Banning Anti-Capitalist books in schools

 

The government aims to ban "anti-capitalist" books from schools. Is this different in principle to burning books which they disagree with?

Can we expect to see "Animal Farm", "Hard Times" and "Grapes of Wrath" thrown on the bonfire?

Will the Tories dress up for the occasion?

 

 

Sonnet 91 is blatantly anti-capitalist:

SONNET 91

Some glory in their birth, some in their skill,
Some in their wealth, some in their body's force,
Some in their garments, though new-fangled ill;
Some in their hawks and hounds, some in their horse;
And every humour hath his adjunct pleasure,
Wherein it finds a joy above the rest:
But these particulars are not my measure;
All these I better in one general best.
Thy love is better than high birth to me,
Richer than wealth, prouder than garments' cost,
Of more delight than hawks or horses be;
And having thee, of all men's pride I boast:
   Wretched in this alone, that thou may'st take
   All this away, and me most wretched make. 

 

So Shakespeare could find himself upon the bonfire if Dominic Cummings gets his way. 

 

Brevity

 

Trump Tax and the Monarchy

 

The New York Times leads on the story of a president whose businesses show continual losses which justify the non-payment of tax.

It is a little odd that Trump claimed when debating Hilary Clinton that his tax dodging just showed that he was "smarter".

"Smarter" than the millions of tax-paying Americans? Much the same claim could be made by a car thief. "I steal cars because I'm smarter than the people who don't. They only criticise me because they are jealous."

Many Trump supporters applauded. They pay tax (many of them) but they are quite happy with a president who thinks they are dumb to do so.

I hope nobody in the UK feels smug about this. The Queen paid no tax for 40 years (1952 to 1992) and then gracefully agreed to do so. As if she were doing us a favour.

No wonder she's smiling. Does she take us for fools too?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Derek-McMillan/e/B009FUXHWY

Worthing Flash and Copyright

 

I don't often get "snowed under" at Worthing Flash but I am delighted to say I have been. Thanks to everyone. 

 

Andrew Ballard asked me a question about copyright. I can assure writers that I do not acquire the copyright of any stories by publishing them on #worthingflash but there are some editors who are picky about stories which have been published elsewhere. 

 

My advice to Andrew and to all of the writers is to try other publishers (especially the paying ones!) first. 

 

I am not picky about stories which have been published elsewhere. On the contrary, I like to think there are other editors who agree with me.

 

 

Overpromising and Underperforming

Lord O'Donnell has labelled the government's many failures to cope with Covid as "overpromising and underperforming". A fair definition of politics which might have been invented by Cicero.

Remember the "world beating" track test and trace system?

And the people who could not get a test or results from the test.

Remember the end of lockdown?

And the panic response to the second hump on the dromedary to use Boris's nursery simile.

 This Eton mess is way past its sell-by.

 

Testing Testing

 

I don't read the Star but this front cover seemed apt.

The testing fiasco has had people in London claiming to have Aberdeen postcodes to get a Covid-19 test closer to home. Presumably people in Aberdeen have to do the same.

Matt Hancock "hopes" to have a robust testing regime in place in a few weeks. Well I am hoping for a white Christmas, we don't always get what we hope for. 

There is a 38 degrees petition to "Make our coronavirus testing system fit for purpose"

The link is here

The testing regime leaves teachers and parents with no chance of getting a test. The "back to school" instruction is particularly ridiculous given that a gathering of more than six is illegal but having thirty stroppy teenagers sneezing all over you is fine.

The attempt to get sporting events going recalls the policy of "bread and circuses" of the Roman Emporers. Boris can tell you all about it in Latin if you like.  

This Eton mess of a government has long outlived its usefulness (if any).

Racism is founded on ignorance and fear

 Racism is founded on ignorance and fear. 

Education is the mortal enemy of racism.

Here are the details of an initiative supported by the National Education Union

Click here

 

 

 

Solidarity Forever

 https://drive.google.com/file/d/1p3-R2wAwECisvb6ioRDldIHIN8RFs06T/view?usp=sharing 

 

I hope you enjoy this story. It is from "Brevity" which is an audiobook.

