Of course we can all use stats and figures (as I do) to further our particular argument. Tom Chivers takes his view that the status quo is working based on a 200 year comparison, when he says, “But the political system – or, more precisely, the wider human system of society – is working. Wherever you live in the world, the odds are that you will have an easier life than someone born in the same place 200 years ago” IMHO a fifty year comparison will give us a much more accurate yardstick, showing the unfair global wealth distribution and the ever increasing power of large corporations to which Russell refers. Here in the UK, the gap between the rich and poor has widened for the past 20 years. That gap increased every single year under the last Labour (some still call them a socialist party) admin, surely reinforcing Russell’s point about all politicians representing the interests of the large corporations. I don’t believe the “system is working” when The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that nearly 870million people of the 7.1 billion people in the world, or one in eight, were suffering from chronic under nourishment. And closer to home, according to those working at the coal face,we have seen a 700 per cent rise in the use of food banks in the last couple of years. Revolutions happen because masses of the population feel disenfranchised, disillusioned and marginalized. Fifty years ago people would have laughed at Russell Brand’s comments, saying leave “politics to the politicians” Now we laugh at our politicians and give far more respect to the views of public figures who are not part of the political establishment. Just saying Lol
