I wrote this on Twitter yesterday:
I thought there was some risk in saying this. The anti-angry brigade is everywhere right now.
I am often told that it is now unacceptable to be angry within work environments. Those who might be upset by anger are always right according to those who say this - even when they are not. As a result bullies are actively enabled and get away with whatever they want, because anger is the natural reaction to being abused.
And anger is also unacceptable in politics, apparently. This has been one of the reactions to the death of Sir David Amess. Apparently, we are meant to be nicer to politicians, even when they have a consistent voting pattern of seeking to undermine the wellbeing of those who are dependent on the state. However nice Sir David was wrong I can still be angry about his voting record.
We can be angry when we see something that is wrong. We should be. And we should show it. All that we must not be is two things. The first is violent, of course. And the second is to think that the person with whom we are angry is inherently evil, because I do not believe that simply because thinking in that way suggests that there is no power to argument, and there is. It is my belief that a person can be persuaded to change their mind. Otherwise, why do I spend so much time trying to persuade people that they are wrong and that there are better options?
I spent some time talking to an old friend yesterday who wondered where I get the ideas from to write this blog each morning. The answer is simple. I wake up every day angry that we still face a world full of fear when I believe that fear is wholly unnecessary. Whether the fear is of hunger, disease, or the right to worship, or to be the person someone feels that they are, it is necessary. We can do better on all such issues, and more. Why shouldn't we be angry that we aren't? That is what motivates me every morning. And if that makes me an angry person, so be it. What else changes the world?
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[…] Cross-posted from Tax Research UK […]
You are right to be angry when you point out there is evidence that government policy is causing deaths or hardship. You put your anger to positive use and long may you do this.
It seems UK public political service has been elevated to ” god ” like status. If the public servants feel fearful, maybe the should not make decisions that are unpopular. Dont we pay for them to do stuff on our behalf anyway?. The General public face dangers at there work in ” private ” service everyday, Politicians seem to have forgotten that!
You are in a position to express your outrage in the most powerful and self-realising way. And good for you BTW, and good for us because it gives a sound intellectual bases for that outrage along with other critics and campaigners).
But many more (who can’t self realise though their anger like you have) have to get things off their chest, sometimes ugly things.
But those ugly things exist. I’m hearing people who have always been moderate or seen me as a firebrand saying things that I’ never though I’d hear them say.
That is why your role along with others is so important. Seeking change is one thing. What comes after is another, and without the ‘what comes after’ bit it’s harder to justify anything to achieve that change.
I’m glad you and certain others are here – that’s all I can say for now.
Anger is such a useful and helpful emotion, I totally agree and bless you for saying how it is for you.
Some years ago in The Guardian Annalisa Barbieri made an interesting point that anger can be a useful emotion but you need to know who to be angry at, how angry to be and when to stop, otherwise it becomes at best counter productive and at worst destructive
I agree…
It has to have a purpose
But remember anger bottled is depression
As everyone knows I do most of my commenting based on such emotion.
But it is done with a intent to change our lot.
There are other emotions available towards that end!
I will leave this little morsel of Hope here, it argues that we are already well on the way to change. Whether it is nonsense or worse I don’t know yet. I do like the stats and tech if true.
Rethinking Climate Change. The path to a 90% emissions reduction by 2035.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUySXZ6y2fk
From a interesting site
https://www.justhaveathink.com
Which says it is
“ Just Have a Think was set up by Dave Borlace in March 2018 to try to help him and others understand the issues that face our civilisation in the 21st Century and focus on the potential solutions …
despite the gravity of the subject matter, we try to keep it light and humorous wherever possible“
I agree.
First you have accused all Tories and those that vote Tory as lacking decency many many times on this blog. So I don’t believe your argument about trying to convince people at all.
Second it is no good to add your tag on point about no violence if your anger expressed on Twitter and this blog winds other people up to the point of violence! That is a pathetic attempt to not take responsibility for your words and their effects on others.
I am not quite sure how you can confuse calling out abuse and abuse itself
One is about supporting democracy, the other opposes it
I suspect you know the difference but choose abuse
And that is the difference between us
Only someone with your level of ego and arrogance would argue that all you say is in response to abuse and never abuse in itself.
Wiser souls are now arguing that social media should be less full of anger and hatred. Others like yourself refuse claiming a righteous hatred and anger…..it’s a sad attempt to gain popularity on the left and from Twitter. Most are refusing to follow your lead…..which is why no left wing websites are allowing comments on this issue.
Are you saying anger is a bad thing?
So, for example, we shouldn’t not get angry about child abuse?
Is that what you are saying?
If not, what?
Yes anger thrown out wide on the web is a Bad thing! How typical of you to pick an extreme example of child abuse as justification for being angry on anything you want.
But even on child abuse it would be best to save your anger and concentrate on changing things, improving life for victims and changing the law.
Otherwise you end up with anger across social media leading to Paediatricians being abused and attacked just because other people don’t know the difference! Your “righteous “ anger has caused that in the past and I won’t accept it as a necessary price for you to vent….
I think I should warn you that we are in libel territory here
Please tell me which paediatrician has been harmed as a result of my righteous anger? Precise datils and evidence of the causal link to me, please.
And whilst you hone your apology and get out your chequebook for the contribution to charity I will be requesting if you cannot provide that evidence, think about how any change happens if anger is not a part of the process.
[…] By Richard Murphy, a chartered accountant and a political economist. He has been described by the Guardian newspaper as an “anti-poverty campaigner and tax expert”. He is Professor of Practice in International Political Economy at City University, London and Director of Tax Research UK. He is a non-executive director of Cambridge Econometrics. He is a member of the Progressive Economy Forum. Originally published at Tax Research UK […]
[…] Cross-posted from Tax Research UK […]