Privatising welfare is more about supporting the profits of the companies concerned than it is about helping recipients.
New Labour is no longer just disapproved of or simply unpopular, it is hated and despised on account of its corruption, lying and total betrayal of ordinary working people. Many would like to hang the lot of them from the lampposts on Whitehall.
That means that honest men and women can no long be the left wing of this monstrosity. If you want a hearing and you want to organise for ordinary working people, you need to break with the whole rotten New Labour edifice.
17 March 2009
16 March 2009
Thirty years of market fundamentalism was the wrong path
Undoubtedly the political impasse of the 1970s characterised by intensified class and other conflict did not represent the ideal society. Neither left nor right claimed that it did. What was unfortunate, I believe, was that Thatcherism emerged as the so-called solution to this crisis.
In essence, Thatcherism was about centralised authoritarianism which was used to weaken democracy and smash working class power. Inequality and poverty soared in the new framework of unbridled capitalism; and it was this model that has been continued and deepened by New Labour.
The thirty years of market fundamentalism after 1979 were not ones of joy, security and abundance for many. Britain became a society increasingly scarred by an insecure flexible workforce burdened with debt. While the poor rotted on crime-ridden junk estates, at the top the rich lived a life of luxury giving Britain a socio-economic profile like the countries of Latin America.
Today even the service and finance sectors (the sole economic achievement) have imploded with Britain having little left to show for all the pain of Thatcherism. I believe that had Thatcher never existed and had Tony Benn won a couple of elections in the last thirty years, Britain would be a better place today.
In essence, Thatcherism was about centralised authoritarianism which was used to weaken democracy and smash working class power. Inequality and poverty soared in the new framework of unbridled capitalism; and it was this model that has been continued and deepened by New Labour.
The thirty years of market fundamentalism after 1979 were not ones of joy, security and abundance for many. Britain became a society increasingly scarred by an insecure flexible workforce burdened with debt. While the poor rotted on crime-ridden junk estates, at the top the rich lived a life of luxury giving Britain a socio-economic profile like the countries of Latin America.
Today even the service and finance sectors (the sole economic achievement) have imploded with Britain having little left to show for all the pain of Thatcherism. I believe that had Thatcher never existed and had Tony Benn won a couple of elections in the last thirty years, Britain would be a better place today.
13 March 2009
New Labour should not have access to and independent currency
I have no faith that New Labour can manage the current economic crisis. Had they taken into public ownership the bankrupted banks, and used the new printed money to invest in industry through a public enterprise board, I would have supported the continuation of an independent currency to make that possible.
Instead we have billions printed and wasted in the banking sector for no gain for ordinary people. For that reason I would prefer the Euro, so my savings would be more likely to keep their value and Gordon would not have access to the printing press.
Instead we have billions printed and wasted in the banking sector for no gain for ordinary people. For that reason I would prefer the Euro, so my savings would be more likely to keep their value and Gordon would not have access to the printing press.
Thatcher is to blame for the current crisis
Undoubtedly the political impasse of the 1970s characterised by intensified class and other conflict did not represent the ideal society. Neither left nor right claimed that it did. What was unfortunate was that Thatcherism emerged as the so-called solution to this crisis.
In essence, Thatcherism was about centralised authoritarianism which was used to weaken democracy and smash working class power. Inequality and poverty soared in the new framework of unbridled capitalism; and it was this model that has been continued and deepened by New Labour.
Thatcher gave birth to a socio-economic regime which both pulled apart the social fabric and which has now failed in its own economic terms. Blaming Thatcherism is fully justified. Had the miners won in 1984-5 she would have been stopped in her tracks; the rest is the what-ifs of history.
In essence, Thatcherism was about centralised authoritarianism which was used to weaken democracy and smash working class power. Inequality and poverty soared in the new framework of unbridled capitalism; and it was this model that has been continued and deepened by New Labour.
Thatcher gave birth to a socio-economic regime which both pulled apart the social fabric and which has now failed in its own economic terms. Blaming Thatcherism is fully justified. Had the miners won in 1984-5 she would have been stopped in her tracks; the rest is the what-ifs of history.
A conditional right to privacy
I think the key point is missing in your article.
People do have a right to privacy in their private lives: i.e. what they legally do in their private space, even for people who hold public positions. So Max Moseley was right to argue that his private sexual activity should not have been splashed across the tabloids for public titillation.
Such privacy, however, should be lost if the person makes public representations which contradict their own behaviour. In other words had Moseley said or implied in public that he disapproved of sadomasochism, the press would have the right to rebut his utterance with evidence of his own behaviour.
Such a privacy law would, I believe, provide both privacy and reduce much of moralistic hypocrisy spouted by our politicians.
