I have found myself described as far left, quite often recently. I find this rather puzzling. I would not even describe myself as a socialist. Economically, I wish to see much greater worker share ownership, limitations on extreme pay differentials between management and staff, and strong regulation of casino banking with a far smaller, taxed and regulated derivatives market. I support state ownership of natural monopolies, such as rail, roads, and public utilities. I support state welfare provision and excellent state health and education services. But that is as far as it goes. I do not advocate central planning and in general prefer to keep the state out of commercial activity – which is why I support the EU so strongly in removing barriers to the mobility of all factors of production. I am not a socialist.
This blog is read by many people who have known me since university, some even earlier. I think I am right in saying that my beliefs have not changed in any fundamental way over 40 years. What I outline above was what I believed in 1976. I stand open to confirmation or correction.
Yet in 1976 I was a Liberal, and politically centre or only slightly left of centre. My views were absolutely mainstream and were voiced in mainstream media every day.
While standing still, I now find myself far left as the mainstream political spectrum rushed rightwards past me.
Is this because the Thatcherite revolution, carried on so enthusiastically by Blair and New Labour, proved wildly successful? Is it because deregulation and privatisation has brought prosperity, harmony and an inarguably better society?
No, not at all. The new right wing consensus has been a disaster. It led directly to the great crash of 2008 and the resulting austerity, which will dog us for another two decades at this rate. It led to massive, astonishing inequality of wealth and a society in which it is considered normal for top executives of an organisation to be paid 100 times more than the lowest employee. It led to hedge fund managers owning our politicians, and to Russian mafia owning our football clubs. It led to a world where Save the Children can pay its chief executive £375,000 a year of donation money yet nobody pukes. It led to collapse in manufacturing and to vast areas of blight and hopelessness, to a generation who will never afford a house while buy to let multi millionaires abound, to QE transferring yet more money straight to financial institutions.
The great right wing experiment has been a disaster for the country. Outwith the economic field, we have seen a massive attack on civil liberties, the growth of the 100% surveillance state, and end of respect for international law including the invasion of Iraq and the programme of torture and extraordinary rendition.
Yet although the disastrous failure of Britain’s forty year far right experiment is evident all around us, public opinion continued to move inexorably ever more to the right. It did so because the sheer propaganda power of the corporate media, led by the BBC, pushed it in that direction and had the power to do so. Dissident voices were excluded from the airwaves. The positions I agree with and which I heard regularly on the airwaves forty years ago no longer get airtime, even where they retain majority public support, such as nationalisation of the railways.
Some of my views have become more radical, and they relate to the need to break up the institutions of the right wing state. I believed in Scottish independence forty years ago, but it is much more central to my thinking now. Forty years ago I would have been shocked by the idea that the BBC should be utterly destroyed, but now that seems to me the only sensible approach.
I am not without hope. There is no doubt that the Sanders/SNP/Corbyn phenomenon represents a reaction to the dreadful inequality of society and all the evils which I have described. But I would also argue that this reaction has only been practical because of the new maturity of social media, weakening the grip of corporate media on the popular field of debate and the popular imagination.
Perhaps then, without moving, I became revolutionary just in time.
Some clarification about Sanders/SNP/Corbyn phenomenon.
Bernie Sander is no doubt a product of US Establishment. But 67% Israelis prefer Hillary Clinton over Sanders, a Zionist Jew.
David Starkey insists SNP is a ‘Nazi Party’.
Jeremy Corbyn still has failed to receive ‘kosher stamp’ from British Establishment.
On August 25, Margaret Kimberley at the Black Agenda Report said: “Bernie Sanders and his supporters claim he is different, a breath of fresh air. Yet he “won’t state for the record how his foreign policy differs” from Hillary Clinton and Republicans. “He doesn’t question why the US has the right to dictate policy to other nations, and “repeat the same discredited mantra” as Obama on the nuclear threat from Iran – a threat that even CIA has declared never existed. Socialism? He won’t even say the word.”
https://rehmat1.com/2015/09/01/bernie-sanders-a-con-zionist-jew/
Resident Dissident. If you look at our own post at 2304 of yesterday you write “I agree with Craig on the whole” The title of the article with which you are in agreement is “Why Immigration Concern is Racist”
It therefore appears reasonable to conclude that you believe immigration is only opposed by racists.
I was simply responding to the examples chosen by you – and each of those examples are manifestly concerned with natural resources and the desired transfer of those resources to the west.
