In the Spirit of Democracy

I have given this book the same title I had for a Reflection I wrote in 2016 and called: IN THE SPIRIT OF DEMOCRACY.
It is taken from my book: 217 Reflections, published in 2022, is only about five pages long, and represent some of my political views at the time it was written.
When I read it today, almost ten year later, I largely stand by what I wrote then.
After IN THE SPIRIT OF DEMOCRACY follows a small report:
A DAY TO BE REMEMBERED, which I wrote in June 2024, and which in my opinion speaks for itself.
Then, from my book "FOOD FOR THOUGHT - 1001 short reflections", which was published in 2020, I have selected 84 that are all in one way or another related to politics, and are named in the table of contents in alphabetical order.
All the Food for Thought are short and usually only a few lines long.
As I have now passed eighty-five and have been permanent resident in Spain for the last fifteen to twenty years, some of the political Food for Thought will naturally bear the imprint of that, but mainly, and from my point of view, I believe that they reflect my personal opinions.
As far back as I can remember, I have been concerned with people's attitudes and not least in the recent years I have become much more aware if this, not least in light of the fact that, as mentioned, I have lived in Spain for many years and in the last 10 published 24 books.
In my opinion, it should be a requirement for politicians elected in democratic societies that they are equipped with solid and fair life values and attitudes at all levels, as they are elected to govern society for us taxpayers.
From my selection of Reflections, I have included 34, all of which are to a greater or lesser extent related to Life Values and Attitudes. The first was written in 1990 and the last in 2023. They were put on paper to test my opinions about Life Values and Attitudes.
After each Reflection, which covers from two to five pages, I have, except in a few with more, inserted four Food for Thought, related to the content of the respective Reflection.
I have chosen to include these Reflections and Food for Thought, many of which are strongly personal, because I see Life Values and Attitudes as man's most important management tool.
I do not claim in any way that these reflections are the solution for the most important and correct life values and attitudes, but that they may provide a small reminder of their importance for all of us and not least for those who deal with politics.

It was never in the author George Manus's mind to deal with POLITICS.
Although his mother's brother and uncle, Sjur lindebrække, was strongly involved in politics and the Conservative Party's chairman in Norway from 1962 to 1970, his childhood and growing up with the war hero Max Manus as stepfather led to his early involvement in practical business life.
As a pensioner, he has published 25 books, including this one. For the most part, they are characterized by his own life, but also deal with thoughts and considerations about life's general challenges.
He did also, after reaching the age of eighty in 2019, in all modesty as he says, settle on the art of painting and is working on the publication of a book on that occasion.
Among his nearly three hundred REFLECTIONS, there is only one that directly deals with politics, and it is this one that he has used as the title and introduction in this book. Furthermore, he has included 84 short FOOD FOR THOUGHT, all of which are in one way or another related to politics.
As the author sees attitudes as man's most important management tool and that politicians in particular should be equipped with solid and fair ones, he has included 34 Reflections on values and attitudes, each with associated FOOD FOR THOUGHT.
He has put together the categories politics and attitudes, because he believes that people's attitudes play a decisive role not least in politics, but in all people's lives.
The book, he says, is in no way intended as political influence material, or a guideline for attitudes, but perhaps some of the FOOD FOR THOUGHT can give the reader alternative ideas about the subject they represent.
Happy reading
March 2025