I couldn't attend the anti-austerity march today. My commitment to my family meant I was unable to. This blog is my personal protest, the only means I have to demonstrate my frustration at the prospect of another 5 years of public sector cuts.
The emergence of a surprise Conservative majority following the General Election had an initially chastening effect on me. To say I was disappointed would be an understatement. In fact, I felt embarrassed.
Yet, once I accepted I was not just a lefty loon - a thought any open minded, self aware individual might be forgiven for thinking since Election night - the question I begun more constructively asking myself was 'What are we going to do now..?'.
It will be difficult, but rather than trying to re-visit the Blairite era, nor continuing Ed MIlliband's watered down version of the Conservative agenda, Labour should commit, and indeed admit, to being that which it always was: the party of socialism.
Many argue this would lead to unelectability but the new challenge for 'old' Labour is to attempt to re-frame socialism in the eyes of the British public; to demonstrate that through a more equal society we are more, not less, likely to achieve that which the majority crave above all else: security and stability.
The concept of austerity understandably feels correct to many people. We are in debt, therefore we must stop spending wherever possible. Yet there are many alternatives based around stimulating growth and, fundamentally, it is only our Government, no one else, who is forcing the country to eradicate its debt at such a pace. The depth of these cuts is avoidable, the suffering caused by them isn't as necessary as you would be led to believe.
But even if we do accept austerity in principle, it is even harder to tolerate this Government's version of austerity in practice. We were told it would be fair, that all society, including the wealthiest, would contribute to ensuring the future financial security of our country. That is quite clearly not the case.
The financial crisis in 2008 was not caused by the Labour Party. It was caused by a financial sector that had run riot, by a banking system that had sought so much gain that it had undermined its own sustainability.
The public came to the rescure and bailed out the banks, yet those in the financial sector - a sector that did most to add to our burden - continue to receive astronomical bonuses, whilst nurses, teachers, firefighters are forced to accept the repurcussions of other peoples greed.
If we feel this is unfair then we must continue to engage, now more than ever. Keep on discussing, keep on demonstrating, keep suggesting that an alternative to Conservative rule needn't be so scary an option. In other words, 'don't give up'.
Join a union perhaps, join a political party maybe, get involved in a group actively trying to help our communities. Even join a charity. Don't just give money to the latest appeal but contribute your time, in whatever small way possible. This is hard, I know. I have two small children.
But, whatever you do, no matter how little, always, always define your involvement in political terms - I do this because I'm a socialist.
Perhaps through this example, and like those who marched today, we can demonstrate, in our own small way, that socialism isn't about riots, endless handouts or risking the economy, but a fairer and better life for everybody.
Nobody of any political persuasion could sanely argue against that. We just have to prove it can be done without the country's finances - or its streets - turning red. Perhaps only then the electoral map will do.
