Trevor Mendham's Politics
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My politics are undoubtedly influenced by my atheism. If you are religious then I respect absolutely your right
to live by your beliefs - that doesn't mean I respect the beliefs
themselves. I hope you respect my right to live as an atheist even
if you disagree with me.
My personal core belief is the overriding importance of
human life. The deliberate taking of human life is always
wrong.
Those of you who are Christians should remember that the commandment
"Thou shalt not kill" offers no exceptions. It doesn't say "Thou
shalt not kill, unless ..." War
is always wrong.
I've just about given
up on the British party political system, though for some reason I
still vote. The phrases "left wing" and "right wing" are outdated and meaningless.
I make a strong distinction between social and economic policies
(for more on this, see politicalcompass.org).
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Social Policies
To say I have a "problem" with authority would be an understatement.
So long as I harm no-one then no no-one has a right to tell me
what I can and can't do.
Thus my social politics are extremely
permissive. For example I believe that all drugs should be legalised and regulated in the
way that tobacco and alchohol are today.
In a free society the job of government is education and regulation -
not prohibition.
I am as you'd expect a great believer in civil liberties.
Economic Policies
Companies are not individuals, nor are they collections of individuals.
(If multi-nationals were worker co-ops it might be different...)
Corporations have more power than individuals (often more power than
governments), separate legal status and special rights (eg limited
liability). Therefore it is reasonable to regulate them strictly for
the benefit of society.
Key public services - including utilities and public transport - should
be renationalised at a "holding company" level. The nationalised holding
companies should set required service levels without consideration of
cost then subcontract the actual work out to the best (not necessarily cheapest)
private bidder. The key point is that the customer for the private companies
will be the government, not the end-user of an essential service.
Unlike some I don't to throw out the
proverbial baby, I recognise the power of market forces. I just want to
make sure that power is harnessed as a force for good
rather than left in its natural state - a force for greed which has no
ethical considerations or social conscience.
So, socially I'm a libertarian, economically I'm a strange
shade of red. You can see why I don't get on with
New "Labour"
who are socially authoritarian (Big Blunkett) and economically neo-Thatcherite
(Brown).
Overall I'd sum up my philosophy in the words of the rede:
" An it harm none, do what thou will"
All the above might lead you to think that I'm some kind of Swampy. No way - I shop at Waitrose and sleep on memory foam. Having strong political opinions doesn't stop me enjoying
comfort!
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