Well, you see, there's idealists and there's realists, tho' I hate to say it

How can I put this without sounding like a c**t? It's a really long story and I strongly suspect that nobody wants to hear it anyway.

Thing with activism, you see, it's okay when you're young, but when you get past your mid-30s it's possible to tire of being the angry bloke who's always trying to persuade people that things *aren't* all right the way they are.

I mean I still buy fairtrade goods where possible, and I still boycott products from offensive manufacturers, and even recently (2 yrs ago when I was skint and desperate) I've turned down employment from a firm whose ethics I mistrusted. My AI membership is long lapsed, mind: I'm an ex-activist, in all honesty.

See, the thing is that you can grow weary of fighting the good fight. I mention all of the above in the hope that you'll accept my credentials in some small part before condemning me for what I'm about to type.

Steve - I applaud your remarks, honest I do, we need more like you: about 400 million more. Until we have that kind of number, though, I'd rather have one Ben than a hundred well-meaning but ineffective self-kidders.

Because a man who openly confesses that he likes (say) his iPod, his xBox, his credit cards and his reeboks is being honest and has clearly made his decision - *that* means he's thought about things, and will think again, and again. The people who broke my spirit were the ones who really believed that they'd like to make a difference whenever they could find the time. They're the ones who upgrade to the new xBox.

Joss Stone asked "Why are we having to do this again? What's wrong with these people?"

Well I can't answer that without coming over like the c**t I'm trying to avoid being. But it doesn't take a genius to think it through - and again, Steve, I'm not having a go at you mate, I promise. But my own belief is that the "these people" who are the problem aren't actually the politicians: they're just doing their job. They know what we expect of them - and when I say 'we' I don't mean me and you and everyone else on this board, I mean every UK citizen. We aren't doing OUR job.

(Backs away, feeling grubby)

Posted By: Suggy on July 3rd 2005 at 21:28:45

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