"You were right...."

So opened an e-mail received from my older brother this morning. We've been having a protracted online conversation about the decline of civil liberties in the UK, and he's finally seeing the effects first hand what I and many others have been observing for some time.

It's rather nice to get things right, correct, conclusively proven. There's a certain satisfaction in being proven to have had your assertions arranged in a prudent and timely fashion to arrive at an accurate conclusion. To be scrupulously exact reduces the anxiety of life. Takes out the guesswork, too.

Now if only we could get the same response from people who seem, to this poor wannabe scribe, to be howling at the moon because life isn't 'fair', or their pet theories / belief systems are not 'believed'; then insisting that the creed they espouse should be followed by everyone. Take your pick; even the weather seems to have been politicised nowadays. I recall a person I used to share a house with (A card carrying socialist, no less) who used to insist that 'politics' was the answer to everything. "Only if you really want to screw it up." Was, and still is, my response to that unproven assertion.

To any objective standard, life isn't 'fair'. There are many far more cogent and talented than I. Healthier, better looking and luckier. Those who made better life choices, were supported better at critical moments in their life. To insist that they are brought down to my level because it's 'fair' doesn't make sense. Besides, 'fairness' is relative. What might be considered a stumbling block for some would be a positive jump off point for many. All it takes is energy and persistence. The old adage "When you're down, the only way is up" when coupled with sheer bloody minded and unswerving, never-say-die, and dare I mention the unfashionable word; courage, is never more true than when rigorously applied. Life is only 'unfair' if you sit on your arse and expect other people to do all the work.

Notwithstanding, one of the things I got out of my days walking the streets on foot patrol was a commitment to getting things correct and in their proper place. The 'proper place' being those locations agreed by the interested populace for a given activity. At the time I worked in Parking, so I determined to do the right thing as laid down by the guiding principles I was given. Not always adhering to the strict letter of the law, but certainly it's spirit. During the years I was on the public payroll, contributing towards the taxpayers dollar (Parking used to subsidise other local council services, I'm told it still does) I did my best to do the correct thing. That attitude has stayed with me. It is a good attitude to have because it works; ergo it must be correct.

Just nice to have my elder sibling confirm it, that's all.