Words of Warning for Mr Clegg on the Nature of power.
‘Power selects its servants: people who themselves have a lust for power, those who are naturally obedient, who have bad consciences, who disclaim moral scruples and pine for well being, benefit and profit, who have fears and many children, who have been humiliated and now accept the offer of a new pride, who are by nature dumb or those who are simply badly informed enthusiasts.’
Crucially, ‘men who have power can no longer change the antihuman character of power – precisely because they are in power.’
(Kusin’s Précis of a speech by Ludvik Vaculik, writer and reformer in Communist Czechoslovakia 1967)
Admittedly this was a criticism of neo-Stalinism however it’s food for thought as we inch ever closer to the promised land of political reform. Anticipated reform which is to be executed by men put in power via the system they are being entrusted to change. Don’t hold your breath Britain.
Tessa Dunlop