It is a wet, windy, and frankly, pretty horrible Sunday morning.
It's too wet for walking.
Too wet for birdwatching.
Too wet to even want to go out for a coffee, but I might change my mind about that later.
It's so wet that there is only time to reflect.
On the fate of Syria and its people as they now face another massive uncertainty.
On the state of geopolitics and how the end of the Assad regime, utterly toxic as it was, changes that.
Time, too, to reflect on Starmer's utter incomprehension of these issues, correctly reflected by Andrew Rawnsley in the Observer this morning.
Time, as well, to note the absurdity of the Starmerites and their inability to understand the real political challenges we face, reflected in an article by two key players in the team that delivered his politics of nothingness, also in the Observer this morning.
Time also to reflect on the anger of people. The vitriol of some right-wing commentators posting here this morning because I dared to say I care and that they might not is quite something. I have let one or two on and have even invited them to elaborate on their comments. Those who have just offered abuse I have sent to the trash bin, an act they call censorship without apparently realising editorial freedom is fundamental to freedom of speech.
Time as well to reflect on how we got here and how we get out, which will not be easy.
Time to muse on finding answers, in other words.
Answers that are caring.
Which are not binary.
Which allow for straightforward difference and complex heterogeneity,all within the constraints of a state where ultimately sufficient commonality must be found.
Answers that reconcile but do not demand suppression, in other words.
Is that possible?
I don't know. But it's a sufficient topic to muse on as a wet Sunday morning passes by.
Thanks for reading this post.
You can share this post on social media of your choice by clicking these icons:
You can subscribe to this blog's daily email here.
And if you would like to support this blog you can, here:
Buy me a coffee!
Forgive the pun but a top youtuber in their field would put their wellies on, get out there and get muddy. There’s an adage that there’s no such thing as bad weather, just the wrong clothing.
My YouTube is not about birdwatching or being in the field
What are you talking about?
‘So full of hate that he didn’t know that bein’ poor was what was killing him.’ – Gene Hackman in Mississippi Burning (1988).
That is one explanation that you can disarm some of these people with – they are ripe for exploitation by fascists – the trouble is this blog tells you nothing about who these people are.
Looking at the internet, there is a widely acknowledged un-comfortableness with poor people. In a world of hyper-individualism the poor remind us what could happen to any of us especially as the security of work and social security nets are withdrawn. This spurs some to tread on the necks of others to insulate themselves from this possibility at other’s expense. It spurs others not to consider themselves in that situation and turn away out of fear.
Others feel shame but many others it seems to me do not want the responsibility of those who get left behind or just fall into hard times because they are either just interested in themselves or are actually struggling themselves.
Perhaps that bloke Jesus is the best answer. Just reason back.
Human beings are a successful species because they can work together for common aims. Even the rich use their base humanistic traits to stick and club together to get what they want – cooperation, kindness, empathy – if your wads are all the same size, it does not matter if you are disabled or a different colour – welcome to the club, let’s compare yachts.
The rest of us need to remember the same lessons, to not let ‘them’ divide us, be kind to each other, stick together and keep our common aims on the agenda. The alternatives are rather ugly after all. Go have a coffee.
So wet and windy but the authorities are still downplaying or ignoring the climate crisis. When will they ever learn?
I had an interesting conversation last week with a friend in Austria. She has an apartment house in a high altitude ski resort in Tirol (3 peaks over 3000 meters). I mentioned climate change and which she denied. I ‘argued’ that there used to be summer skiing on the two glaciers there, but it is no longer possible and the reply was “we have plenty of snow now and in summer we have tourists as well”. Many lower resorts which used to be ski resorts are now summer resorts. With the extreme weathers now in evidence and including huge damage caused, I fail to understand those who deny climate change!
Me neither
Richard,
I entirely support one’s moments of contemplation / reflection – whether it is a wet Sunday or not! I also enjoyed your other article on the need for ‘politician’s to care’.
