government not working – Adam Tugwell

You might be surprised at how many people are asking this same question. But you probably won’t be surprised at how many people also think they already know the answer – and believe they’re “right.”

Talking about government is tricky because it almost always drags us straight into politics. And once politics is involved, most of us start thinking about whichever party or group we usually support. We judge how government is performing through the lens of who we voted for, who we like, or who we can’t stand.

I’m sure you can relate to feeling more forgiving when the people in charge are the ones you support – and much less forgiving when they’re not.

But here’s the part that’s hard for many of us to get our heads around:

It no longer matters.

The reason government isn’t working today has very little to do with politics in the way we usually think about it. That’s why you’ll hear people say things like “they’re all the same” or talk about a “uniparty.” It’s not that all politicians secretly belong to one big club. It’s that every political party we can choose from today is still part of the same way of thinking.

And that way of thinking – not a group of elites, not a secret organisation, not the banks or big business – is what has shaped every decision that has led us to where we are now.

This is what “the establishment” really means. Not a class. Not a conspiracy. A worldview.

A worldview that every major political party shares, even the ones that claim to be “anti‑establishment.” And once you understand that, you start to see why government feels stuck, confused, or unable to fix anything – no matter who gets elected.

How government works today – how politics works, how elections work, how decisions are made, and how those decisions affect you and me – is far too complex to cram into one message here. And trying to do that would only confuse things further.

Yes, we need to understand what has happened, why it has happened, and where politics is heading now. I’ll give you links that will help you explore those questions and ask new ones too.

But for now, what matters just as much – if not more – is finding others who are looking for direction, who want to put reason before fear, and who are open to working together to take positive steps in the same way.

Whatever difficulties lie ahead, we will be far better able to face them together than alone.

Understand the worldview behind modern politics:

See why political explanations feel incomplete:

Explore a people‑first alternative to the current system:

Understand why the system can’t fix itself:

See where politics is heading next:

The Next Question

The Nine Questions

START 2 Why is Government Not Working PDF_Vers1_13Sep26 Download

Things feel unstable because they are unstable.

You’re not imagining it. You’re not being dramatic. You’re not “doomscrolling yourself into a panic.” Much of what we see in the world outside our homes and communities is breaking down – and the reason so many of us have been questioning ourselves is because the people who have power and responsibility keep speaking and acting as if nothing is wrong.

Government isn’t functioning. Politics isn’t working. The public sector isn’t delivering. The prices of everything are becoming increasingly unaffordable. People sound angrier than they used to. The world outside our doors doesn’t feel safe.

And while there are plenty of loud voices shouting about what’s wrong, very few of them offer ideas or solutions that actually sound like they would work. Most of what we hear either feels too simplistic or too complex to make any sense of.

I’m not going to try to talk you through every reason things have become as unstable as they are – not here. There’s simply too much to cover, and trying to cram it all into one place would overwhelm you rather than help. If you want to understand what’s happening, why it has happened, and what we all need to start thinking about next, I can point you to other pieces that will help you ask the right questions and find your footing.

What you do need right now is space. Space to think. Space to ask questions. Space to connect with people who are putting reason before fear and who want to find a way forward that works for everyone – not just for themselves.

And you shouldn’t feel bad for asking this question. Many others are having the same thoughts and feelings you are.

Mainstream media talks around the edges of what matters, touching the surface but rarely explaining anything in a way that helps. Social media is full of people saying the things we want to hear – confirming that our feelings are real – but that’s usually where it stops.

The time has come to look, ask, read, listen, consider, and act in ways that make sense to you, rather than relying on what someone else says.

You’re not alone in feeling this way. And you’re not wrong to ask.

Understand the transition:

See why old explanations don’t work:

Explore a new way of thinking:

Learn what stability actually requires:

Understand the role of money in instability:

The Next Question

The Nine Questions

START 1 Why does everything feel unstable PDF_Vers1_12Sep26 Download