People do have a right to privacy in their private lives: i.e. what they legally do in their private space, even for people who hold public positions. So Max Moseley was right to argue that his private sexual activity should not have been splashed across the tabloids for public titillation.
Such privacy, however, should be lost if the person makes public representations which contradict their own behaviour. In other words had Moseley said or implied in public that he disapproved of sadomasochism, the press would have the right to rebut his utterance with evidence of his own behaviour.
Such a privacy law would, I believe, provide both privacy and reduce much of moralistic hypocrisy spouted by our politicians.
The right to internet privacy
There are two types of information about which people are particularly sensitive.
Many people use the internet to access pornography and have discreet encounters with others. Records of this activity could potentially be used for blackmail or vindictive embarrassment by criminals or by the state.
Some people (too few in my opinion) use the internet to make political statements. People fear that they could face discrimination in employment or become subject to state surveillance as a result.
Privacy is a valuable right not a luxury.
Many people use the internet to access pornography and have discreet encounters with others. Records of this activity could potentially be used for blackmail or vindictive embarrassment by criminals or by the state.
Some people (too few in my opinion) use the internet to make political statements. People fear that they could face discrimination in employment or become subject to state surveillance as a result.
Privacy is a valuable right not a luxury.
The British military is in a mess
Such a chaotic state of affairs can only exist precisely because fortunately Britain is threatened by nobody, and all Blair’s wars have been symbolic wars of choice launched against the weak.
Britain should withdraw from Iraq and Afghanistan as well as scrapping its order for US Trident replacements. Instead British defence should focus only on European security with a small well paid and well equipped military.
Britain should lose both its delusion of grandeur and its desire to play first lieutenant to the United States.
Britain should withdraw from Iraq and Afghanistan as well as scrapping its order for US Trident replacements. Instead British defence should focus only on European security with a small well paid and well equipped military.
Britain should lose both its delusion of grandeur and its desire to play first lieutenant to the United States.
In Britain anyone can be arrested, detained and harassed
Yes, under Section 110 you can be arrested for any offence.
The related issues is that with elastic common law offences plus thousands of statutory offences (over 3000 introduced under New Labour), even the most innocent unavoidably commit several offences every day.
The result is that the police can arrest and detain anyone (even Conservative Front benchers, it would seem) whenever they feel like it. The only liberty we cling to is that for most of us for most of the time they leave us alone.
The police are not today our servants; they are our masters to whom we must bow our heads or avert our gaze when we pass them. To keep our freedom we must obey their commands whenever we are unfortunate enough to encounter them.
The related issues is that with elastic common law offences plus thousands of statutory offences (over 3000 introduced under New Labour), even the most innocent unavoidably commit several offences every day.
The result is that the police can arrest and detain anyone (even Conservative Front benchers, it would seem) whenever they feel like it. The only liberty we cling to is that for most of us for most of the time they leave us alone.
The police are not today our servants; they are our masters to whom we must bow our heads or avert our gaze when we pass them. To keep our freedom we must obey their commands whenever we are unfortunate enough to encounter them.
9 March 2009
The state warning women about violent boyfriends
The idea of the police using the surveillance state to inform women who are seen with men who have criminal records for violence is just silly.
Violence by A against B, irrespective of sex or the relationship between them, is a serious matter. If the victim wishes, rightly or wrongly, to be reconciled with the attacker then that is a matter for the parties involved. If the victim needs the help of social services or the police, then that help should be readily available.
Any attacker who seriously or repeatedly attacks a victim should be in prison, and required on release with the threat of further imprisonment to keep away from that person.
Jacqui Smith cannot be allowed to avoid the shortcomings of the police and social services by proposing daft measures such as this one.
Violence by A against B, irrespective of sex or the relationship between them, is a serious matter. If the victim wishes, rightly or wrongly, to be reconciled with the attacker then that is a matter for the parties involved. If the victim needs the help of social services or the police, then that help should be readily available.
Any attacker who seriously or repeatedly attacks a victim should be in prison, and required on release with the threat of further imprisonment to keep away from that person.
Jacqui Smith cannot be allowed to avoid the shortcomings of the police and social services by proposing daft measures such as this one.
5 March 2009
Gordon Brown addresses the US Congress
It is utterly sickening to learn that the zenith of Brown’s miserable New Labour career is to address the Congress of the United States.
What we want is a government whose first loyalty is to the British people and which will cooperate on the basis of equality with our partners in Europe. Britain should not be a satellite of the US, whether that country be governed by Bush or Obama.
By all means, ask the US to give Brown and Blair US citizenship and then send them there, never to return.
What we want is a government whose first loyalty is to the British people and which will cooperate on the basis of equality with our partners in Europe. Britain should not be a satellite of the US, whether that country be governed by Bush or Obama.
By all means, ask the US to give Brown and Blair US citizenship and then send them there, never to return.
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