In a sense, I suspect the issue of care is actually about who it is that our politicians care about. I suspect this is really about whether it is Viche-style values (“Travail, famille, patrie”), or French republican ones: (“Liberté, égalité, fraternité). Even the most self-serving, asset-stripping financier cares about his (probably a ‘his’) daughter — it’s just that we really are ‘not in this together’ and some believe that their ‘best’ way of protecting ‘them and theirs’ is to do so in isolation – not as part of a cohesive society. It’s like schools: Some don’t believe in a quality education for all – but they do for their own children. It’s a race to grab a bigger slice of cake – not to enjoy the celebration and make the cake big enough for all. Ditto Health. etc, etc. The use of the word ‘efficient’ to justify the fragmentation / atomisation of everything is deeply ironic – like insurance, a pooled resource is always a better way to improve availability, reduce redundancy, and mitigate risk. As for avoiding the ‘tragedy of the commons’ – well, that’s for regulators and the state to guarantee.
While you are contemplating issues: At the beginning of the covid period I had moments of extreme optimism (perhaps naïve?): Who were the people who were helping? It was the public sector workers, the food supply chain, delivery drivers – no-one was expecting marketing managers and city slickers to help. It was clear that (some) people were putting themselves at risk, working extremely hard in difficult circumstances. Others stayed at home and developed new hobbies and saved money by not travelling. I thought that people might, at this moment in history, see the light. I imagined that artists, the political opposition and others would be able to conceive of and then engineer a re-settlement in society – fairer, more equitable. Value more than just London-centric finance. What happened? – moments of high inflation, wage increases for many that had already gained, and a struggle to get a pay rise for those who had got us through. And no new ideas – if anything a ratchet further to the neo-liberal consensus.
When Thatcher said she didn’t believe in Society – I don’t think even she knew quite how fragmented the UK would become. The future on this path is towards the chaos, corruption, fear, violence and poverty of other failed/failing states. I’m thinking bits of Central America, Africa Middle East and possibly increasingly Europe?
There was a shocking report last week on the entrenched poor school attendance in specific areas of the UK. The areas were the usual suspects of deprivation in the UK – and no surprise that there is a big overlap with the anti-immigration riots. These areas are being neglected. The children are being abandoned. Soon, we’ll have a new series on how people in these areas aren’t helping themselves — and anyway, they can be construed not to fit the values of “Travail, famille, patrie”.
So: We don’t just our politicians to ‘care’ – we need :
– our politicians to care about all members of society (perhaps globally – our issues are international) – not just from their ‘background’.
– our politicians to be able to encourage people that acting on the interests of all is in everyone’s best interest
– our politicians to have the conviction to do it
– our politicians to be able to resist the pressures of making their circle of concern every smaller – even with the temptations that will arise.
Much to agree with
Two interesting articles from the Observer – thank you. To me they appear in opposition to each other, and I realise that the two articles are written by two very different people, with very different perspective. I agree with Andrew Rawnsley’s opinion on the perils ‘pulsing’ in the world and muse upon my Mother’s words to me in her final days when she told me that she did not worry about me as I had no children. I worry for the future of people, especially young people, in a very unstable world. My Mother died on 8th December 1996 so it is an appropriate day to reflect upon that conversation. It is wet, windy and cold here too – a good day for reflection.
Thanks
What use is the Observer/Guardian giving space to this utter garbage by Deborah Mattinson and Claire Ainsley? Only if Trump introduces tariff hikes slowly giving American manufacturers time to adjust their supply chains to American suppliers and makes sure to identify countries like China re-badging their price manipulated exports through other countries will The United States avoid a substantional hike in inflation. Nobody noticed Elon Musk was going to open a Tesla car plant in Mexico for this method of containing costs until he decided to throw his lot in with Trump!
The article by Deborah Mattinson and Claire Ainsley was astounding in its self congratulatory delusions. They are clearly living in a completely different world and will 100% ensure that Labour will fail, and fail badly. I doubt if it will even manage a full term if they are allowed anywhere near the future strategy.
Well said Richard.
Starmer is in power but does not have any idea how to use it apart from continue with the current orthodoxy of small state run like a family budget. Which only benefits the financial elite.
Calling out that the UK political and economic systems are rotten is viewed as threatening. Hence the abuse.
Good for you to have the balls to say it as you see it and offer solutions.
Old – fashioned and maybe a bit simplistic but ‘ Do as you would be done by’ ie. treat other people as you would wish to be treated yourself is surely as good an approach to government, business, education etc as any.
