Losing democracy through democratic means.

If you do decide not to vote, just be aware that someone is! And that someone may not have your best interests at heart!

But thoughtless voting may be the most dangerous position of all.

Populism is a term used to refer to the mechanics by which charismatic leaders use popular myths that the general public have mistakenly accepted as being the cause of their woes as a vehicle to communicate that they alone understand our issues. They alone are on our our side. They alone are like us - and only they will put an end to our suffering.

It is, of course, an attrative message, but one which must be explored a little bit if we are not to be sacrificed to the self interests of dangerously charming people in a process akin to that shared in the George Orwell dystopian novel, animal farm.

Whilst Orwell's novel is essentially fictional, here is one of many such non fictional tales to further illustrate the point.

In Spring of 1930, dissatisfaction led to an 82% voter turnout at the German Federal elections. So far so good. The Nazi party increased the number of seats won from just 12 to 107 of a total 577 seats, placing them second and providing a critical mass of power that would ultimately lead to the outbreak of a second great war.

There have been multiple threats of history repeating itself since the second World War - and many people believe that the threat has never been greater than it is today - not only in the UK but in other major western democracies.

The lessons, despite nuances, are clear. We have seen what happens when thoughtless response to dissatisfaction ushers in a nefarious power. The personal responsibility we each have to ensure that this does not happen again is critical. And just as there are those of us who would caution against careless voting - or careless abstention from voting - there are those who will deliberately manipulate feelings of dissatisfaction to find a lazy and self serving route into power. You will know them by their uncosted, unmeasurable promises, messages of division and their obvious desire to stir up emotions.


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