Torn Asunder

As our world is torn asunder

By greedy hands of ignorants who plunder

Decisions made by muddle and blunder

Common people protest and wonder.

Hapless, helpless politicians groan

Ministers yield as lobbyists moan

Private motives turn the throne

National interests overthrown.

Elementary logic lost and scorned

Foresight, hindsight, vision suborned

Tongues we bite, anger foresworn

Loss of duty and honour mourned.

Railways up and unreplaced

Car or nothing, cheap travel's erased.

Through pollution we trudge, pallid, grim faced:

Administrative incompetence, a nation disgraced

Ministers, councillors, drab civil servants

Scribbling memos to scheming sycophants

Berating their leaders with new “Commandments”

Instantly dismissing intelligent arguments.

Not for them imagination or flair

Not for them love, passion or care

- Ahem, excuse me, may I interrupt

- Shush, go away, don't you disrupt.

Knighthoods, titles, mistresses and money

Boring officials see nothing funny

Small men anxious to be acclaimed

Living in fear that they'll be blamed.

Fame, wealth, prestige and glory

They put *their* names to *our* story.

- Look I don't mean to be rude -

- Get away you, let me conclude

Weak, slovenly, careless, short-sighted

Public rage is often ignited

That's the shape of the world we're in

Downwards, backwards, stop or widdershin.

Ideas and dreams I know how it's done

Put me in charge and the country will 'run'

From coast to coast our subjects will have fun

This nation will again be second to none.

- If that's what you think you're as bad as them

Aspiring leaders made your speech their ‘Anthem’

You're exactly the same as those you condemn

With you at the top - there'd be nothing but: mayhem.

-oOo-

Wisnae Me

The world out there is a shocking great mess

Look! Look! People couldn't care less

Who is to blame? It cannot be me

I am but a bauble tossed on the sea

Importance, high office, those "Greedy Stinking Rich"

They have all the power, let's grab the tar 'n' pitch!

'ang on a mo', what do they have to say?

"The unwashed lazy public do nowt but whine 'n' bray."

(What else can people do manacled by debt and threat?)

(Those who see the rampant rogues may abruptly cut their net.)

-oOo-

bring in the mercenarioes - ha! they're already here

The British National Health Service - Safe In Whose Hands?

The sole reason why the British National Health Service is under relentless assault is greed.

The media is owned not by the people, not by truth, reason or fairness but by big money.

The multi-national corporations want £120 per citizen per month.

There is no profit to be made from the decrepit, stumbling, over-burdened criminal justice system.

They took our railways, the service is no better but ticket prices are three to five times higher.

Privatisation means the public pays subsidies, debt burden, dividends and profits on top of the running costs.

Private profits flee our shores to be invested in our competitors abroad.

Nationalised management means what it says, it keeps our money here.

Inefficiencies are insignificant compared to the drain of profit-driven ownership.

Homelessness used to be relatively rare, it is the most immediately conspicuous symptom of avarice.

-oOo-

LX