It was once said in provinces of China: ‘The mountains are high, the rivers are deep, and the emperor is far away!’ Long gone is the day in Europe when a monarch was hedged around with an aura of divinity. Chasms between governors and governed are bridged today in the West. Thanks, or blame, in large measure is on the media.  No tinge of ‘remoteness’ seems to affect a voter.  He can all too easily think of public figures much as in terms of what he jolly well could say to them at his dinner table.  Mystique is for the birds or Parisian haute couture. Immediacy encourages ordinary citizens let alone Social Media activists to pile in and pontificate on what goes on in high places.  Gnats chirruping at the cavalcades of the powerful Vox Populi may be but their decibel-level now is boosted by microphones and megaphones.  Self-elevation to this high sphere is admixed with grumpiness if sterling sense sneered from metaphoric armchairs in suburbia far from the Palace of Westminster – cushioned from pressures of office – go insufficiently heeded.  A protest demo banner in the ‘sixties read ‘Down with What’s Up’. It may become the epitaph for a generation.

There are excellent fora with responsible matter on which to reflect across the diverse spectrum of the population (Scroll down to the foot of this page for some external links).

Whatever your view, it is often best to know what others are saying. Mr. Average’s opinions may shed light on public issues and Sir or Lady Decision Maker with eye cocked on the ballot box may take heed of them.

External Links