Less Philosophy, More Compassion

So, I've been well and truly bed-ridden for the past few days, and I've started to be sucked into the Lib Dem blogosphere again. And I was drawn today to Charlotte Gore's blog about domestic violence.

Now, I have to say I like most of what she writes, normally. I may not agree with it, but having a refreshingly libertarian approach holds the more "socially democratic" amongst us to account.

But not with this particular post. There was just something... jarring.

And then it struck me what was quite wrong with this post. It's talking about domestic violence. It is a crime that is brutal and insidious. It leaves scars on the partners on their children and even on their children's friends. It creates climates of abject terror within a household. It forces children from the earliest of ages to think about protecting their mother or father. It forces children to cope with realities that most of us would very rarely have to even think about, let alone deal with.

And it never seems to approach the situation with any... caring note. Maybe that's just my feelings, maybe this is just the way it is, but something on this scale should be discussed on an intellectual level, but also combining an understanding of the detrimental impact domestic violence has on families.

Actually, screw it, lets not talk "domestic violence", which is a quaint, airbrushed term shorthand for "prolonged, torturous mental, physical and emotional abuse which leaves everyone affected by it scarred for a very long time".

So to see Harriet Harman suggesting something which might have an affect on this dire state of affairs is comforting. Alright, so maybe the way she's going about it isn't the best way. But heck, we go through most of our lives moaning that the Government doesn't listen to people. And I'd much rather she addresses this issue sooner rather than later.

Education, you see, is the route to a better world. If we can teach children that violence is wrong, then we can forge a far more peaceful society.

Anyway, moving on, to the generic point I wanted to make.

I know, political philosophy is fascinating. Damn it, I spend days reading different blogs and trying to work out whether I'm a social liberal or an economic liberal or a pink liberal or a fluffy green liberal, or a tiny Martian liberal. But then it kinda hit me yesterday and today...

...who cares?

Like, seriously. There are some things which are blatantly illiberal and should never be allowed to happen. Why? Not merely because they are "not liberal", but because they remove freedoms of people to affect their lives. There are other things which are blatantly without conscience. And they should never be allowed to happen. Why? Because we are human beings and we have a duty to one another to give us all an equal opportunity in life.

That's where I work from. The philosophical points are sort of interesting. But to people out there? Nah, they don't care whether the fact that 60% of Welsh jobs are in the public sector is the State misusing its power and purpose to provide employment. Of course they don't! They care about their jobs, and feeding their children, or being able to go to the pub with their mates without worrying about everything constantly.

What about foundation hospitals? Do you think the majority of people are sitting out there thinking, "Hmm... is this too close to introducing free market principles into our Health Service?" No. They just want to know they'll have a bed to sleep in. They just want to know it'll be clean. They just want to know that it works.

Now don't get me wrong, of course we need philosophy. It keeps us together (or divided!) as a Party, and strengthens our policies. There's policies of ours I disagree with, there's policies I adore which I know others will disagree with. That's the strength (and the result of compromise) of our Party. Without our principles and philosophies we are nothing.

But sometimes, I dunno. I just read so much of JS Mill or Bentham or Rawls or Gnozick and I wonder how many of us are arguing those tired, old points for the sake of it, now? Its like habit, like a twitch that just won't go away.

And its not habit we need, it is compassion. We need to show people we care. And with all the respect in the world to these fabulous political philosophers in the Party, philosophy just doesn't cut it as a way to express compassion to the people we presumably entered politics to help.

(Apologies to Charlotte Gore in advance, this wasn't meant as a deep-seated attack, simply an observation! I'll continue to read your fascinating and forthright blog with deep interest and near-devotion! :) )