Last night I went to the cinema to watch The Big Short, documenting the global collapse of the economy.

On Monday I watched a documentary about Eva Kor, an 81 year old Auschwitz survivor, her and her twin sister were among the “Mengele twins” who were treated as a human guinea pigs as part of notorious Nazi doctor Josef Mengele’s cruel experiments at the Auschwitz concentration and extermination camp.

Eva publicly forgave 93 year old Oskar Groening, Aushwitz’s official administrator and book keeper. He diarised what went on in Auschwitz, saw the atrocities that went on, but even though he was uncomfortable (and I am sorry that this is not maybe a strong enough word) with what he saw, he never spoke out.

I am not siding with him, merely looking at why people lower their gaze and let things happen because of the repercussions it could have on their own lives.

Two totally different subjects, but whose combination has led me to give great thought to the human psyche.

The Big Short, showed the power and greed of people, and how they will ignore truth, knowing what they are doing is illegal yet they continue to offend because it gives them money and status.

Maverick traders Jamie Shipley and Charlie Geller went to the Wall Street Journal and ‘spilled the beans’ to one of their journalists. This was a massive story, what journalist wouldn’t jump at a scoop like this? Yet this reporter wasn’t even interested in researching what he was told and dismissed their findings, because ‘he had worked hard to make connections’. His status was more important than the truth!

How many hundreds, nay thousands, knew the truth but neglected to say something in order to fill their pockets, selling mortgages for fat commissions, or were they just naive enough to think that the bubble would never burst.

These were intelligent people, surely they must have considered the repercussions, the total devastation that their actions would cause.

The Journo of the Wall Street Journal was in a position to blow the whistle on what was going on, but chose not to for fear of not being heard and losing his lifestyle. And there lies the problem, fear of not being believed.

I have chosen the opposites of the spectrum to compare, yet this could be attributed to millions of scenarios a day globally.

People will not speak out when they obviously know that what is going on is wrong, because those higher in the food chain, (and usually who are in on what is going on), would shout them down, ruin their life and the story would never go to print!

How many men went to war innocent? Were brainwashed that what they were doing was for the common good, but secretly knowing that if they spoke out, they would probably be shot.

I believe the majority of people are good, they just get caught up in a situation where, in order to preserve their own family/lifestyle, it is best to turn a blind eye, because a lone voice won’t be heard.

I think of all the poor children in homes abused by people in power, whose voices weren’t heard, whose lives have been completely messed up because of what has gone on. Feeling totally hopeless because no one would listen.

I feel angry with those in that position, who knew they held the power and used it for their own gratification.

Jimmy Saville got away with it because people turned a blind eye! People and organisations who profited from their affiliation with him, who kept quiet at the expense of the innocents!

Perhaps what is needed is a whistle blower, someone appointed by the Government, who would listen to the little person, research their allegations and report to a wider panel to ensure there is no hushing up!

I have often heard people say, ‘What’s the point of saying anything? no one listens!’ Is this the attitude? Are we allowing those at the top to rule our world for the better or indeed the worst?

Who reading this now, has something on their conscience, knowing that what they see isn’t right, yet say nothing for fear of reprisal?

Perhaps George Orwell was closer to the truth than we all thought, I read the book in the early 70s and thought it was a class thing, ‘All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others’

It is not always those at the top who manipulate the system for their benefit, using the children’s homes as an example. It is the power that sets them apart, not always the wealth.

I have had my say, who will listen and make change is out of my hands, so the very sentence I have used for others now applies to my writings. What’s the point of saying anything? No one listens!

But you have read my article…………….

So perhaps if we all exerted the little power we have, we could make change. I’d like to think so.