You now pick new examples. Take the House of Saud an extremist wahhabist sect that sponsors international terrorism, that subjugates its own minorities, that has, in contravention to international law, invaded Bahrain and has launched a war in Yemen. A regime that discriminates against women, engages in state torture and regularly conducts public executions of all manner of people including children. Which western leader is proposing to overthrow this regime? Answer there is none, because Saudi Arabia is compliant with western demands to sell oil in return for US$. As long as it does this it can execute as many women and children as it wishes.
There are no natural resources in North Korea so no-one cares. Yes the regime is a basket case and the lot of the North Korean people is pretty horrible. So how does the west respond? By making certain that the DPRK has access to nuclear weapons thus making it all but impossible to depose the regime. It is always good to have an unbalanced but heavily armed regime on the borders of the main enemies.
China is a bit different, since like Russia it can also defend itself. It does not have much in the way of exportable natural resources, but it does have a lot of people – so it makes an ideal global sweatshop. So long as they keep producing i-phones no-one cares much about them. You have Hillary Clinton comparing Putin to Hitler but with not much to say about China – I wonder why that might be.
No-one cares about human rights. In 1988 Saddam gassed somewhere between 3,000 and 5,000 Kurds (with gas supplied by the west) and it has rarely been out of the news. Since 1994 some 70,000 white South Africans have been murdered and it has never been in the news. It is not even news that the desire of the EU to see ever more immigrants does not extend to South Africans.
@Loony – have you ever heard from western media how Israeli regime killed 100,000 Sephardic Jews as result of testing high doses of radiation in the 1960s?
On August 14, 2004 – Israel’s Channel 10 showed a documentary 100,000 Radiation, exposing the ugliest secret of Israel’s Labor Zionist founders; the deliberate mass radiation poisoning of nearly all Sephardi youths. In 1951, the director general of the Israeli Health Ministry, Dr. Chaim Sheba flew to America and returned with 7 x-ray machines, supplied to him by the American army.
They were to be used in a mass atomic experiment with an entire generation of Sephardi youths to be used as guinea pigs. Every Sephardi child was to be given 35,000 times the maximum dose of x-rays through his head. For doing so, the American government paid the Israeli government 300 million Israeli liras a year. The entire Health budget was 60 million liras. The money paid by the Americans is equivalent to billions of dollars today. To fool the parents of the victims, the children were taken away on “school trips” and their parents were later told the x-rays were a treatment for the scourge of scalpal ringworm. 6,000 of the children died shortly after their doses were given, the many of the rest developed cancers that killed them over time and are still killing them now. While living, the victims suffered from disorders such as epilepsy, amnesia, Alzheimer’s disease, chronic headaches and psychosis.
It’s not a bad thing to look into mirror before calling other’s pot black.
https://rehmat1.com/2010/09/01/can-jews-kill-jews/
Looney “Yes the regime is a basket case and the lot of the North Korean people is pretty horrible.”
How can you know this? Do you have a source of information you trust? If so, please share it.
Resident Dissident – I do not recall making any claim to know more about Russia than you.
My observations regarding Russia were limited to (i) noting that Russia is home to the last great globally significant natural resources, (ii) that Russians are able to defend themselves and; (iii) that Russians are not stupid.
In the opinion of either you, or your wife, do you consider any of these observations to be in error?
Save the Children gave Tony Blair a “global legacy award”. Sounds like a sick joke, but wasn’t. Cross them off the donate-to list is what a lot of people have done, including me.
– Node. I have no special insights. I was in the general region (not the DPRK) some years ago and at the time there were rumors of mass starvation – hard to get any definitive proof. I have looked at public domain testimony of DPRK defectors and the views of the British journalist Ben Anderson – a man who gives the impression of being trustworthy. All of these things paint a consistent picture and are used to support my observations.
– Rehmat. I am not familiar with the example that you quote – but it does not surprise me. There are other things around from that same time period such as the US deliberately infecting Guatemalan prisoners, mental patients and prostitutes with syphilis, and the British deliberately exposing its own soldiers to radiation.
As I said no-one cares about human rights, unless it serves some other agenda. It is hard to know why this even needs saying given that the host of this blog had his career destroyed and his reputation smeared precisely because he did care about human rights.
“I am not without hope. There is no doubt that the Sanders/SNP/Corbyn phenomenon represents a reaction to the dreadful inequality of society and all the evils which I have described. But I would also argue that this reaction has only been practical because of the new maturity of social media”
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Good article Craig, the switch to the right has been prosperous for some but disasterous for the many.
The SNP,Corbyn and Sanders have seen a rise in support, as more folk rage against the machine so to speak. The Scottish referendum and the run up to it exposed the BBC for what it really is.
The meteoric rise of social media gave a voice to those who virtually had none prior. Blogs such as this began springing up, questioning the actions of governments and their cabalistic links to big business.
