Tag Archives: Politics

Why you’re so, so wrong

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Students protesting against the coalition’s decision to up the fees and reduce the grants are all over the online versions of the British papers.

And, now, after the event, is the analysis. Obviously, the government and opposition MPs are condemning the violence that escalated after the vote had been taken; condemning the attack on the Prince of Wales’ car – calling the people ‘thugs’ or worse.

Now, don’t get me wrong in any way. I do not condone violence, in general but and it’s a very big BUT ……..

The LibDems, who undoubtedly had many votes from people under 25, including many students, had promised (and signed pledges) to say they would NOT agree to any increase in the cost of learning. They have, certainly, broken that promise. These are the same people that are only in the place of power they are in through the help of the very students out on the street. They only HAVE their power because of the people. But they lied. And, saying that it’s all ‘different now’ is not an excuse.

The police who, quite frankly, as has been proved again and again, are, in the main, not that far removed from being a government-sponsored gang of thugs. They have links with the ‘underworld’ – because that is the world to which they are most tied. There are great policemen, I am sure – there are also many who, were they not with the police would undoubtedly lead a life of crime.

The actions of the police (and you should watch the videos with a more open mind) during last night’s demonstration was, quite honestly, appalling. Nothing will be done about it. These are the government’s henchmen after all.

Some newspapers have said it is a disgrace to be so disrespectful to Churchill’s statue or the War Memorial or to property.

Well, here’s the thing. It’s only things and not people. When a statue of Churchill is more important than the future of the people of the UK, then that is where the priorities have got all mixed up. When a kid trying to get out of the ‘kettle’ is beaten with a big stick and it is not called as it is – thuggery, mindless violence, vicious attack – then there is something very seriously wrong with the mindset of the people who don’t say this.

You can condemn violence (as I do) but this was not violence for the sake of it. These are people being pushed into an impossible situation where they will pay for our leaders’ and bankers’ mistakes for the rest of their lives. And you want them to do what, exactly? Have a walk for an hour and then go back home?

I can condemn violence and, at the same time, say that is was to be expected and, given the actions of the police, well deserved. If they (the students) don’t do something, I don’t see anyone else doing anything about it.

And here, if nothing else, are some quotations from a person who was there

Violent thugs? I am a 21-year-old literature student

and more from this student:

I am a girl of five foot two, I was pushed several times in the face, dragged on the floor and laughed at by police when I told them I had asthma. This is why people get angry, because people were being trapped and wanted to get out.

All afternoon we were told people were able to leave from various places but this was just not true.

I asked a policeman were I could go to the toilet; he pointed at the floor by his feet.

Another shouted: “Move, bitch, or I’ll squash you with my horse.”

Eventually, when the protests had died down and people were desperate to go home, a group of around 1,000 protesters were finally escorted to Westminster Bridge to exit; however this was a trick. What then happened was we were held on the bridge for hours in the freezing cold. The crowd remained calm, but after hours of freezing people began to chant “let us out” and then the crowd pushed forwards. Being small I was carried by the crowd and ended up by the police line. I was tired and cold and hadn’t eaten for 12 hours or had any water.

I screamed at the police not to hurt me because I was being pushed but they still went for my face, almost pulling me to the floor. A man to my right put his arms over my face, screaming, “Leave her alone, she’s a girl, she’s not harming you,” but the police began to hit him several times on the head.

When we were finally let off the bridge it was one at a time through huge crowds of jeering officers. We were told we were being photographed in case we had damaged royal car. But how this could have happened whilst we were kettled in parliament i don’t know.

What I will say is that by this stage the anarchists had fought their way out, and just lots of women and children were left to freeze.

It makes my blood chill.  The police deserve no medals for this atrocious behaviour.  In fact they should be horse-whipped.  They deserve no sympathy.  The standard of policing is below poor and they (the police) should be treated as the criminals they are.

And people ask me why I don’t go back to the UK?

Are the USA having a laugh?

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This is quite unbelievable:

5.30pm: With perfect timing an email arrives from Philip Crowley at the state department:

The United States is pleased to announce that it will host Unesco’s World Press Freedom Day event in 2011, from 1-3 May in Washington, DC.

