"If you want to build a ship, don't drum up people to
collect wood and don't assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to
long for the endless immensity of the sea."
- Antoine de Saint Exupéry
On Saturday 8th June in Glasgow , Compass are holding an
event to which all are invited to have a conversation about ‘ A Good Society
for Scotland’ . We hope that any open minded
people from any political party and none will come along because as we
know politics is too important to be left to the politicians.
We have just lived through an age dominated by the ideas of
individual consumerism and selfish competition so its perhaps understandable
and justifiable that those that disagree with this story of our society have many
grievances.
Stating what we don’t want is important and exposing the
injustice and failures of current political, social and economic arrangements a
foundation for change.
But for those who want to transform Scotland much more is
required. We have to begin to tell a story of a possible Scotland. A Scotland
of equality, of meaningful work and pastimes, of more carefree time and greater
bonds of fellowship and friendship.
This is not a utopian idea of a perfect society but a
pragmatic approach to a better one . Both to know where Compass points and to
build support for a politics of a good society we must begin to convey what it
looks and feels like to live in that good Society . Even then this is not
enough we have to plan and implement a politics that will move us significantly
in that direction. The question of further devolution or full independence is
clearly not irrelevant to this discussion and we hope to start to map a way
through this divide in Scotland’s left.
Please come and join us with a range of speakers (including
Professor Ruth Lister, Patrick Harvie MSP, Sarah Boyak MSP, Ann Henderson STUC,
Katherine Trebeck, Oxfam and many more..)
to stimulate discussion and lots
of ways to share your ideas. We need your help in thinking through a good
society.
Willie Sullivan
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