I'm trying to start a "pro-humanity" lobby group, to promote government policies which help free citizens to achieve their aims rather than repressing and restricting them. My reason for doing this is the increasing negativity and reactionary tone of the political scene in both my home country (the UK) and elsewhere in the world, what I would term "the politics of fear." This plays to the "chimp" element within us, i.e. scaremongering, racism, xenophobia, religious bigotry etc. I feel there is a need to promote the holistic - the pursuit of real happiness - in society as opposed to the materialistic, which is always going to leave man fighting against man.
One of the most depressing facets of politics today is the amount of cynicism, defeatism and negativity shown by both politicians and the media. I believe this feeling is shared by many people of different political persuasions. In a bizarre twist on Labour's 1997 anthem, we are now singing "Things Can Only Get Worse."
The Lord's Prayer urges us to do on Earth as is done in Heaven - to have ideals. I am not talking about the failed philosophy of communism. Such ideals can be found in all political beliefs...
Conservatives claim that building a pleasant society is the responsibility of the wider community - through personal responsibility, enterprise and participation - and not the State. This is surely true.
Liberals believe that civil liberties make the difference between democracy and tyranny. Also, the safest societies tend to be the most liberal ones. This is also true.
Socialists believe that a more equitable society is more morally justified and cohesive - and as wealth is power, more democratic too. Again, this is true.
Finally, Environmentalists believe that our surroundings - both natural and man made, at work and in leisure - contribute the most to our quality of life. Who can argue with this?
What is interesting is that these ideals are not mutually exclusive - the nicest places to live combine the elements of all four. For this reason, I have decided to form the Positive Party. The aim of this is not to stand for election, but to lobby politicians for positive government: that which helps citizens achieve their potential rather than restrict them. To promote ideas which are simultaneously fairer, freer, greener and more compassionate.
We would like to award positive politicians and media figures, not based on the outdated concepts of "left and right" but on forward-thinking, intelligent ideas, and a sense of humanity. I am seeking members who simply share a desire for a pleasant and exciting future for mankind in Britain and beyond.
Richard Wainwright is founder of the Positive Party in the UK: dedicated to forming political ideas that are not right rather than left but right rather than wrong.
