Crossing the line together.

Subject: Crossing the line together.

What fine specimens of articulate manhood, the English marathon runner who had over extended himself short of the finishing line and was collapsing as his system closed down and his saviour the Welshman who selflessly stopped running and achieving his own time to help this chap to get across the line.

Interviewed afterwards one felt they were both "salt of the earth" as they explained their reminiscence of the event. It was so refreshing to see the bare bones of running camaraderie exemplified in this way, so refreshing after the days of hyperbole and down right avoidance of what we understand as truth, as the politicians embark on their election 'story telling'.

Human endeavour is what elevates our species to do the things it can feel proud of. Sport is often a signpost although with the cloud that doping brings, not all athletes are motivated by their innate will to win within the confines of their own ability. Money and fame distort the human desire to be acknowledged for being good at what they do and like, power is to politics, it blemishes achievement. 

The politicians seem immune from telling porkies. It's a recognition of their success in the trade if they can, with straight face and without any sign of an ethical tick tell downright lies. The lies might be laced with genuine thoughts that what I am saying is something I want to happen but it doesn't excuse the truth which invariably makes their desire only part of a wish list, something a child would send to Santa.

One has the sense that the politician who least likes lying and therefore is the most exposed to ridicule and derided is Jeremy Corbyn. When asked a difficult question on disarmament for instance he can not put aside his life long belief that nuclear arms are simple too dangerous and should be banned. There are many reasons why this can be questioned but you have to admire the man for not sidestepping his convictions. It is so un-political and as the leader of the opposition it puts him in a nearly impossible position. As a populous we don't seem to want the truth we would rather be fed half truths since this bolsters our view of the world and the place we have within it.

The truth is unpalatable. It means changing the way we live our lives and insists we rationalise our hopes and bring it more into line with the reality around.

Since as human beings we find bad news something to be avoided we fixate on good news even if in our heart of heart we know the news is a sham to make us feel good.

The politics of at least one party is so encompassed with providing benefits which effect only a small section of society and yet appeals to a much larger section on the proviso that the political contract also has something for us, irrespective of historical data which deny this. Yet we live in hope, a hope born of the snake oil seller.