Ironic? Read the next paragraph from the press release:

The theme for next year’s commemoration will be 21st Century Media: New Frontiers, New Barriers. The United States places technology and innovation at the forefront of its diplomatic and development efforts. New media has empowered citizens around the world to report on their circumstances, express opinions on world events, and exchange information in environments sometimes hostile to such exercises of individuals’ right to freedom of expression. At the same time, we are concerned about the determination of some governments to censor and silence individuals, and to restrict the free flow of information. We mark events such as World Press Freedom Day in the context of our enduring commitment to support and expand press freedom and the free flow of information in this digital age.

I have no words that adequately express how I feel about such a thing.  From the Guardian

“countries that restrict free access to information or violate the basic rights of internet users risk walling themselves off from the progress of the next century”.

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“countries that restrict free access to information or violate the basic rights of internet users risk walling themselves off from the progress of the next century”.

Of course, this is a quote made before Wikileaks posted cables from US embassies around the world. However, the USA government, it would seem, are putting pressure on all the organisations that ‘permit’, by use of their services, Wikileaks ‘to be seen’ by Internet users and, so I have read, US government agencies are restricting their employees from accessing the Wikileaks documents.

So, is it wrong to act as they are or not? Should the government be permitted to act as effective censors?

Well, according to quote, it would seem it is not a good idea.

And, of course, the quote came from Hilary Clinton, a slightly well-known American government official. Hmmmm. A touch of ‘do as I say and not as I do’ methinks.

Berlusconi will, no doubt, be proud of this.

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Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi was “feckless, vain, and ineffective as a modern European leader”, according to Elizabeth Dibble, US charge d’affaires in Rome. Another report from Rome recorded the view that he was a “physically and politically weak” leader whose “frequent late nights and penchant for partying hard mean he does not get sufficient rest”.

Especially the bit about partying hard. :-)

OK so he may not like the bit about being physically weak or being feckless or ineffective but I’m sure he can turn it round in his favour.

And I’m not sure it will get that much press here. A bit like the scandal concerning D&G which barely gets a mention here.

It’s a strange country, Italy, for sure.

It’s stupid really; More of this?

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I’m glad I’m busy ……….. really.

It’s when he’s not here that it becomes a problem although, this time, it’s been less since I’ve had less time.  It’s in the quiet moments that it hits.  A feeling of panic, of insecurity, of fear.  Not of anything in particular – just a feeling for no real reason.

Not about us, for certain.  About us, of that I am sure.  It’s the rest of the world that makes me fearful and unsure.  It will be better on Saturday evening, when he’s back.  Then, from the moment he is there, I shall be fine and all these fears and worries will slip away as if they have never even existed – which is also annoying because I really would like to try and explain but, when he’s with me, they seem as smoke, drifting in the wind and becoming nothing within seconds.

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I don’t condone violence and never have, especially since I was about 13.  However, the student protests are, if not condonable, at least understandable.

When I left school for further education it was a) free and b) I got a grant for my living expenses.  I came out of it all with an overdraft of about £1000.

Over the years, the support for those in higher education has fallen and most students over the last few years have faced the debt of a ‘student loan’, which they pay off for years afterwards.  Now, with tuition fees of £9000 per year (or maybe it’s per term?), it means that, forget about living expenses, just the cost of the education will be £27,000!

I can understand that they would be a bit angry.  I can understand why they would want to march against this.  And, to be honest, with a future where you need a degree to earn a pittance in McDonalds, with little hope of paying off the debt in anything other than a lifetime, I can understand why they feel that the only way they will be truly heard is to attack some building.  I can empathise with their aims since I am grateful that I never had this additional ‘worry’ when I was in higher education.

And, to be honest, with the exception of Ghandi, most change has come about as a result of violence, so it wouldn’t be the first time.  After all, The UK and the USA changed Iraq by violence and are trying to do the same with Afghanistan.  They shouldn’t hold double standards on this.

And, as I read this morning, had it been a peaceful march, it would have caused no debate and no one would have taken any real notice.  Now, people are talking about it – it is being discussed and criticised or lauded.  Now the debate will continue.

At the end, it may not result in anything (much like the French protests against the pension reforms) but I don’t think it will end there.  There is time yet.

