IN my recent reading of Robert Burns The Patriot Bard by Patrick Scott Hogg (published in 2008 by Mainstream Publishing) I came across the following words penned by the Bard in February 1793: "What is politics? Answer, politics is a science wherewith, by means of nefarious cunning, and hypocritical pretence, we govern civil polities for the emolument of ourselves and our adherents."
Patrick Scott Hogg himself then goes on to make the observation that the "lists of pensions and gongs dished up to politicians were openly printed in the press and always led to condemnation of the flagrant cronyism integral to British politics at this time".
Is it not profoundly depressing that after two centuries so little has changed? Oh that we had a poet of Burns's genius to speak truth to power on our behalf. But then what we, as a society, truly lack is Burns's commitment to a "pro-democracy, radical, dissenting culture".
John Milne,
9 Ardgowan Drive, Uddingston.
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