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Sunday 13 December 2015

Seasonal sentiments

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In a disorderly haphazard world hatred is as effective an impulse to drive men forward to success as love and high hope. It is a world-old impulse sleeping in the heart of man since the day of Cain. In a way it rings true and strong above the hideous jangle of modern life. Inspiring fear it usurps power.
 Sherwood Anderson - Marching Men (1917)

As the season of goodwill is in the offing perhaps it is time to dwell on the thorny issue of enemies. Who are they and do we loathe them with sufficient venom?

I don’t think we do. Politics is all about identifying enemies and inventing laws, regulations and excuses to shaft them. It’s an unedifying spectacle, but when it comes to our own governments shafting the ordinary citizen we have to wonder why we keep ending up in the crosshairs. Are we the enemy?

Yes we are. Harming people is probably a survival trait, especially if it can be done safely from behind a well fortified principle or political class. Those who harm potential enemies reduce their ability to inflict harm even if there is in reality no such intention. A key difference between democracies and totalitarian regimes is how they treat their internal enemies - or citizens as they often call us.

Totalitarian - citizens can’t vote so they are shafted by the elite.
Democracy - citizens can vote so they are shafted by the elite.

However, there is an important difference. Democratic elites realise they can shaft more deeply if their citizens are more prosperous. Totalitarian elites are stupid and fail to realise the full shafting potential of their citizens. So their elites have to be smaller and therefore more precarious. North Korean elites probably have armed guards while they tuck into a succulent dish of roast dog in case the delicious aroma sends the outside rabble wild.

Elites generally see citizens as potential enemies, always ready and willing to make elite lives less comfortable if allowed to do so - which they very rarely are. So it no surprise if we find ourselves responding in kind by hating the elite classes even when we pretend to be indulging in civilised debate about the pros and cons of yet another ludicrously restrictive measure.

Come on! Christmas is almost upon us. Let us dwell for a moment on the elite classes, the movers and shakers of this world. Let us take this festive opportunity to admit how much we loathe the sight and sound of the lying bastards.

6 comments:

Scrobs. said...

Oh yes.

The 'Paris agreement', whereby politicians with little ideas of morals, and lesser commercial qualities and experience, have now decided to spend an stratospheric amount of taxes on an non-existent and entirely notional 'target', whereby they have now enabled a market to be exploited by organisations who spot an opportunity to get mind-dumbing subsidies for just doing bugger all, except screw the tax-payer.

These morons in 'government', aided and abetted by their mouthpieces like the awful BBC, still think they're 'saving the planet', and will fly home, all smug and self-satisfied.

Meanwhile, everyone who buys electricity in the UK pays a few pounds more and is told that it is the right thing to do.

But you can't opt out of the decisions made by these cretins. It is a total disgrace that the pungent, soiled residue of the ridiculous Prescott/Kyoto rubbish is now being replicated yet again, and the real scientists, who actually aren't paid by political pay-masters, are silenced; and never get an airing through government broadcasting, because they'll be seen as defeatist. And what are the results of being 'defeatist'? Nobody knows at all!

This farce in Paris should have been reported as a fiasco long ago, but of course, the BBC still gets told what to do, and the idiots who are employed by them are just as bad as the stupid politicians who sanction their wages.

Anonymous said...

The politicians are the clever ones, they have seen how unskilled labour can be paid £75K + expenses + gold plated pension. There being fewer decent jobs around one would be a mug not to become a pol or one of politics little helpers. Capable psychologists, advertising wonks and advisers all find a cosy billet snuggled up alongside politicians like pigs in a sty. Politics was always a dirty business but once there were much better job options, now not so much, the world has changed. Forget medicine or science or literature young person, sign up with the politicians, its the only way you will get a home of your own. Merry Christmas.

Demetrius said...

The money is running out.

A K Haart said...

Michael - well said. That would make a good blog post.

Roger - I agree. I've been mulling over a post on this issue because as you say, politics is the best career option these days.

Demetrius - for us but not for them. So far.

Anonymous said...

Michael makes very good points. I would like to add Charities to the list.
The 5p charge for plastic bags is diverted to Charities whether we like it or not. Our electric and gas suppliers, supermarkets, indeed most corporations 'support' a charity. Are we able to opt out? Not as far as I can tell. Changing suppliers or shopping habits has limited effect.
These Charities have overpaid staff and CEOs and lobby for 'change'. In my opinion if they cannot get by on direct individual donations and subscriptions then they should not be called charities.

A K Haart said...

Bones - I agree, big charities are inserting themselves into our spending habits whether we like it or not. It's more like a tax than charity.