During my descent into decrepitude, my political views have been shaped by an intolerance for injustice, despair at the disparity between rich and poor and the frustration of being largely powerless.

Never more exposed, raw and deeply depressing than it is in this global Gilded Age. Where power is centred in the hands of an unimaginably wealthy elite, who buy governments and elections as easily as they do hypercars and superyachts.

If you’re unable to switch off from revulsion at unfolding horrors, then you’ll no doubt be spending more time than you probably should on social media.

It is there that we see the manifestation of a problem that has plagued many a worthwhile movement for change. A personal, ideological and moral certitude that is unyielding & unforgiving, but ultimately self-defeating, as it leads to paralysis of action. We’re all guilty of it to an extent, but it is the extremes of that extent that matter.

Recently seen on display among sections of the Celtic fan base, sometimes stirred up by instigators with an agenda. An agenda that is not necessarily in the best interests of the fans or the club.

There are two recent examples of this.

Take Willie Haughey and the proposed Celtic Season Ticket Alliance. Whether this is a good thing or a bad thing remains to be seen, but in the eyes of many it’s already dead on arrival. Why would fans spurn what could be an important and much needed change? Because for one reason or another the bold Lord Haughey is not an acceptable avatar for the change we nearly all want to see.

I don’t intend to list the many points on the character assassination proclamation. Suffice to say, I have my own concerns. However, we cannot keep applying our own purity tests to those who are attempting to support our position. Whether they do that in an imperfect way, or you believe they themselves are imperfect, we must learn to take yes for an answer if they support our aims.

In politics we have seen turncoats, who have opportunistically reversed course, but we cannot let that cripple our desire for change.

The reality is that there is almost nobody who will live up to our individual scrutiny. There will always be a trade off if you want progress, because reality does not readily conform to our individual standards.

Another recent example was the outrageous but almost laughable pile on of the ‘ACSOM 4’ as they were titled. Four guys all behind the aims of the fans collective movement who had the temerity to watch a game in hospitality. A Celtic State of Mind is likely the largest fan media channel and has long advocated for change in the boardroom at Paradise.

It became apparent that many fans seemed to believe that you are personally invited to hospitality by the board. There also seemed to be confusion over how, and when, these things are paid for, especially if you’re invited by a friend who is actively trying to supplant the Desmond dynasty.

They were also accused of manipulating and berating fans into believing in the aims of the fans collective. That’s right, the notoriously pliant and easily led Celtic support who allegedly change opinions every time they hear a conversation!

Despite not having breached any notional ‘rules’ these lads were pilloried. Again, when the purity test was applied it led to ACSOM withdrawing from the collective. Another split in a group fractured by a failure to accept that you cannot in reality demand strict obeisance to your beliefs. Especially in a fan movement.

It is the radical purity test of those with unyielding certainty, that ostracises those who would support the majority of what you are trying to achieve, but do not wish to be dictated to when it comes to the minutiae of how they express that support.

Surely we must learn to entertain the ‘imperfect’ for sake of desperately needed change?