I decided to start writing this because I'm a bit fed up about how special interests manage to influence so many decisions, of course at all levels of government but also in businesses, political parties and charitable and religious organisations. It seems to me that so many bad decisions are made because no-one is making decisions for the right reasons anymore. Lobbying, convenience and opportunism are more important than a properly reasoned argument based on principles. An organisation or individual will profess to stand for something then act contrary to their stated aim.

The title "Be Consequent" was a saying of a German boss I once had who unusually insisted that business plans presented to him had internal logic. He would get frustrated and normally ended up pleading for his team to be consequent - if you've just said A then you now have to say B. The term stuck with me because, although perfect English, no native speaker would use the words like that. It does however capture a certain truth and any decision or argument will be improved by keeping it in mind.

I know I'm hardly unique in blogging about this and plenty of more eloquent people will also write on this theme, but it will let me express my thoughts and if a few people are prompted to think about something and then ask questions of decision makers, maybe a few better decisions will be made. More likely I'll write for my own benefit and hopefully be truer and more honest as a result.