Wishful thinking
There is a long history in this realm of dreams and visions postulating some kind of Utopian state. All now sadly and cynically dismissed as highly impractical.
However, the concept itself still has a place in the gene-pool of ideas, and continues to inspire the usual impossible dreams of a more honest society, although the actuality of such a dream might prove simpler than is usually acknowledged.
First speech before the House of Commons by the newly elected Prime Minister.
On attaining this office I am fully aware of the gravitas of the position, and the need to wield this power with as much intelligence as is available to me. Having recourse, as we do, to the last few hundred years of the political history of this house, we can see how politicians of former times exhibited extreme and absolute certainty about their actions, and the hit-or-miss results of their follies haunt us to this day.
The world, including this country, is in an unholy mess and to continue to operate as usual can, as we are now seeing, but contribute to that mess.
What, you might say, was the source of this problem that seems never ending in its effects?
The problem was that the previous holders of this power presented themselves as serious thinkers, pretending to know exactly what they were doing; what their decisions were based on, and why.
But to be honest, does any man or woman know exactly what they’re doing and why, and therefore why should the government, composed as it is of similar men and women, be any different?
They’re not.
And neither am I.
Therefore, by way of change I claim no such thing, and neither do any of my Ministers. To go blundering around pretending I know what I’m doing will have no place in this administration, for the truth is: I don’t.
But neither, I’m convinced, in spite of their clever-dick speeches, does anyone else.
I have given much thought to this issue, and know from historical precedence that anything I do is liable to make the mess worse, and so, given the power that I now have − I shall do absolutely nothing!
All governmental reforms and new legislations will as of this moment be put on indefinite hold.
This strategy will allow the mess to settle down a bit and reduce the political and social hysteria a little, giving us all a breather from the constant mindless tinkering and meddling which my noble forerunners engaged in, and perhaps allowing something saner to emerge.
I expect there will be much criticism of this step by those who will loudly proclaim against it, but the difference between them and I is that I am Prime Minister, and therefore have the prerogative of the next move. They may well think they know better, but in line with my earlier remarks:
We’ve all heard that one before.
This unprecedented policy may well, I know, lead to utter chaos, a state which by now, in spite of all our pretence we are sadly familiar, and thus somewhat immured to.
On the other hand it could (I sincerely hope) be the first tentative step on the road to a new Jerusalem.
Thank you.
Dave Tomlin