That works for me
Just my own personal musings about caring on this wet and windy Sunday evening. I have been following this blog for a few months now and I have enormous respect for both your efforts and the analysis and comment you provide. It is very clear that you care and that you care about a lot and can see the flaws and failures across a very broad spectrum of the sociopolitical and economic divide. I do, however, think that in order to be effective, to help bring about change, it could do with being a little bit more focused on specifics. Politicians not caring is clearly one and MMT another. However, it’s your blog and your choice and I wish you continued success with it – including YouTube etc
By specifics you mean what? A narrow range of topics? I could do that, but then I’d have to start another blog for the rest of the material. I would appreciate clarification. 2025 will be a year of change.
I replied but it seems to have not appeared. I’ll try again tomorrow
Sorry Simon.
I faded out on Sunday evening.
This morning the Sun was shining on the Loch, the far hills covered in snow, a power cut at one end of the village, and 7000 without water due to a failure at one of Scottish Water’s pumping stations.
This country like our deceptive infrastructure is falling apart, Syria may have got rid of Assad, who knows Putin might be packing his cases as he steals the last of Russia’s wealth fund, but we are stuck with another arrogant bunch of clowns who think they know better than the collective experience and knowledge of the rest of the country, beautifully typified by the use recently of the metaphor of ‘three corner stones,’, small wonder everything is falling apart with a missing corner.
Having received the dismissive statement from the ‘New Election’ petition maybe this seemingly untouchable administration will like Assad get its bolt out of the blue marching orders, here’s hoping.
As I was writing I did think another blog might be required. Yes a narrower range of topics, but perhaps more like themes. You’ve covered and have loads of material on MMT, tax, neoliberal economics etc but I think these need to be applied to current examples as and when the opportunity arises – when they are headlines. Things that people are impacted by and are suffering from by any uncaring and unnecessary policies planned or being implemented by Government. Themes could include poverty, housing, climate change etc – things you listed and care about a few weeks back. The additional benefit I think is that hits on all platforms would increase. I might get a video of you if I type in MMT and tax but I doubt I’d get you if I type in causes child of poverty in the UK and possible solutions.
Simon
This is valuable input
There is no plan for another blog
But I suspect social media will be my main focus next year. More planning around themes would help. Thanks for the prod. I like it.
Richard
on a lighter note – from the Evening Standard – “Despite the challenging conditions, some Londoners ventured out, including participants in a Christmas Jumper Corgi Parade in Central London which went ahead as planned.”
Mark Diesendorf’s recent book The Path To An Ecologically Just Civilisation brings together MMT / heterodox / steady state and ecological economics, renewable energy, equitable distribution of wealth…
See his recent talk on MMT Podcast https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkIrp0Rr_x8
Mark Diesendorf refuted the myth of base load
http://www.energyscience.org.au/BP16%20BaseLoad.pdf
I can’t find any such book.
Do you have links?
The Path to a Sustainable Civilisation, Mark Diesendorf and Rod Taylor, May 2023. I think this must be the book referred to.
I will visit a bookshop this afternoon. Thanks
Sorry, I still haven’t worked out how to truncate Amazon search ressults, but this is John Dalgish’s referenced book:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Path-Sustainable-Civilisation-Technological-Socioeconomic-ebook/dp/B0BZ3RGL8T/ref=sr_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.trhvA4quCantwvI0BXp8cvx4qXfadQH8nZRA-7JByFZdfwECaRKvtwF3qOOq1SM-JNub6dcpVaYqcTxjVYDKITxswJJCtjKGle2tYppWXQ4.UCf6sN8Cgty-NbNLFe57hxl-ZTiHrj7WguGvnCruf_8&dib_tag=se&nsdOptOutParam=true&qid=1733739628&refinements=p_27%3AMark+Diesendorf&s=books&sr=1-1
Thanks
@Anne Cruise
Re: truncating search results…
I generally find that everything after the “?” mark is tracking data. Usually the url works fine without it. (Hope that wasn’t mansplaining)
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Path-Sustainable-Civilisation-Technological-Socioeconomic-ebook/dp/B0BZ3RGL8T/ref=sr_1_1?
@RichardJ
I seem to have trouble most times doing what you suggested on “Google + Amazon” results on an Android tablet, although I can and do make it work on links from elsewhere and on other devices.
Mansplaining? Hmm. Nah. Being helpful. Thank you.