I agree that too far left is as a bad for society as too far right, and a fairer distribution of wealth between big business from the top down, and the workforce needs to be negotiated.
But old habits die hard and a new line of thinking will need to be implimented, if things are to change the cosy relationship between politicians and their corporate backers.
I’d like to think that now the SNP have committed to persuading the no voters that independence will be good for Scotland, that in time Holyrood could move towards a more equal society, possibly similar to the Scandinavian model. Though they too could still do much more, they appear to be at least on the correct path towards a more equal society.
It’s a shift that can only come with Scottish independence.
” They were to be used in a mass atomic experiment with an entire generation of Sephardi youths to be used as guinea pigs. Every Sephardi child was to be given 35,000 times the maximum dose of x-rays through his head. ”
Which would’ve killed them and anybody standing nearby instantly.
A rational account of the affair.
http://plancksconstant.org/blog1/2007/03/ringworm_hoax.html
Well, Craig, it would appear that Nicola Sturgeon has sat up and taken note of your resignation, after all.
Herbie
You forget the history of the ersatz left which has repeatedly used its financial and economic analysis as cover and mitigation for some of the greatest human rights abuses of the 20th and 21st centuries. When you end up supporting who you do and excusing their human rights abuses I’m afraid all you can do is twist your so called economic analysis well beyond its ideological underpinings. Anyone who thinks that Putin and his oligarch friends or the Chinese Communist Party should be supported as bulwarks against capitalism etc.etc. clearly has abandoned the realm of rational economic discussion.
Loony
“As I said no-one cares about human rights, unless it serves some other agenda” In the circles that you move that may be the case.
I think you missed out some of your previous observations about Russia in the last post – I have no problem with your more limited set of observations.
Please avoid the selective quotation game it does you little credit.
“The SNP,Corbyn and Sanders have seen a rise in support, as more folk rage against the machine so to speak. The Scottish referendum and the run up to it exposed the BBC for what it really is.”
Strange, STV seem to think it exposed the SNP for what it really is.
http://stv.tv/news/politics/1345873-stephen-daisley-snp-case-for-independence-starting-to-look-like-con-trick/
Kempe
“” They were to be used in a mass atomic experiment with an entire generation of Sephardi youths to be used as guinea pigs. Every Sephardi child was to be given 35,000 times the maximum dose of x-rays through his head. ”
Which would’ve killed them and anybody standing nearby instantly.
A rational account of the affair.
http://plancksconstant.org/blog1/2007/03/ringworm_hoax.html”
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Thank you for the above debunking, Kempe.
What is it about this blog that seems to welcome such sick,insane posts from the likes of Rehmat?
The Moderators would do well to keep such insanity off this blog rather than censuring the occasional little dig against one or the other “commenter”.
Just for you Tony – ‘Comfortably numb’…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_MXLI5hyEc
Bless you.
“A rational account of the affair.”
________________
Kempe.
As Habb, would say but what do we know about the people who run that site, what is their political position.
Of course that onesided outlook only applies to such sites as GlobalResearch etc.
It would appear rationale belongs to a very exclusive club.
Herbie
“Res Diss
You’re so laughably superficial……
All you can do is list the names of those you consider baddies, as if that’s some sort of analysis..”
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Well, I find that Resident Dissident packs more analysis and fact into four lines than you do in a whole series of “comments”.
That’s because you don’t really ever say anything.
Just limited to the occasional gnomic verbal spurt.
It’s no surprise though, is it.
After all, you think we’re all sheeple.
Or “peeps” as you like to say.
Stands to reason really.
Those who wish to mislead are on the march.
No doubt about it.
Republicofscotland (18h40)
“On August 14, 2004 – Israel’s Channel 10 showed a documentary 100,000 Radiation, exposing the ugliest secret of Israel’s Labor Zionist founders; the deliberate mass radiation poisoning of nearly all Sephardi youths. In 1951, the director general of the Israeli Health Ministry, Dr. Chaim Sheba flew to America and returned with 7 x-ray machines, supplied to him by the American army.
They were to be used in a mass atomic experiment with an entire generation of Sephardi youths to be used as guinea pigs. Every Sephardi child was to be given 35,000 times the maximum dose of x-rays through his head.”
________________________
I get the impression from your post at 18h40 that you believe that story posted by Rehmat.
Is that right?
A simple yes or no will do, Ros. 🙂
“Strange, STV seem to think it exposed the SNP for what it really is.”
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Stephen Daisley, wouldn’t know the truth Fred if it jumped up and bit him on the backside.
