have a positive view of?[1]” the results are surprisingly refreshing. Top of the poll comes – environmentalism.
I guess, I am still a believer in the political “bell curve”. The great majority of people are neither tub thumping red necks or wishy-washy socialist spongers. Certainly, that’s what I’ve always found on the doorstep during elections. Valuing family, friends, community, work and having enough to live on without dreading the next bill, that’s a good start.
Yes, my views on a multitude of complex issues have changed but my values remain liberal. Live and let live. Do no harm (if you can avoid it). Encourage everyone to reach their potential. Look at the world with hope and not despair. Avoid gloom mongers.
And I still get a kick out of the story of the boy and the starfish. If you feel you can’t do anything to change the world and it’s all gets too much, think on these few words:
[1] https://yougov.co.uk/politics/articles/51086-which-political-ideologies-do-britons-have-a-positive-view-of
John Vincent 