The more things change the more they stay the same

is a favourite saying of a friend of mine, but just how little things have changed is more shocking than I imagined.  I'm re-reading some of the classics I read many years ago-and it's fascinating to discover again the discussions and thinking of the times.

In the period around 400-350bc the obsession with power and politics was high on the Athenian communities list of priorities.  Democratic processes were a bit different from those of today, and it was the duty of every citizen to ensure they got what they wanted and needed from their rulers of the time (not too different from today you might think-but the ways in which they achieved it was).

At the time the political arrangements rested on modes of social reproduction: the position of women, the education of children, athletics and games. Definitely the subject matter is not too different if you read the stories in the press this week.

Makes me wonder what, if anything can we do to effect the changes needed to make us a more equal society.

'Let us never forget that government is ourselves and not an alien power over us.  The ultimate rulers of our democracy are not politicians and government officials, but the voters of this country'.

Franlkin D. Roosevelt