Shock and Awe Blues

Will Hutton has written an excellent article in today's Observer in response to the 'Wilkinson thesis', an analysis of shortfalls in the Anglo-Saxon model of capitalism and human development. I know, you might be thinking that is an exhausted area of academia, but it really has not been tackled thoroughly or boldly. For starters, I agree that economic inquality is at the heart of society's problems, specifically in the UK and USA. Secondly, the current government have not done near enough to tackle child poverty. We know no society is perfect and sociological explanations of atomisation of social bonds is more palatable than political gesturing, because political thinking is genuinely confusing at best and often does not provide remedies to basic human needs at worst. Hutton's use of the "Water babies" as a metaphor for this unfairness is palpable. One issue that does need addressing in addition to the argument regarding inequality is that the state is geared towards those who have researched their entitlements. A lot of families entitled to benefits such as tax credit are missing it and a lot of money really isn't going to people who desperately need it. There is one solution to this, and that is to force them to take the benefit by forcing them to have their income assessed by their local authority for the purpose of supplying supplementary benefits. If the state was less competitive in reinforcing these inequalities then we would not having the damaging barriers highlighted in the article in the Guardian last week. We are witnessing the complete overhaul of the banking industry and the state is genuinely taking a role in supporting rich bankers! The structure of postmodern capitalism has demanded this injustice take place whilst many of us are on the breadline, bringing to our full attention the shocking inequality of the neo-liberal era. I think that the solution to this simple, stop selling financial products to the poor that they don't need and let the state take over. Regulate the lending industry that keeps millions in debt poverty.

Buffallo Bill shoots to kill, Never missed nor he never will

Anger in Northern Ireland is unsurprising, Belfast is the most political city I have ever visited. The contemporary scene is evidently complex, and as I see it the 'peace process' is an active one, involving the formerly antagonistic parties to war. My interpretation of events is that this is a new phase of nationalism, violence has shifted to a new set of actors acting within the political framework of the now relatively respectable Sinn Fein. It is amazing how the media portray this part of Ireland as being 'fixed', when the problem is evidently so much more mind-bogglingly complex and immersed is historical representations of grievance that bubble over into the gloom of depression. I do hope that the militant republican movement realise that their best hope of a united republic is in the full functioning of a devolved parliament and the cessation of violence on all fronts. Roy Hettersley wrote a very engaging piece in the Guardian on this, and I felt the need to revive it quickly: http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2005/aug/01/northernireland.northernireland2

"I bear no hate to a living thing, But love my country beyond the king". (Ulysses, James Joyce).

I want to remember all of those who have suffered this political conflict in Northern Ireland. I have seen the film 'hunger' and was moved deeply by the passion and sadness of Bobby Sands. I cannot understand the full extent of the political grievance of the Irish people, but I hope no more lives are blighted by this dreadful bloodshed.

Bury the tHatchet?

The very dreary drama on the BBC based on the rise of the New Right in Britain has coincided it appears with an anniversary of some kind, maybe 30 years since Maggie pushed into Number 10? It is difficult to get a feel for how the New Right changed Britain for better/worse without having known politics before and after. The lynchpin of her legacy was the monetarist doctrine of privatisation. This was not a creation of her own, oh no, the origins of this movement as a political tool can be traced back to Hitler’s Germany. Although all privatisations are unique, there are some interesting parallels to be drawn between the New Right and the Far Right. It was a mass selling-off of public utilities in Germany in the 1930s that is remarkably similar to Thatcher’s revolution in the 1980s, and the continuation under New Labour: the handling of public services became a private concern. It is important in analysis of the parallels to elucidate the intentions of Thatcher’s elites (companies) and those of Nazi Germany, but clearly there are benefits when channelling relations between business and government for greater state control of the economy: to increase savings in bank accounts. This demonstrates Hitler’s mastery of political economy. He knew that privatisation could lead to a very well defined politics of power, and a strong section of alliances with major industrialists.
In the same way, the centrality of private sales was core to the popularity of the Conservatives in the 1980s. The results of this movement have been highly criticised, particularly when pensions were reduced as they became inflation-indexed rather than wage-indexed. Railways have not improved since contracting out, and it is terrifying that Labour want to put the hands of the very efficient Royal Mail into private ownership. What is clear, is that Thatcher’s legacy is entrenched, but it is now being questioned for its quality more than ever. Whereas Hitler wanted politicised economic governance of instrumental hue, the New Right have given business their own special powers, of which the consumer has not seen consistent benefit or return.

Pass Fascism By Please...?

As I feared whilst thumbing Barrington Moore and old Trotsky classics, the notion of fascism is being flagged. I am hoping that our rapid political development can save us by focusing on collective federalism and multipolarity. I am looking forward to a more disciplined capitalist platform with a commitment to stability through disciplined macroeconomic planning.

Yikes: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/4571944/Ed-Balls-minister-fears-rise-of-fascism-amid-economic-gloom.html

Working Man's Not Dead

I like Johann Hari's blog. I read his entry on work experience and it was quite harsh. It is probably true that in some cases work experience is quite exploitative and involves a lot of tea making and grovelling, maybe in journalism?! Having recently done a bit myself I was surprised that I wasn't the one doing the tea making and I was thoroughly engaged shadowing some really great people and they really made it a pleasure. Am I the exception?!
Please, if you don't read another article this week look at this well written piece in the New Statesman, it is stunning:

http://www.newstatesman.com/economy/2009/02/housing-societies-essay

Equitable Life

The well documented and protracted Equitable Life fiasco appears to be drawing towards a close with the announcement that victims will be compensated after a deep investigation by the Treasury and Parliamentary Ombusman. It is good news for a few whom lost their savings but illustrates a prime example of the flimsy structure of private insurance companies who shun blame by focusing on regulatory agencies as the cause of economic collapse rather than shouldering responsiblity for their decisions. The next generation of savers and investors are being forced to redress planning for retirement by drawing conclusions from evidence pieced together from press clippings and hansard, for as we well know, it is best to invest in educating and caring for oneself- at least then you will get a straight answer!
It does not help that the FSA failed to thoroughly scrutinise Equity's handling of the Hyman case on its performance and assurances over adherence to regulatory frameworks designed to improve accountability and performance.

Looking Glass

Ramsay MacDonald's 1931 National Government, formed after the Great Depression of 1929 was designed to accommodate the economic and social tensions created by crisis. The current polls are showing a tension between Labour and the Conservatives that indicates potential for a hung Parliament- given the inability of the Conservatives to capitalise on their July-September gains. The current crisis shows little sign of improving and indicators from the Bank of England are hinting at increased tightening on lending.
Interesting to note that Phillip Snowden was the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Snowden published a pamphlet with Kier Hardie entitled "The Christ That is to be" (1903) detailing his vision of "Paradise on Earth" (Geoffrey Foote: 53) through a quasi-socialist fantasy. His assumption of Gladstonian orthodox economics in practice grated in an almost hypocritical paradox given his ideals, but his insistence resonated:
"We care not a rap about your political philosophy. It is enough for us to know that many who toil long and hard are in poverty, and the few never work at all". It is Snowden's socialist intellectualism that has led to the quasi-religious tone of much of Blair's protracted ideology, even if only in concessionary form by making private wages a "public concern" (Geoffrey Foote: 54) through the minimum wage. It is pleasant to think of this gentleman and indulge in one of the most fascinating periods of 20th Century British politics.