Tag Archives: kindness

If what we’re against, above everything else, is cruelty and the abuse of power… then are we for kindness?

But before I get into this article, I want to address a few points.

I’m talking about a kindness that is radical in the change it demands. A kindness that fights when facing down cruelty and those looking to concentrate and abuse power.

We also need a vision of what a kind society could be. I’m not only talking about the how of doing politics. That radical, standing-up-to-cruelty type of kindness must flow into our policy and campaigns.

I don’t think I’m suggesting kindness as a slogan or headline message. And we don’t have a monopoly on kindness in our party, policies, members, or voters.

What I do think, is that there is space for a politics that grasps and leads with that strong, radical kindness.

“What do the Liberal Democrats stand for? I don’t know”

That most of the public don’t know what we stand for has become a dominant and tiring narrative. But we must keep addressing it.

We stand for so many things. And that’s often the problem.

Liberal Democrats struggle to create an instinctive subconscious reaction where people feel connected with an overarching story.

I wrote recently about that challenge and the idea of a platform. I’ve come to view my own liberalism as trying to give people the platform to thrive and live their unique version of a best life. Genuine freedom and opportunity. Without accepting that there must be winners and losers in society.

But despite standing by that platform as a guiding beacon for politics, policymaking, and as a vision for society, I wasn’t fully convinced in it as a clear answer to what we’re for.

That’s where kindness comes in.