Resistance is futile?

How can a single person make a difference in a whole society? Is there any point posting arguments in social media like Facebook or Twitter? I know some people who trawl through their news feeds every day, looking for articles that reinforce their point of view, and then post them. What happens? Some of their readers get tired of seeing the flow and sooner or later block the feed. A few will pick up the thread and either support the argument or attack it. Again, sooner or later, they get tired of the thread and stop writing replies. Does that mean there is no point?

If I thought so, I probably wouldn't be writing this article. I think we all have a need to express ourselves. Some of us (maybe all of us) talk to ourselves about things that matter. Some talk to those around; some actually step up in public. But the point is clear - if we all sit idly by and let things flow, then we are not taking part in the life of our society. Either nothing will change or the changes that others are making will continue unopposed.

In a parliamentary democracy, the role of the opposition is clear. It is to call the government to account. If the opposition (or parts of it) find themselves in agreement with government policies, what do they do? Sit on their hands and keep quiet? Or should they search through the proposals and find ways of improving them? If the government is a shambles, they should surely attack at every opportunity. If the policies are liable to hurt large parts of society, they must attack and protest and block. Any politician who finds his ideas are not attracting universal acclaim should not be surprised. He should certainly not attack his opponents as traitors or say they are harming his negotiating position. Leaders must realise that their counterparts already know the arguments for and against. To say "oh, you are harming us by showing you disagree" is rubbish.

We all have the urge to win, to get rewards, to avoid pain and loss. If something is important to us, we must be prepared to stand up and say so.