What have you ever done to defend your rights?

How many of the people posting here have ever joined a political party or pressure group of any sort. How many of you have joined a business lobby or any other interest group that shares your views - and how many of you have actually made any effort to support those groups in getting those views across?

How many of you have actually done anything more to influence the debate in anyway other than sounding off on these notice boards and in the pub?

Have you ever written to your MP (do you know who they are) - have you joined your parish council - have you ever stood for elected office or helped others whose views you do support get elected (other than voting once every few years - if you even bother to do that)?

How may of you have actually used the Internet to set up your own political party - to put up for debate a platform, manifesto or set of ideals to which you subscribe and that you want other people to support?

There is no use simply complaining - there is no good in simply saying it won't change - of course things won't change unless you try to change them.

When was the last time you went on a march - or wrote a letter for Amnesty International, or signed a petition from Liberty on the erosion of our fundamental freedoms.

What have you done to actually try to hold you elected representatives to account.

I have sat as a volunteer on a parish council - and I can tell you that most people expect their little world to keep turning without anything more from them than the occasional whinge. It is not good enough.

If you don't like it start a petition, start a march - start a new political party that isn't bigoted, racist or lunatic but actually seeks a liberal, free market, democratic, socially mobile society that rewards hard work and education and maximises personal choice while minimising centralised direction.

Above all, make sure that you have a damned good answer when your grandchildren ask you: "What did you do to support the fight for liberty and democracy?"

I'm a hypocrite too - but at least I admit it and at least I have a couple of blogs that I use to promote my views (however incoherent and inchoate they may be).

Blessings for a little less conversation and a little more action.

Father Ignatius Brown

www.father-ignatius-brown.com