For a logical and reasined breakdown of GERS see here.
http://wingsoverscotland.com/gazing-into-the-black-hole/#more-82529
For an insight into Daisley see here.
http://athousandflowers.net/2015/10/25/weekly-wanker-058-stephen-daisley/
The fact that STV still retain his utterly biased views, speaks volumes.
“For a logical and reasined breakdown of GERS see here.”
I’ve seen the logical run downs, I’ll skip the Nationalists in denial thanks.
“I get the impression from your post at 18h40 that you believe that story posted by Rehmat.
Is that right?
A simple yes or no will do, Ros.”
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It’s the prinicple that counts Habb, Rehmats site may indeed, be shall we say be economical with the truth, but that doesn’t mean that Kempes site is any more factual , even if it appears to sound and look the part.
Of course I can’t quite see how you of all people can judge what’s, what, when your remit forbids you from posting any link at all, apart from the very dubious, and aptly named “StopFake” site. Of which several regular posters quickly unmasked its complete and utter lack of authenticity ?
Problem is Res Diss that your ersatz left AND right were both funded by Western bankers.
Why’d they do that. It certainly wasn’t for human rights.
Hillary Clinton when asked about reforming the banks (remember it’s central banks really need reforming, your retail outfits are a function of the central bank problem) replies that that would do nothing for human rights.
She’s funded by and will work for these banks, of course.
But hey, what an argument.
These banks are driving the whole planet to penury. What good your human rights then.
You’ve no argument, nothing but lists of comedy villains you trot out in ever increasing desperation to support the parasitic banking system.
“I’ve seen the logical run downs, I’ll skip the Nationalists in denial thanks”
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Strange Fred, how you can so quickly judge without taking into consideration both sides of the matter at hand. It says to me that you’re not open to persuasion, no matter how logical the arguments may be pity that.
It is nothing to do with Left Vs Right
Its nothing to do with Capitalism Vs Communism
It is nothing to do with the horrible people in control
It is nothing to do with Religion
It is about being nice and love vs being a Psychopath..
The Psychopaths are in control…
Just agree with them – cos then they will pick another target but don’t do what they tell you to do.
and if at the end of the day you are having a big problem with the parasite sucking everything you have got – directly out of your back – give a nod to your fellow shark.
Sharks are beautiful and very shy – and mean no harm to humans.
They are just not too keen on the parasites.
If you have spent a fair time underwater – diving – or even snorkelling
you might learn a thing or two.
for one thing you can move in 3D
Tony
Craig said: “I am not without hope. There is no doubt that the Sanders/SNP/Corbyn phenomenon represents a reaction to the dreadful inequality of society and all the evils which I have described.”
Sanders is a Trojan Horse; as are Syriza in Greece and Podemus in Spain: all completely left/liberal fake movements to calm the anger of the masses.
Corbyn is another matter, judging by the way he came to become leader of the Labour Party.
I’ll reserve my judgement on the SNP.
“Problem is Res Diss that your ersatz left AND right were both funded by Western bankers.”
And lets guess who is behind the bankers – not that I was aware that I was supporting the parasitic banking system?
I wait with great expectation the explanation for the Gulag being that Stalin’s father was a member of the Rothschild clan.
It is about being nice and love vs being a Psychopath..
The Psychopaths are in control…
“Sharks are beautiful and very shy – and mean no harm to humans.
They are just not too keen on the parasites.”
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Tony, I haven’t quite seen it put like that before but you do get your point across nonetheless.
No doubt psychopaths, love as well.
As for sharks, nature abhors a vacuum, and Remora fish, for instance see themselves, as opportunists, rather than parasites, no doubt your average psychopath whose climbed the greasy pole of advancement, feels the same way.
Res Diss
It really doesn’t much matter who’s “behind the bankers”, as you put it.
It’d be the same issue, were I running them.
What matters is that they’re reformed so that they can no longer do the damage they have been doing.
Poor effort at distraction, and selective quoting, funnily enough.
“not that I was aware that I was supporting the parasitic banking system?”
In distracting from it, you certainly are.
And that’s your primary purpose here, isn’t it.
Your long lists of derivative comedy villains, but no mention of who’s pulling their strings.
You’re a fraud!
“Mao was of course funded by Rothschild created Communism in Russia and also the following Rothschild agents: Solomon Adler, a former United States Treasury official who was a Soviet Spy; Israel Epstein, the son of a Jewish Bolshevik imprisoned by the Tsar in Russia for trying to forment a revolution there; and Frank Coe, a leading official of the Rothschild owned IMF.”
So that’s the Cultural Revolution dealt with as well.
As a socialist, let me say that the SNP are right wing xenophobes and no friends of ours.