A New "Age of Dictators".

The outcome of the Turkish referendum comes has no surprise given the uneven playing field that exists in the country. It's not just opposition journalists and newspapers but even members of parliament languish in gaol. Given that situation it's actually not a great result for Erdogan even with his obvious cheating in allowing unstamped ballots to be counted.

With such a small majority democracy finally disappears in the Turkish republic as Erdogan becomes the Islamic Reichsfuhrer he has always set out to be. Proof that democracy and Islam are totally incompatible. That's not being "Islamophobic" (though we should be worried about Islam which is not just a religion but a political system that tolerates no dissent) since the Saudi's have always said as much.



In Iran only "approved" candidates can stand in elections and once Hamas took over the Gaza strip a decade ago no elections have been held. Islamic politicians seem to think they should have power for life. That's why Sisi for all his faults had to act against the Muslim Brotherhood as Egypt was heading in the same direction.

Of course it's not just Islamists. There's dictatorships in Cuba, Rhodesia, Syria (despite it's civil war) and a threat of one in South Africa if President Zuma has his way.

Then there's North Korea. Not a country but a giant prison camp where the rulers, or the Dear leader acts out his delinquencies with any form of due process.

So much of the world is ruled with an "iron fist", some in the name of false gods and others by men (and women) who seek only power and wealth for themselves and their supporters. Political and religious theology has made history alive but at a time when mankind has the capacity to destroy itself, something we all hoped had died with the Cold War and the collapse of communism.



In Europe democracy remains strong but is under constant threat. Nationalism has raised it's ugly head above the "cricket test" we were once told proved our loyalties. In Britain UKIP has along with a section of the Tory party separated the country from the rest of Europe. In France two of the most popular candidates come from the extremes of politics. In Hungary fascism itself is bubbling away and Russia has destroyed whatever democratic pretense the regime ever had.

The democracies have become weak. Extremists festering in the wings are now at the forefront of diverse movements that threaten the survival of freedom.

In the face of this assault on our liberties appeasers appear from every quarter. Liberals bemoan "Islamophobia" students ban speakers with whom they might disagree disarming the next generation of any mettle, Labour has become the home of protesters, Trots and other assorted extremists who care not a jot about ordinary folk, just their own ideological requirements regardless of the consequences.

The political "centre ground" has seemingly collapsed. The "social contract" that acts a glue in society is being unravelled as self-interested groups both political and religious seek their "special privileges".

So many have expressed the fear we have entered a new "thirties" certainly democracy and reason remains under threat. Critics of Islam are murdered across the Muslim world and Christians persecuted more than ever before. Meanwhile democrats in Russia so many other countries remain suppressed, imprisoned or worse.

The time is coming when a stand will need to made against the encroachment on our freedoms. Liberty and life cannot be sold freely. Future generations will ask why we didn't stand up sooner.