I guess that anyone following UK politics over the last couple of years could not fail to notice the interesting difference between what comes out of our politicians moths and their actions. It is as though there are two scripts running side by side one for us and one for them. In reality the same thing happens in all areas of society from schools and hospital to businesses and institutions. It does make me wonder about Cop26 and whether the action will match up with the pledges being made?
There is a psychological phenomenon known as ‘attitude alignment’, the idea that we, below our awareness, take on the prevailing attitudes of whichever group we are with or we are listening to. When the government decides it is going to the country in a general election the seduction begins. It is for me a fabulous opportunity to watch attitude alignment in action as the various spin doctors and attitude manipulators doing their best to sway us voters to embrace their attitudes. Are we actually being seduced? Well if enough of us are then the spinners get their way. Brexit is the perfect example.
I see both the advantages and disadvantages of capitalism and both the advantages and disadvantages of socialism. Though I am not seduced by either. Ed describes himself as a ‘centralist’ and I guess I join him in that. The centre ground is where most people are. In any election the attitude aligners will attempt to sway the centre ground to either the left or the right. So, here we go again, when there is another election. Prepare to be swayed ot seduced.
Both Ed and I are not really politically motivated though we do have the shared attitude alignment in the belief that human beings are best served by coming together as groups in common interest rather than breaking down in ever smaller factions. because of that we were and are both ‘remainers’ though not ‘remoaners’.
For me I know see the real issues of Brexit are now manifesting economically, socially and illegal immigration. The biggest issues I see is breakdown in the development of human consciousness which I see as the reality of evolution. The process of evolution that took single celled organisms to the primates and homo-sapiens of today is not only the evolution of biology, physiology, sociology and psychology, it is also that of evolving consciousness.
Evolution is not something that did happen and then stopped, it is happening right now in you and me and all around us. Evolution continues and ever will do so. The key to understanding evolution will always be the investigating evolution of consciousness. Evolution is the increasing awareness and awake-ness of mind that is expressed in physical form. In many senses evolution is the increasing ability of consciousness to become aware of itself.
Looking back at social history we can show that behaviours and practices that were acceptable a few hundred years ago are now considered difficult, wrong and unacceptable. After all it was only in the 1960’s that women in Britain ceased to be the property or chattels of their husbands or fathers and homosexuals could be imprisoned. In many countries women still suffer inequality with their men folk. I suspect that many women in Britain would, even now, feel that they do not have full equality.
As our human consciousness evolves people’s behaviour gradually develops to be less damaging and more helpful to itself and to all other beings and even the environment and the planet as a whole. With greater awareness we learn to attend to the needs of each other. As I often say my simple life philosophy is that…
…if we all look after each other we will all be ok
Without going over old ground too much social history shows us that the division of countries across Europe and across the world led to the two great world wars. Following the creation of the League of Nations, the United Nations and the European community, NATO and the multi-various trade agreements have all be the expression of the natural desire of consciousness to envelope. That is human beings growing in awareness, coming together and working together.
Division and separation, in the end, serves no one and creates more problems for human being and all sentient beings and the environment on the planet.
As we look at the environmental crisis of global warming, pollution and plastics look out for the aligners.
Look out for the aligners
Who is attempting to align your attitudes with theirs. Each party and each group will be attempting to get your vote. One thing that we need to consider is what people are telling us the truth. Vaccination Vs non vaccination, climate change Vs a weather event, I could go on. Each side have aligners seeking to convince us that they are right. Many aligners are psychopaths in that they act without either insight or empathy and are only concerned in their own point of view and their own importance.
Psychopathic behaviour when applied to politicians is the ability to appear genuine and sincere and then go and do something completely different. When someone will tell us anything at anytime to get the response that they really want we need to be mindful and listen for the sound behind their words, what is it that they really mean? What are they really saying?
If you recall that vast amount of money that was advertised on the side if the UKIP bus that would be put into the NHS which was then denied by Farage when he was directly questioned in an interview. The NHS could really do with all that money right now.
Being seduced can be fun
When I go to replace my car I love that process of the salesperson doing whatever they can to secure the sale. It is seduction in action. There is nothing wrong with being seduced as long as we are mindful of what is going on and that we are seduced with both our knowledge and consent.
So, through this period as we come through Covid and Brexit enjoy the seduction that you are subjected to by friends, family and the media. Be mindful of what is happening and simply ask your self ‘Why are they saying that, what do the really mean, what is the true sound behind their words?’
Take care and be happy
Sean