The Politics of Liberty

PROLOGUE 

Who Speaks for Freedom? 

It is a common feature in modern daily life 

To look for easy answers and turn away from strife. 

Too often truth is stifled, clear speaking laid aside, 

Then fear becomes a virtue and courage is denied. 

You cannot solve your problems if plain facts are ignored: 

Avoidance is deception and has to be deplored. 

Placating fractious people through weakness that relents 

Leads on to more disruption and further dark events. 

But many commentators proclaim this doubtful mood, 

As cowardice takes over, vulgar, loud, and crude. 

Yet Truth will always matter, it cannot be displaced 

By unwise politicians and judgements made in haste. 

The English-speaking peoples are faced with serious threat 

Both from their own societies and economic debt; 

Their changing populations will soon no longer cope, 

Communal life is stressful, and some are losing hope. 

Are politicians helpless? Unable now to act? 

Or are they simply supine and ignorant of fact? 

With politics divided where can you place your trust? 

And who will stand for freedom when dreams have turned to dust? 

Your parliamentary systems have recently declined 

And hard-won reputations are difficult to find. 

If politicians fail you and you are left in doubt 

The time has now arisen for poets to speak out. 

The Need for Satire 

There’s bound to be misgiving wherever satire’s used 

But logic and fair reason so far have been refused. 

Satire, of course, is biting, said sometimes with regret, 

For after all you’re human and cannot live with threat. 

But what is meant by satire, some may begin to ask, 

Is it a mere detraction from people and their task? 

Or is it just a comment, so far as one can say, 

Upon those dubious actions which hold you in their sway? 

No! Satire is invective against each present age 

Where wisdom is forsaken, and fashion takes the stage 

When stupid thought is rampant and mischief’s on parade, 

And there is false conjecture where people are afraid. 

True satire has no limits and never seeks consent. 

It points to many follies which most could well prevent. 

Wherever there’s denial and people fail to act 

Satirists should be honest and concentrate on fact. 

So, follow that tradition of Dryden, Swift and Pope, 

Whose satire and invective contained the springs of hope! 

And Juvenal and Horace, and Persius as well, 

Who, in ancient circumstance, had many truths to tell. 

Such poets were not encumbered by views that are Correct 

But put their thoughts in writing, regardless of respect. 

They, sifting through those questions which politics would raise, 

Ignored disapprobation, or sentiment, or praise. 

Poetry and Politics 

Amongst your politicians some claim it will not do 

For poets to give opinions or offer points of view. 

A poet should stick to poetry and not be too concerned 

About the next election and who will be returned! 

Our poets should be free, they say, from taking sides at all 

And never use their talents to read a crystal ball. 

Perhaps this is the reason why poets hold back their word 

And turn away from politics since they will not be heard? 

Prophets, though, have a duty to speak out to the State 

And not resort to safety by giving in to fate. 

All poets should have the courage to enter the affray 

And stand for truth at all times, and not just turn away! 

So, you must not be silent or toy with fine designs 

To please the armchair critic through smoother sounding lines, 

Or be confined to fashion to fill an empty purse 

By writing harmless ditties and mediocre verse. 

The aim here is to follow where your own pen will lead, 

Not bound by dull convention or shallow thinking’s creed. 

Your brief ode to politics should aim to stem the flow 

Of many long-term blunders by those who stand on show. 

Such poetry has a mandate and should not hesitate 

To offer quiet reflection and join in the debate. 

So, let poetic thoughts be shared! May politics submit 

To hear prophetic points of view and some satiric wit! 

PART ONE THE OLD ORDER 

The Corruption of Politics 

Who goes into politics with motives that are pure? 

Why are others there at all? One cannot quite be sure. 

As it is in private life so with affairs of State: 

Decisions made in error are recognised too late. 

Perhaps it is ambition that drives them all along. 

Could it be false promises that prove their purpose wrong? 

In almost every aspect of life within each land 

You see their interference but who will make a stand? 

The politicians’ problems will increase year on year; 

Assuming legislation will bring you greater cheer. 

No longer forward looking, with deeply thought-out plans, 

Left to Right and back again they live in narrow spans. 

They try to build their countries on schemes they can’t afford 

And so create a vacuum where troubles will be stored. 

The prospects of the people must always be in doubt 

When politicians rule them with common sense left out. 

Striving to be popular is what the Lord now finds, 

Giving weak concessions to single issue minds. 

For some it seems quite easy to criticise the best 

Then offer vain compassion to those who fail the test! 

What is true of Western thought is also true elsewhere: 

The poison of Correctness is something you all share. 

Presented as a virtue, its spectrum is worldwide, 

But there’s a deeper purpose, which many leaders hide.