Observer story about Europol excluding Britain is extremely daft if Europol want to catch criminals they will cooperate with countries outside the EU.
Sunday, October 27, 2019
Wednesday, October 23, 2019
Hostile Environment costs lives
People who want to claim asylum have to arrive illegally in order to join their family in the UK. The 'hostile environment' was created by the Conservative Party in order to gain votes from the openly racist politicians of UKIP and the Brexit Party.
The hatred has consequences. 39 people have died thanks to this hate campaign. The crocodile tears of the Prime Minister and Home Secretary raise hypocrisy to a new level.
Tuesday, October 15, 2019
In Defence of Trotskyism
The title reminds me of "In Defence of Marxism" in which Trotsky had to defend the basic ideas of Marxism against the revisionists around Burnham and Shachtman in the American SWP. Burnham and Shachtman and their ideas have long been confined to the dustbin of history but Trotsky's work remains a book which can educate anybody of any age - unless they think they already know everything of course.
The four books which most influenced me were:
The Communist Manifesto (I read my father's copy of this when I was ten). I've read it again since. At ten it was the flow of the language which kept my attention but later on the ideas became more important.
The Iron Heel by Jack London. I have written a book about the role of the hero in this book. Trotsky reviewed it favourably when Jack London's daughter sent him a copy. I think the main message is that you are as likely to appeal to the "better nature" of the capitalist class as you are to persuade a pack of wolves not to eat you! Jack London was a great writer. I also recommend his short stories.
The Role of the Hero
In Defence of Marxism which clarified many issues for me. The degeneration of the Soviet state under Stalin was something my father never came to terms with. We went on getting Soviet Weekly in our house for years after his death in 1959. The main reason for his thinking was that the people who were bad-mouthing the USSR were the same people who cursed the poor and the unemployed in the 1930s. Trotsky explains why this is so and a lot more besides.
The Transitional Program which - in 1938 - gave a much-needed message of hope which is still relevant today. The idea of a "transitional program" which starts from the consciousness of the working class right now and moulds a movement for the overthrow of capitalism bridges the gap between consciousness today and the historical task for which the working class is best suited.
The Transitional Program for Kindle and paperback
The four books which most influenced me were:
The Communist Manifesto (I read my father's copy of this when I was ten). I've read it again since. At ten it was the flow of the language which kept my attention but later on the ideas became more important.
The Iron Heel by Jack London. I have written a book about the role of the hero in this book. Trotsky reviewed it favourably when Jack London's daughter sent him a copy. I think the main message is that you are as likely to appeal to the "better nature" of the capitalist class as you are to persuade a pack of wolves not to eat you! Jack London was a great writer. I also recommend his short stories.
The Role of the Hero
In Defence of Marxism which clarified many issues for me. The degeneration of the Soviet state under Stalin was something my father never came to terms with. We went on getting Soviet Weekly in our house for years after his death in 1959. The main reason for his thinking was that the people who were bad-mouthing the USSR were the same people who cursed the poor and the unemployed in the 1930s. Trotsky explains why this is so and a lot more besides.
The Transitional Program which - in 1938 - gave a much-needed message of hope which is still relevant today. The idea of a "transitional program" which starts from the consciousness of the working class right now and moulds a movement for the overthrow of capitalism bridges the gap between consciousness today and the historical task for which the working class is best suited.
The Transitional Program for Kindle and paperback
West Sussex Library cuts
West Sussex County Council has engaged in a fake consultation over library cuts. They are, in effect, asking voters to become their accomplices in cutting vital services.
The mobile library service, for example, is very important for people who are housebound and cannot afford to buy books from Amazon all the time. Tory Councillors may be swimming in money but most service users are not.
It is disingenuous for West Sussex to ask the public "which services shall we cut" when there should be no cuts. If West Sussex councillors do not want to vote through a no-cuts budget they will have to stand aside for anyone who will do so.
The Tories cut library services for the same reason the far right burn books. They are frightened of ideas.
The link is here
Make your voice heard!
The mobile library service, for example, is very important for people who are housebound and cannot afford to buy books from Amazon all the time. Tory Councillors may be swimming in money but most service users are not.
It is disingenuous for West Sussex to ask the public "which services shall we cut" when there should be no cuts. If West Sussex councillors do not want to vote through a no-cuts budget they will have to stand aside for anyone who will do so.
The Tories cut library services for the same reason the far right burn books. They are frightened of ideas.
The link is here
Make your voice heard!
Thursday, October 03, 2019
Old Etonian Shysters
Tony Little, former head of Eton said that the nation would have been “better served” if Boris Johnson, David Cameron and Jacob Rees Mogg had not all been educated at Eton College. They were giving Eton a bad name.
Here are some old Etonians:
Jonathan Anwyl, 44, was part of a scheme, believed to be the biggest direct tax fraud in British history, which convinced the rich and famous they could cut their tax bill by investing in "ethical" environmental projects.
Andrew Picard was spared jail after creating and sharing thousands of 'appalling' child abuse images.
The Honorable Thomas Cholmondeley (honourable indeed!) was imprisoned for manslaughter after shooting a poacher. The leniency of his punishment was a relief to his family, according to the Daily Telegraph.
The list goes on and on.
I fail to see how leading Conservatives can be ‘giving Eton a bad name’. When you consider how many shysters can name Eton as their alma mater. It is a bit like giving Wormwood Scrubs ‘a bad name’.
Here are some old Etonians:
Jonathan Anwyl, 44, was part of a scheme, believed to be the biggest direct tax fraud in British history, which convinced the rich and famous they could cut their tax bill by investing in "ethical" environmental projects.
Andrew Picard was spared jail after creating and sharing thousands of 'appalling' child abuse images.
The Honorable Thomas Cholmondeley (honourable indeed!) was imprisoned for manslaughter after shooting a poacher. The leniency of his punishment was a relief to his family, according to the Daily Telegraph.
The list goes on and on.
I fail to see how leading Conservatives can be ‘giving Eton a bad name’. When you consider how many shysters can name Eton as their alma mater. It is a bit like giving Wormwood Scrubs ‘a bad name’.
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