Are you tired of it? Are you drained by it? Are you bored of the politicians forgetting that life goes on for all of us that are trying to make a difference? Then I’m sorry to add to your fatigue. However, I can remain silent no longer. I’d like to make a number of points, as briefly as I can. The first is that as a third sector organisation run by human beings I don’t think I should feel afraid to express political views. All too often the sector is afraid of losing funding and remains quiet. However, we work with many that are voiceless. If we don’t raise our voices, then we do our beneficiaries a dis-service. Secondly, perhaps in the same vein, is the paucity of the debate locally and nationally in the VCSE sector. We are told to be ‘entrepreneurial, to be tolerant, to be loving’. This is business as usually as far as I’m concerned and not active enough. Complaining, being unhappy and being angry are part of the grieving process and legitimate responses that then lead to real action. And finally, and this is a more political point about the lack of social cohesion, xenophobia and other distasteful characteristics that have been highlighted this week. Are we really surprised by this behaviour? It seems to me that democracy and politics in this country, on its five year cycles and constant vying for position, is based on pitching people and communities against each other. After any period of time when some people feel let down and encouraged to turn on those around them (for example to tell on neighbours committing benefit fraud), is it really any wonder that under pressure we continue in the same vein and turn on the underdog as we perceive them? I do believe in opportunities on the horizon. However, I also believe that some responsibility has to be taken by politicians when they get round to being on control again for the behaviour and social inequalities that have lead to the result as well as its aftermath. Are they role-models for behaviour?