background - used to be involved in stuff ,what now seems a long time ago and sort of got out of it with family/ kids and suchlike - even got a sensible job by justifying ( to myself ) that I was still taking the piss of the system by being at its heart so to speak. but I still keep abreast of shit and still ave a jaunduced view of what goes on.Activism for me now involves petty mischief shit like supergluing the odd estate agent shop locks when Im pissed ( always carry a tube of superglue ). Rubbish I know
In the past few years, I look around and have reached the point where it seems the likelyhood of any type of major radical change is probabaly more unlikely than at any time I can remember. I do just look around and the fetishment of commodities and facile one dimensional image obsession seems to occupy most peoples waking hours
It does get me down I admit.
anyone Agree ?
my reply ;)
We need a turmoil where existence is in real jeopardy, for the vast majority to start worrying and wanting something to change.
As long as celebrity idol or whatever people show is on tv, Man united winning the league or whatever entertainment someone likes is happening, people on the whole don;t care about change.
This is the way the government likes it, give the people something to keep there minds stimulated. Whenever there is a general election or local election, people vote for the same garbage.
Issues like immigration, teenage thugs, drugs, sex, religion , education are on most peoples minds and instead of thinking "if we change the whole system where we are in control and can work on these issues from the ground up" instead of "lets tackle xzy as we got more chance"
other peoples replies
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: nobody tells me anything
Posts: 1,235
Really enjoyed the onion, thanks.
But, yes considering the thread title. I rather like the idea of supergluing estate agents locks, - maybe you should do it to their cars too.
When it comes to radical change, leaving aside the fact that I don't think it's possible any more. I do think it's possible, in a way, but the problem is only in peoples' heads. It's only the perception that it can't be done means it can't be done.
But tbh I don't think it helps much when people who say they're in favour of change just put out vague ideas like, they're in favour of putting people before profit.
I mean, everyone sort of agrees with that. They just might think that if putting people before profit means having a big state bureaucracy to redistribute the wealth, it'll be pretty disastrous.
And as ideas go, that idea would be disastrous. Governments pretty much always spend money badly, and you want governments to have less power not more.
And I don't think it helps much when people say don't bother to vote, the government always gets in.
It'#s getting things back to front to think there's no chance of anyone whose politics you approve of getting in, so you won't vote, it's because last time, you and loads like you didsn't vote for that reason, that it looks as if there's no chance of anyone whose politics you approve of getting in.
But in any case, like I said, I think vague idealistic ideas, are pretty empty, for radical change you need a specific programme, you need to say indetail, how you'd make things better, what laws you'd change, what the government would do, what you'd spend money on and what you wouldn't.
Unless faced with an undeniable reality (massive economic collapse or environmental catastrophe being the two I reckon that'll spark it) people will carry on regardless. The only problem with those extremities is the likely effect of people just panicking and killing each other is higher, imo, than people wanting to take control over their lives in a collective sense.
But then I'm a cynical fuck when it comes to 'people' these days...
Sadly, I think your are probably right if my own experiences are anything to go by. People just sit there and gladly take any amount of shit and then ask for second helpings of it.
I dont think we need an economic collapse at all...thanks very much!!!!!!!!
I think what we need is a credible non hysterical alternative.
A Democratic Socialists alternative. Pragmatic,Principled and Democratic.
Not with a commitment to carrying out some master plan. But committed to arguing for majority control.
You don't need to kick it till it breaks any longer. It's cracking all by itself, Marx was right about it's inevitable demise. What scares me is some of the the alternatives which might be latched onto.
Marx also said the outcome could be "the common ruination of all" if nothing better was adopted in time. I really think we may have missed the boat ...
lenin wanted to make everything as bad as possible so the proletariat would rise up and overthrow capitalism
(bit of a simplification, but that was his gist)
truth is people under the jackboot rarely revolt
No. But i do think i might come up with a pamphlet preety soon.
20 Early Pledges..
1 Cut Income Tax for lower paid...Starting rate of 10% on first £10,000 of somebodys wages. 20% on anything over £20,000. 30% on anything over £30,000. 40% on anything over £40,000. 50% on anything over £50,000.
60% on anything over £60,000.
2 Renationalise the public transport system.
Cut fares and increase capacity.
3 Introduce a maximum wage in the Public and Voluntary sector £70,000.
( For a time limited period doctors would have to be exempt.
4 50% super tax on all advertising.
5 Increase road taxes and petrol.
6 Replace the House of Lords with a second chamber diorectly elected by proportional representation.
7 Stop the recruitment of skilled workers from poorer nations unless companies pay reparations to those nations.
8 Support International Labour rules to ensure that multinationals are obliged to improve the wages and conditions of workers in poorer countries.
9 Bring in a National Labour Scheme. 50% of people presently languishing in UK prison cells would instead be asked if they would prefer to work.
Young unemployed people and those who come in early contact with the Criminal justice system would also be obliged to become part of the NLS..
10 Improve food in schools and hospitals.
11 Referendum of privatising the monarchy.
12 Referendum on Capital punishment.
13 Reform of the Benefits system increasing benefits that dont stop people from working and allowing people on JSA,IB etc to gradually move into work without immediately losing benefits.
14 Increasing the minimum wage for all larger companies who employ over 100 people.
15 Shoot 100 top celebrities voted for by the great british public.
Activism - sounds more like onanism........
I'm sure that the organs of the state are all a-tremble, quaking at the thought of legions of twats with adhesive products.
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16 Tougher Punishments for all anti social criminals.
17 Major House building programme and knock down more shit housing.
18 Limit on amount of properties that any one person can own.
19 Increase inheritance tax to 50% on all estates of over £500,000
20 Replace the unelected Judiciary with Judges directly elected by people in the areas that they serve.
I read it.. It's tinkering. It's not significantly different from what's on offer from labour and the conservatives, -- no chance of sinking into the popular consciousness, -- only way to implement that lot is join the labour party and try and get them to adopt it.
eta: Oh, sorry, didn't see limit on the amount of properties an individual can own. sounds interesting.
Details?