Click here

 

 

You can get "Brevity" here

 https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/164312947817

Government can break the law

How significant is it that the government proposes to break the law? Does it mean that housebreakers and arsonists can do the same if they find the law inconvenient?

 

Perhaps the greatest significance is that MPs, Tory MPs, are insisting that Parliament should have a say over this reckless policy. Can Boris Badenough prorogue his way out of this one? 

 

One tactic of Donald Trump is that when he is making a complete hash of something, such as his handling of the pandemic, he will do or say something so outrageous that people are distracted from the disaster.

Has Boris been taking lessons from him? Has Dom encouraged him to imitate the Great Pretender?

 

 

 

BBC cowardice

 You will have noticed that Boris Badenough has nothing better to do than have a rant about Rule Britannia being on the BBC last night of the proms. Covid-19 deaths have reached 41, 514 and of course some ancient piece of jingoistic claptrap is more important ... but not in this century.

The rant was on the lines of ""I think it's time we stopped our cringing embarrassment about our history, about our traditions, and about our culture, and we stopped this general bout of self-recrimination and wetness." Apart from the fact that Adolf Hitler used similar words, this is completely irrelevant for a country facing a major health emergency.

Boris has the support of the gutter press of course and they think this tripe will divert the public from the real issues.

There will be a reckoning with this Eton Mess of a government and no amount of sentimental flannel will preserve them.

https://www.facebook.com/socialistreviews

Speedy Tories

Isn’t it nice that the Tories are expressing concern for disadvantaged children? And it has only taken them 350 years. In another 350 they might (I said might) actually do something. 

"Dreadful oik" is the usual term applied by Tories to disadvantaged children and old habits die hard.

 

Classroom Teacher Manual: Advice for Teachers from Teachers

eBay or Amazon

This year as an experiment "Brevity" (an audio book) went on eBay. It is necessary for a cheap audiobook to be brief - the whole book lasts an hour and fits on one CD and retails for £1.

This has been very enjoyable because it is a bit like a virtual book fair. The stories themselves are "new ones, old ones, loved ones and neglected ones" as they used to say on the wireless.(Semprini Serenade)

In addition to eBay CDs have been sold directly to readers (listeners I mean).

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/164312947817

The feedback was all positive:

• Positive Feedback

  by o***n

  During past month
  Ok
• Positive Feedback

  by i***f

  During past month
  i have listened to.
• Positive Feedback

  by 6***6

  During past month
  Very happy, great service
• Positive Feedback

  by s***2

  During past month
  all easy
• Positive Feedback

  by 0***r

  During past month
  Great price for a really interesting product, fast delivery, highly recommended
  The last is my favourite!

-- 
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Derek-McMillan/e/B009FUXHWY

 

MPs pay rise?

 https://www.facebook.com/socialistreviews

The right wing wants to silence Black Lives Matter and Kshama Sawant

 

