Politics is a topic I try to avoid vehemently. It’s such an inflammatory subject that brings out the absolute worst in people. And yet we can’t help but talk about it either. It’s impossible for two people, with distinctly polarising views to discuss any political discourse in a calm, eloquent manner without one/both of the opposing parties descending into puerile insults or invective mocking. A general election, especially one of such significance to British sovereignty only escalates these morally deficient sentiments. The level of petulance on display from supporters is something I’d expect from a couple of Star Wars fans bleating on about how Rhian Johnson did/didn’t ruin their beloved franchise. Professing a political affiliation can negatively influence a person’s opinion of yourself, as people seem fit to judge you purely on a set of principles that conflict with their own morally ambiguous standards. Posturing has become or has perhaps always been the common vernecular in political circles, something I abhor in general, let alone attributes intended to inspire confidence in a politician I’m supposed to trust.

Being a politician seems to contradict every value I’ve ever been taught. There’s a facilitation of division and promotion of lies, all distributed through various literature and advertisements which I find most egregious. Yet what’s more execrable is that someone has taken the time to articulate complete and utter bullshit! They’ve knowling and deliberately constructed full sentences for the purpose of deception. How can supporters be so conditioned to accept and even defend the fallacious propaganda of a political organisation and vote favourably? Since when has lying been considered democratic? That may seem like naive reasoning I suppose, but is it honesty really such liability? Now I’m not singling out any specific party, I certainly don’t have a dog in this fight. Though it’s fair to say that Boris Johnson is certainly not a man I can personally endorse, but then again none of them are. The Borough that I live in has been a conservative held constituency for nearly 2 decades, that has subsequently re-elected the same MP for a third term. Being a small town means that any impactful development is largely negligible: Cleaner streets. Less crime. Reliable bus services. Nothing too challenging. Its evident from the results that a majority of the voters appointed this local representative because of his individual efforts, not because of BJ’s blow hard boasts. But he still represents BJ and the party as a unifying entity. Surely a general election should be less about the cart, but rather the slightly blithering horse pulling it? A more informed vote would be whether or not we want BJ to be prime minister?

This is where division starts to metastasize into other irrational tangents. Brexit for instance, which to me has always been less concerned with preserving the sovereignty of our nation and its values, and totally subservient to discriminating against racial and cultural diversity. Sure it doesn’t explicitly stipulate that, but the emphasis on immigration as well as being proponent of “British jobs for British workers” is inherently discriminatory. There’s a small yet critical distinction between being racist and exercising racially insentive views. Sadly the perpetuation of the former is startling apparent, especially when politicians like Trump and BJ only propagate such attitudes. People feel emboldened by it, secure enough to express deep-rooted beliefs that previously would have been subverted by rational thought or you know, decency! Whether this was intentional or not, perhaps to exhume some allies that secretly share the same ideology is unclear. But what I do know is that politics is an underlying contribution to a bigoted society we find ourselves in.

We argue, taunt and relish in the failures of others differing political views. Social media is an autonomous network of connectivity utilised to deliberately undermine a user they will probably never meet, without fear or accountability. Division isn’t simply an attitude adopted by far right extremists you don’t see, but extends to co-workers, friends and even family. Politics is as influential now as it has ever been, for good or ill. But the people entrenched in the political vacuum seem less concerned with the sanctity of human life than they are about the preservation of some arcane philosophy that conserves segregation as a means of independence. Left. Right. Centrist. It doesn’t matter when no one can be honest with themselves let alone to others.