differentview

So, the mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, has been suspended for insensitive comments made to an Evening Standard reporter.  Whilst his comments were out of order, and his subsequent refusal to show much contrition bordering on crass stupidity, lets keep things in context here…

Associated Newspapers, owners of the Evening Standard, the Daily Mail and the daily Metro free-sheet, have for some time hounded, corralled and just generally been less than nice to the man simply because he wasn’t perceived as a champion of middle-England values.

And I guess it’s a bit ironic that a paper that was pro-Nazi, like the Daily Mail, should finally get their man on a Jewish / Nazi slur.  I hope Mister Livingstone also sees the irony. 

Ooh, and one other thing… isn’t it a bit weird that the Mayor is suspended for insensitive comments to a newspaper reporter, yet the Prime Minister can, against the wishes of the British people, lead the country into an illegal war and be responsible for a sizable loss of British life (from David Kelly, the government scientist, our armed services personnel and the innocent people killed and injured during the London Tube bombings) and yet there are no such controls in place to stop, or even reprimand, him?  That sound you can hear is the sound of democracy being sucked up the arse of Tony Blair.

Thank goodness the panel that onerously punished the Mayor didn't witness John Prescott punching that guy in the street (twice).  He might have lost one of his Jags as punishment.  Maybe.

why are we paying?

Isn't it funny that as more things are paid for by the private sector, as opposed to the State, that our taxes keep increasing?

Things like the back-door privatisation of the NHS, the rail network, the tube, the probation service, local council services, etc, are now operated by private companies who recoup their operating costs from the users.

Strange.

I'm in the wrong job...

So, car mechanics charge more than barristers?  Does this mean that they’ll take years to bring repairs to justice and start wearing ridiculous grey wigs along with their greasy overalls?  Ooh, ooh… can I claim legal aid to get my exhaust fixed?  Bonus.

the sheep are awake

So, the Guardian and ICM publish a survey today on the potential suitability of the Conservative leader, David Cameron, to be prime minister.  Huh.

It is this survey that trumpets the fact that 66% of people polled regarded Cameron as a potential future prime minister.  And it's also this survey that informs that 62% of people say he seems like man who could change how they see the Tories.  Huh.  Based upon what exactly?  He has rarely made any of his views know (probably something to do with the fact that he has been in politics for a very short time - I believe that my iPod is of greater age than his political "career").

I haven't heard a firm policy statement from him prior to, or post, leadership contest.

So, what exactly are these people basing their votes on?  His tender age and choice of relaxed attire?  I guess I shouldn't be surprised... it seems to be the natural outcome after so many years of "Blairism": style over substance, packaging over product... call it what you will.

It does seem staggering that so many people would choose to pick someone, or something, without knowing anything about them / it.  The sheep have spoken.

by any other name...

Taken from today's Guardian:

"The Pentagon is to spend $300m (£170m) planting pro-US messages in media outlets around the world, including those of its allies, without disclosing the US government as their source.   The aim is to sway foreign audiences to support US policies by targeting newspapers, websites, radio and television. T-shirts and bumper stickers will also be produced." Read full article.

Taken from Dictionary.com:

prop-a-gan-da:

The systematic propagation of a doctrine or cause or of information reflecting the views and interests of those advocating such a doctrine or cause.

Material disseminated by the advocates or opponents of a doctrine or cause: wartime propaganda.

Democracy: The Movie

Now, whatever your view of the July 7 London bombings and the reason(s) behind it, the Labour Government's deepening disrespect for the British People (of all races and religions), their intelligence and for democracy in general is starting to become a concern.

Leaving aside the many examples of their questionable honesty in the years leading up to the bombings, their current behaviour should serve as a strong and clear indication of where the United Kingdom is heading in the future.

Immediately following the bombings, the Government hastily informed anyone that would listen that the terrorist attacks had nothing to do with Tony Blair’s insistence of ignoring the wishes of the British People and illegally invading another country (is that oil I smell?  Or just bullshit?).  When some of my friends and I first heard this protestation we almost choked. 

Since these early assertions that the terrorists decided to kill and maim not because of the war in Iraq, but for some other, as yet still unknown, reason, many front bench MPs and civil servants have blindly followed their orders and continued to disassociate the bombings from the illegal invasion of Iraq.

However, some officials outside the direct control of Tony Blair and his dream land flunkies have shown decency by questioning this ridiculous lie.  There are people that have, rightly, aligned the reasons behind the bombings to Britain’s illegal invasion of Iraq.  For Pete’s sake people, even one of the bombers has said as much in a pre-taped “message”.

But, Tony Blair (and let’s not forget that includes Gordon Brown, Jack Straw, Charles Clarke, et al) can never allow the link to be made official for it would tarnish the government and infer that their foreign policies are wrong and have, ultimately and directly, led to the deaths and injuries of almost a thousand innocent people travelling the London Underground network.

(Sound familiar?  Smell white paint and hear the words “Butler” and “enquiry”?)

However, the reason for this posting (and indeed the reason why I started this blog right now!) is the Labour Government’s unbelievable cowardice, treachery and disrespect for the people caught up in the bombs that day…

Tony Blair has ignored the advice of everyone (except himself) and decided that there will be no public enquiry into the events leading up to, and immediately after, July 7.  Instead, they are going to provide a “narrative of events” written by government and signed off by the Home Secretary.  I beg your pardon?  You mean a story written by the people that should take some responsibility for the bombings (and loss of life) and signed off by the man whose bloody (sorry) responsibility it was to oversee the security of London in the first place.  Does no one else see what’s wrong with this?

People want, need and deserve an enquiry - however uncomfortable it makes people (a community or a Government department) feel in the short term.  If you shove things under a carpet and ignore it, it will only get worse (French riots, anyone?). 

Of course the Government can’t hold a public enquiry – it would logically point out that because of Tony Blair’s Government decision to go against the wishes of the British People and invade another country on a pack of lies (guff, guff, he can deploy weapons of mass destruction in 45 minutes!  I can’t even make a decent soufflé in 45 minutes), four young British Muslim men decided to retaliate by bombing London.

Another thing:  are the British and American governments about to embark on a collaborative rock-opera or movie, the likes of which have never been seen before?  We have the Americans shouting loudly about their “extraordinary rendition” (“Extraordinary”: highly exceptional.  “Rendition”: A performance of a musical or dramatic work) and we have the British Government whining on about “Narrative of events” (“Narrative”: A story). I see an Oscar-winning Hollywood blockbuster / A historically-inaccurate mish-mash of tat that has a conceited central (anti) hero (delete as appropriate).

Tony Blair bleats on about “restoring respect” throughout Britain.  Perhaps it’s a call to arms he should adopt first.  And lead by example by showing respect to all peoples of the United Kingdom.