I got this email today Derek, On Sunday in Kenosha, WI, police shot yet another Black man, Jacob Blake, 7 times in the back as his children watched. Blake is now in serious condition, fighting for his life. The #BlackLivesMatter movement is needed now, more than ever, to continue the fight to defund the police by at least 50%, win community control over the police, jail killer cops, and much more to end police brutality and address systemic racism.  The right wing has demonstrated over and over again their hostility to the #BlackLivesMatter movement, including violent attacks against peaceful protestors. And last week, in another right-wing attempt to silence the movement, a recall campaign was re-filed against Councilmember Kshama Sawant, the only Councilmember who has fought, year after year, to defund the police.  We’re not just speculating about the motivation for the recall campaign — the filer explicitly told reporters that it is a reaction to the efforts to defund the Seattle Police Department by at least 50%.  Openly backing the recall campaign is businessman Joey Rodolfo, a Republican donor who appeared on Fox News’ Tucker Carlson show to bash Black Lives Matter protests. As he described it, business’ priority is to figure out “how we can flush these radical, Marxist city council people out of office.” During our 2019 re-election campaign, Amazon, big real-estate developers, and even Trump donors unleashed a record breaking onslaught of corporate cash in an unsuccessful attempt to drive out the most consistent fighter for working people to ever sit on Seattle’s City Council, who has helped lead movements to win the $15 minimum wage, landmark renters’ rights victories, and much more. Now, furious about our recent Amazon Tax victory and the movement to defund the police, they are desperately searching for a do-over. If the recall petition approved, big business and big Republican donors can pour unlimited funds into a signature gathering effort through February, which, if successful, would put Councilmember Sawant up for recall in an upcoming special election. The recall petition is currently moving through a legal review. Working people need to stand together to reject this politically-motivated attack on progressive movements!  Here’s how you can help defend our socialist seat: Like the Kshama Solidarity Campaign facebook page to stay updated. Invite your friends to like the page as well! Share posts about the recall campaign efforts using the hashtag #KshamaSolidarity. Join us for a rally to defend our seat — check your emails and check on facebook for a date to be announced soon! Copyright © 2020 Tax Amazon, All rights reserved. Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

Do Not Resuscitate

 

Campaigning for the rights of older people

**NEWS – Immediate Release**

NPC calls for urgent inquiry into care homes told to have ‘Do Not Resuscitate’ policy during pandemic

The National Pensioners’ Convention is calling for an urgent inquiry after a new report revealed some care home staff were told to put blanket Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) orders on residents at the height of the pandemic.

The NPC, the UK’s largest campaigning group for older people is shocked by the findings of a survey published today (24 August 2020)* by the Queen’s Nursing Institute (QNI) on the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on the UK’s nursing and residential homes.

NPC General Secretary Jan Shortt will be writing to the report’s author, Professor Alison Leary, MBE, Director of the ICNO and Professor of Healthcare and Workforce Modelling at London South Bank University, and QNI Chief Executive Dr Crystal Oldman, CBE, to support their call for an urgent inquiry.

The NPC will also be contacting Health Secretary Matt Hancock to ask that he launch an immediate investigation into the findings.

Jan Shortt said: “The findings of this survey prove what the NPC has long suspected – that our oldest and most vulnerable were merely seen as collateral damage rather than as human beings by senior NHS executives at the height of the pandemic.

“Care home staff were already under tremendous pressure to save the lives of their residents. To then try and force them to put blanket DNR orders on patients is appalling. There must be an inquiry into what happened in our care homes and NHS Trusts before the onset of winter, when there is a real risk that a rise in Covid-19 cases puts even more lives at risk.”

NPC Vice President Peter Rayner, 86, added, “It is shocking at my age to realise that only luck stands between me and having a DNR sign hung over my bed! It shows that any person my age is at risk of institutionalised destruction of our Human Rights in a numbers game being played by trust executives and managers.”

*The report by the Queen’s Nursing Institute states that one in 10 care home staff surveyed were told to change DNR plans without discussion with families, nursing staff or residents themselves. A fifth reported receiving residents from hospital who had tested positive for Covid-19, even though they did not always have appropriate Personal Protective Equipment to care for them. Staff also warned that some hospitals were operating a “no admissions” policy for care home residents – even for non-covid conditions such as heart attacks – and some said they had struggled to make appointments with GP’s for elderly people. www.qni.org.uk/news-and-events/news/major-new-survey-of-care-home-leaders-confirms-severe-impact-of-covid-19/

ENDS

*The National Pensioners Convention was set up in 1979 to champion the rights and welfare of the UK’s older people. It now represents more than 1.5 million people in over 1,000 different organisations across the UK and holds an Annual Convention – a pensioners’ parliament - to debate issues affecting older people. www.npcuk.org

For more information, contact:

Beverley Morrison

Campaign & Media Officer

Bottom of Form

National Pensioners Convention

​Telephone:  07588 779515

bevmorrison@npcuk.org or info@npcuk.org

 

 

Jingoistic Claptrap

The BBC has raised the issue of jingoistic claptrap on the last night of the proms. Nigel Farage and Laurence Fox have been quick to put their 2p in. That is a predictable response. Music is mainly for enjoyment but the lyrics of "Rule Britannia" and "Land of Hope and Glory" are calculated to insult other nations and races. 

Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel but for some right-wingers, it is the first, second and third as well.

"Land of Hope and Glory" was originally entitled "Pomp and Circumstance" which is a better title altogether. Boris Johnson has stepped into the row because it is a nice diversion from the government of chaos over which he presides. And you couldn't ask for a more pompous champion in the circumstances.

The Marseillaise is probably alone among national anthems in not insulting all other nations in order to boost jingoism.

Laurence Fox is standing up for privileged white males. Britons never will be slaves but other people can be as far as he is concerned.

How many privileged white males have died in police custody? How many have been stopped and searched without justification? How many have been passed over for jobs?

Still, for Laurence Fox and Nigel Farage, Black Lives don't matter as much as their own lives apparently.

Since this was written the BBC has denied any intention of chopping the jingoistic claptrap so the balance of the universe is restored.

The Empire Strikes Back.

 

My Amazon Page

A Rare Fish

 

How do you save an OFSTED inspector from drowning? There are many answers to this question but the basic one is: "Why would you?"

 

Once and only once an OFSTED inspector earned some respect from teachers. How was it done?

 

This was when the ICT curriculum was being modified and the OFSTED inspector volunteered to take a class. Not only that but they were observed by three IT teachers. An inspector who actually knows how to teach is a rare fish indeed. 

 

 

 

 https://www.facebook.com/Classroom-Teacher-Manual-240081839838957

Another satisfied customer

 Permit me to blow my own trumpet on my own blog:

Feedback received from Rowland Howells

"Great price for a really interesting product, fast delivery, highly recommended"

 

 

Williamson sucking exam grades out of his thumb

 The papers are full of the latest government fiasco. Williamson was so intent on having a go at teachers that he couldn't do his own job competently. It is rumoured he is for the high jump for carrying out the elitist policy of the government. 

 

The policy of sucking exam grades out of his thumb meant private schools did well in the guesswork about exam grades whereas the rest did badly.

 

The u-turn was too little too late.

 

 

Harlots

Anyone who tuned in to Harlots thinking it was about sex will have been disappointed. As a dramatisation of social history however, it is first class. 

In Georgian times, syphilis was effectively incurable. The 'mercury cure' lessened some symptoms for some patients. It was expensive and it was  not a cure. 

For the harlots- women forced into prostitution by economic necessity- it was a death sentence. The horrible symptoms, which include madness, are dramatically presented. 

For high-class gentlemen it was vital to dodge the pox. To lessen their chances they could pay to rape a virgin. One high-class madam, played convincingly by Lesley Manville, arranges this. 

It is fiction but based on the factual book 'The Covent Garden Ladies’ by Hallie Rubenhold. 

It is grotesque but worth watching as a record of how the rich treat the poor. Some things haven't changed. 

But they will. 

--

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Derek-McMillan/e/B009FUXHWY

Socialism 2020

 

Reasons for you to be part of this socialist forum

Capitalism is in deep crisis. As always it’s the working class who are expected to pay. Job losses abound. 

But revolt is in the air. 

Covid showed us we can’t trust the boss class with our future.

Capitalism means racism, environmental destruction and catastrophe for our health and that of future generations; it brings war and terror; and with capitalism comes sexism, homophobia and discrimination.

The big question is how can the movements being built become powerful enough to make the change that’s needed? 

Socialism 2020 is a weekend dedicated to discussion and debate on the socialist ideas needed to transform the world. 

A democratic socialist society would be able, through democratically planning the use of the world’s enormous wealth and resources by the working class, to provide decent jobs, homes, services and a future for everyone. Buy tickets here

This will be an online event - but if the opportunity to have in-person meetings arises you can decide to upgrade your ticket or keep a virtual pass