Poetry Thursday 121 - Octocentenary Apathy

 I am fairly certain that I've written about apathy in the past, but if the almost annual trip down this particular lane wakes up one individual to the truth about the way ordinary people are treated. It will be worthwhile. This raises its head because of the novel experience of Americans over the last ten months or so, and that influence on politics in other countries, including the UK. 

Octocentenary Apathy  

 

I can’t be bothered,  

I’ve too much to do,  

it'll make me too stressed,  

why don’t you?  

 

I’ll do it tomorrow,  

I’m busy today,  

it's too hard to follow,  

there's absolutely no way.  

 

It won’t make a difference,  

you won’t like the outcome,  

I’ll keep my independence,  

do it yourself chum.  

 

It’s a waste of time anyway,  

one vote doesn’t count,  

they don’t care what I say,  

close enough for a recount.  

©David L Atkinson December 2025  

Of course, I am referring to 1215 when the Magna Carta was signed by King John. The feeding frenzy of some misguided people attribute that document as the beginning of democracy. I believe that people are closing their eyes to the truth of that document. I concede that it may have opened the door to democracy, but there is a world of difference between the styles of democracy that exist across the world. The two-party system that we exist under, along with one or two other countries, is frighteningly close to what life was like in the 13th century. 

The document was introduced to take power from the king and give it to the nobles. A simplification. It was never intended to add protection to ordinary people, but only to provide protection if you were a landowner. It provided no facility to serfs or women to be protected from the misuse of laws, etc. 

The frightening thing is that, in 2025, the extreme right-wing groups across the world are cheerfully trying to remove human rights and protections from ordinary working people. These right-wing groups are sponsored and supported by the super-rich, the nobles of 1215, and they have zero regard for the needs of the people. This has occurred and is compounded by apathetic people. 

Remember the quote, 

"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."

God Bless