Frozen Austria
My Dear Friend of Democracy,
Austria has voted. And once again, it voted very conservatively.
Why?
Because people who want things to stay the same vote conservatively. In Austria, this attitude is widespread.
Even among young people.
The latest "Report on the situation of young people in Austria" states that
traditions and community values were at the heart of the young people's value system, and the longing for family, children, and a life of peace, order and security was massive.
Perhaps that is why the slogans by Herbert Kickl, the party leader of the far-right Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ), of "Fortress Austria" and his promise of not a single asylum application in Austria with him in power, is so popular. People want to be left in peace. They want everything to stay as it is.
However, the desire for everything to stay the same may lead to unintended consequences.
Sometimes things have to change to stay the same.
If we want to maintain prosperity, we must adapt to change. If we want to preserve the basis of life, we must stop the overexploitation of nature. If we want to continue to live in peace, we must support freedom and democracy elsewhere.
The American psychologist Abraham Maslow once said: "In any given moment we have two options: to step forward into growth or to step back into safety."
✊ We'd better step forward.
See you in Europe,
Johannes
Lots of wisdom in old books:
"If we want things to stay as they are, things will have to change!" From Il Gattopardo by Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa
Recommended reading!