http://www.the-vibe.co.uk/2009/12/21/a-good-day-for-the-enlightenment-ideal/ The Vibe: culture and politics - the voice of the digital generation Fri, 03 Sep 2010 13:31:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 http://www.the-vibe.co.uk/2009/12/21/a-good-day-for-the-enlightenment-ideal/comment-page-1/#comment-1094 Richenda Herzig Wed, 23 Dec 2009 14:48:19 +0000 http://www.the-vibe.co.uk/?p=3981#comment-1094 Very good article. The pessimism often adopted by the English is so stifling in part because it clouds perspective on issues like social change. Its a mutually reinforcing cycle of insisting that nothing every changes for the good, and thereby becoming increasingly complacent and resistent to suggestions of change or improvement. Goverments certainly muck up impressively on a regular basis, but that's a far cry from going on to assume that there's no point in bothering. Even small improvements in policy can have very deep effects. Very good article. The pessimism often adopted by the English is so stifling in part because it clouds perspective on issues like social change. Its a mutually reinforcing cycle of insisting that nothing every changes for the good, and thereby becoming increasingly complacent and resistent to suggestions of change or improvement. Goverments certainly muck up impressively on a regular basis, but that’s a far cry from going on to assume that there’s no point in bothering. Even small improvements in policy can have very deep effects.

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