I'm a lifelong believer in trade unionism.
There is no satisfaction to be derived from having had many of our arguments borne out by events.
I am genuinely not an over-the-top kind of person about politics or anything else.
I have never once been persuaded as to the causal link between the Iraqi regime, al-Qaeda and September 11. I do believe the impact of war under these circumstances is bound to weaken the international coalition against terrorism itself.
You won't catch Liberal Democrats describing trade unionists as wreckers.
My idealism has not abated, but I have witnessed it withering away nationwide, to the point where at least among the young, to have ideals is akin to being blinkered and oldfashioned.