Saturday 26 April 2014

Open letter to governments

To those in power,

Governments exist and representatives are elected to protect the people and better the nation. At least in theory... What we see more often however is the very people who are supposed to protect our interests, see the bigger picture and implement a better future using their power to cultivate their own goals, based on their own beliefs. Religion and its personal belief systems are kowtowed to at the detriment of human rights. The rich get richer and the poor get poorer. The future is ignored in preference for what you can gain for yourselves in the present. This kind of attitude is not sustainable nor will it pave the way for a better tomorrow.

Religion has no place in politics; it is a personal belief system that is interpreted differently by each person who follows their chosen religion. They are called human rights, not human privileges and it is high time the government stopped pandering to religious fanatics who believe that rights are based on demographics and what makes them comfortable. If you don’t approve of the gay community then don’t marry someone of the same sex. If you are pro-life rather than pro-choice don’t have an abortion or sign a living will. Put yourself in someone else’s shoes and ask yourself how you would feel being told who you could love and what you could and couldn't do with your own body. It is not your choice; it is each individual’s personal choice. It is time for governments to stand up and say that starting now human rights are born rights.

Distribution of wealth is shoving an even greater wedge between the rich and poor, haves and have nots, well off and struggling. As a society, especially one that wishes to have a sustainable future, we need to take care of our own. Not everyone can be rich, it is impossible and unsustainable. The rich and those in power need to understand that this world and one’s right to live in it are not exclusive to them. Public schools, public health, government pensions, etc are part and parcel of maintaining a healthy economy and society. We cannot live in a world where only the rich are entitled to further education and medical care because to ignore the majority of the population in favour of the elite is ignorant and shameful. Instead of deciding which people have the right to each facility and instead of telling society that cuts will have to be made to sustain the country how about the politicians take a massive pay cut, because you cannot justify to anyone but yourselves that you are worth the salary you receive on top of all the free perks and exuberant retirement funds.


Being in politics is not and should not be about you. It is and should be about the people that you are sworn to protect, the economy you are sworn to manage and the future you are sworn to uphold. If you cannot leave your personal beliefs at the door than you have no right to be in politics; because it is not about protecting, benefiting and funding only those who can afford it and that agree with you.