Any government holds power only because of the consent of the majority of people it governs.  If, however, the majority of people don’t want it or want some change, then it seems that violence is the only thing that will actually ensure the change is made.

I predict we are in for some troubling times in the next few years.  I predict more violence and more unrest.  It’s a shame really.  The government of the time (in the UK) had the opportunity, a few years ago, to make some real change to an economic system that cannot continue in the way it is.  They chose (or were bullied or were too scared) to prop up the existing system and, so, this is the result.  It is times like this where there needs to be a bit of realism and someone who has charisma to explain to ‘the people’ what really needs to happen – to permit the change.  To make a bright new world.  To step off the edge of the cliff into the void with a parachute which has not been tried and tested is a scary thing.  But, sooner or later, this will have to be done.  Until then, I expect to see much more of this.

A quotation that I like

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Things are not going well, it would seem.  There’s the to-do about the illegal immigrant who was released from jail (but she WAS pretty and young), there’s the homophobic comment from the other day making headline news and then some prostitute has suggested that Mr B (Buzz Lightyear) paid her for sex which, I learnt, yesterday, is actually an illegal act (the paying for sex, that is).

The other problem is that Gianfranco Fini, one-time best mate of Buzz and, until recently, by his side in almost everything, a reformed neo-fascist, so it is said, keeps sniping at Buzz.  He’s formed another group (soon to be party?) but they aren’t quite ready for an election yet.  Instead of bringing the current government down, he is suggesting that Buzz should resign.  Buzz, on the other hand is suggesting that if Fini is any sort of ‘man’ he would force a new election (Buzz isn’t actually stupid, I guess, in spite of his antics and outpourings that point to the contrary).

But, what of the current global financial crisis and Italy, I hear you ask ………..

……………wait………….

WHAT CRISIS?

the government of pretending everything is going well

I just LOVE this quote from Fini, talking (yesterday or the day before) about the current government in Italy (ignoring the fact that, until very recently, he was actually part of it).  I only hope it is a faithful translation!

As I said to my colleague yesterday, the real problem here is who is to replace him?  There’s simply no one strong enough to do that, at least, not from my outside view.  Names are mentioned but it has to be someone who can bring a number of parties together and, unfortunately, there don’t seem many people able to do that here.

It’s better to like handsome men than be a 74-year-old blithering idiot

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There.

My response to the only leader within Europe who features regularly in British newspapers – but not for much except his dalliances with under-age females; insults to other religions, people, countries, etc.; clowny behaviour at important international events and other such things.

He’s very rich; owns half the press and television here, in Italy and, what he doesn’t own, controls by being Prime Minister; wants to change the law to make it illegal to eavesdrop on conversations (because that’s how he was ‘found out’ over all the recent stuff); wants the Internet controlled (because people on the Internet don’t always agree with him) and is trying to curtail the powers of the Magistrates because they are, unfortunately, not ‘aligned’ with his wishes (they would like to put him in the clink, probably).

Buzz Lightyear (aka Silvio Berlusconi) has been at it again. Rescuing some illegal immigrant from prison (although she was very pretty ……. and young …….. ) because he thought the whole thing was ‘wrong’. Not because he had given her 7K for, apparently, no real reason.

Of course, his comment “It is better to like beautiful girls than be gay.” is the type of comment one could expect from him.

He is old enough to be a Grandfather (I’m not actually sure if he isn’t!) and should have been pensioned off before now. I can only be grateful that I’m not like him (although I would like some of his money, of course)!

Nobel Political Prize?

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Liu Xiaobo is, undoubtedly, an amazing man. In spite of being put in prison and suffering, he continues to ‘fight’ against a regime that he feels should be more democratic. This ‘fight’ to get basic human rights, move towards a democracy, etc., is not something new but he is the latest high-profile figure to do so.

His attempts to change the way that China treats it’s dissidents, is admirable. He does so by non-violent means in an ever-increasingly violent world and against a reportedly violent authority.

He should, indeed, be lauded and treated as a hero, as should anyone standing up for the rights and safety of ordinary citizens, especially if they do so in a non-violent way. I wish I had his courage.

And it is important that the rest of the world recognises his attempts and, one day, one hopes, his achievements.

Alfred Nobel, in his will, declared that a Nobel Peace Prize should be awarded “to the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses”.

