My initiation into the Leftfield began with Billy Bragg and the “getting organised” debate on the usefulness of trade unions. It wasn’t much of a debate but more of a questions and answers forum. There were no dissenting voices in the crowd, not one. We all nodded along in agreement and showed our approval from murmurs through to cheers and claps; for everything we heard made perfect, logical sense. Why the hell shouldn’t people get a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work? Why are those who look after us treated like lesser members of society, beneath anyone and everyone who makes money?
Why is it that most of us don’t even consider these people until we are in hospital, or our houses catch on fire or our mums and dads need round the clock care? But, more sinisterly, why have so many of us been brought up to think that’s just the way it is and union rallies and strikes are an insidious attack on the structure of our society? And how the hell did we all get so damn cynical?
Billy Bragg hit it on the head when he said, “cynicism is the biggest problem in today’s society”. If we don’t think we can change anything we will not even try. Perhaps cynicism is an excuse, a cop out, a haven for the lazy and the rich. I challenge all cynics to listen to Billy Bragg and come away feeling that change is not achievable. Toss a coin, what would you choose passion or cynicism, cynicism or passion? Is it really a difficult choice to make?