Now, although Liu Xiaobo deserves some sort of prize, to me he does not quite fit the profile of a person who should win the Nobel Peace Prize. Only the last part could be said to be fitting but the reason it was awarded to him was, apparently, “for his long and non-violent struggle for fundamental human rights in China”. Again, laudable but not really what the peace prize is for, in my opinion.

The Chinese are outraged and consider that this is a political act. Holding our hands up in horror, I read that it is not the Norwegian government that decides this but, rather, the specially formed Norwegian Nobel Committee. How can the Chinese be so confused?

Maybe they read this!

All the Committee members are or were politicians.

So, not only does it seem that they haven’t picked a person who fits the precise requirements (according to Nobel himself) but, also, they may well have done so, being ex-politicians and all, in full knowledge that this was, in fact, a political act.

A shame really.

Once upon a time……

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“Don’t wake up or Father Christmas won’t come and leave any presents”, so I was told.

That was until I saw my mother creeping in one night with the stockings to put at the bottom of the bed, causing me to get up, wake up my sister and by 4 o’clock in the morning we were in our parents’ bedroom ‘having fun’ – although I never did let on that I knew about Father Christmas – just in case the presents stopped!

Don’t do that or the bogey-man will get you.  The fairy tales which were, in reality, scary tales – giving both a moral and a warning about the bad things that existed in this world to make sure that you were ‘good’.

But, of course, when you grow up, there is no need of these stories for you are adult and don’t need to be kept ‘good’ – that you do all by yourself.

Well, almost.  One wonders if the fairy stories for adults; aren’t manufactured for exactly that purpose.  Keeping us ‘good’.  Making sure we ‘toe the line’. As is pointed out in the article, to tell us that there is a ‘severe threat’ means nothing if you don’t then advise what we are supposed to be doing about it – otherwise, over time, people just ignore it. And, after all, if after some time of a ‘severe threat’ nothing actually happens, aren’t we quite right to become complacent?

As one of the comments points out (maybe a little cynically), perhaps it’s all just a wheeze to stop us thinking about the ‘economic crisis’ or, perhaps, it’s the work of what is now big business – i.e. the security industry.

And then I go back to airport security. Travelling through different countries (but within the EU) as I have done, it is quite remarkable that, for some countries some things are fine whilst for others they are absolutely prohibited.

And, I’m sorry, but I refuse to look at every brown skinned person as if they were a potential bomber. The guys who sell flowers at the stall outside my house, for example, who say ‘Ciao, capo’ to me every morning deserve a smile not a look of suspicion or, worse, hatred!

I’m with the author of the article and think that it is, in the main, all made up. I suspect I’m more likely to die in a car accident or through some health issue than be blown up by terrorists and I suspect that you are too – whatever the level of alert at the time.

Still, fairy stories have their uses.

The Real Power

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I don’t think people really understand at all. Life is full of compromises.

You can only live with the person you live with (or, not exactly live with, in my case) by means of compromise. Friendships are full of compromise. Families are full of compromises. Working is full of compromises. Politics is full of compromises.

And so, the Tories and the LibDems have made an agreement which, given the fact that they differ in many areas, is full of compromises – compromises by both of them. Of course, it won’t make Tory supporters happy and it won’t make LibDem supporters happy. Labour supporters will also be unhappy. Everyone will be unhappy.

However, given that even the change proposed (but only after a referendum) to the voting system won’t give true PR, there will still be, more or less, a first-past-the-post system and that will favour the two big parties.

As a result of everyone being unhappy, it seems likely that the LibDems will be hammered at the next election, which is a shame. And, so, Britain will remain a two-party nation. Far right and slightly right (unless Labour go back to their old ways). The banks will remain ever-powerful, the system will stagger onwards, creaking and groaning and, occasionally, splitting at the seams until, eventually, there is nothing else but for it to completely break down.

Not that a LibDem government would have really made a huge change since a huge change is too frightening to contemplate.

And, don’t for a moment think that there’ll be any rush to roll back many of the things that Labour put in place. Don’t think that you’ll be getting back your freedoms. The new government will be ‘taking it’s time’ and will, no doubt, leave most things in place – especially those things that give it more control over the population. After all, that’s the real power.