I received an email this morning saying:
I'm surprised that you're frightened to take on the law over the ridiculous terrorism act particularly since you write (sic) books like The Courageous State.
I replied:
I fight big battles, not small ones. Knowing the difference is key.
And that really is it. There are campaigners who might think this is, metaphorically, the hill they wish to die on. I don't. I am interested in taking on neoliberalism and the whole path to fascism that it creates. This issue is a bit of a skirmish on the sidelines when I want to be at the front where the real challenge is. That explains my choice. Please respect it.
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And this is makes complete sense in my view.
There is nothing wrong with a tactical withdrawal or holding pattern.
What enables much of what else happens in the world we find objectionable and hard to live with is the mis-use and opacity of flows of money – a central theme of this blog.
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The person who wrote the mail to me then sent a follow up
It was very abusive
Good god.
Meself, I’m happy to poke fun @ the daft law & the daft buggers that promulgated it – but you are right, its the economic structure that is the main problem & those that are not bothered by e.g. hungry children, shrinking public services, lousy education etc. Sort this stuff out & it will be easier to sort out the egregious events in other countries.
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Sounds like they were trying to set you up…
Maybe
Right now, it’s really important that those at the forefront of the struggle for change, like you, don’t act like a football team of 10 year olds, all chasing after the ball. Strategy and organisation, and knowing what your skills are, will be crucial in the months ahead.
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Think of it this way, if someone wanted to silence your criticism of the neoliberal order, it would be easier to do it with the terrorism act as their tool. Don’t play that game, because that is what the actual is being used for. Also, the Left is always easily distracted by issues, however important. The real battle is combatting inequality. Dispersion of power is what will allow all other issues to be tackled.
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Agree Richard. This is such a self defeating measure by govt its bound to implode one way or the other.
I would not expect any implosion to be imminent. My experience under the South African apartheid regime was that each bit of new oppressive legislation simply extended the horizon for further harshness and cruelty and was followed by a new and previously unimaginable edict at that horizon. And what ultimately took the regime down was not their legislative excess but their inability to sustain ever-increasing economic and social injustice in the face of local and global opposition.
The worry here might be that, excepting some apocalyptic impact to western neoliberal capitalism, there is not really any imminent likelihood of massive global external opposition to internal UK political behaviours or directions.
So, if there is to be change, then it has to be created internally, by educating the public, academics and politicians in the realities of their damaging governance and economic servitude and of the alternatives that might be adopted to replace our neoliberal system of feudal oligarchy.
(Something, Richard, that I think you do to great effect and I very much endorse your position on reserving your energies and risk for the battles that matter).
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Agree and respect this is not the hill for to die on.
Neoliberalism is the disease, let’s not confuse a horrible symptom of the disease with the actual disease.
I comment infrequently but wanted to state my support for you and your work. It’s your work, your ideas, your communication choices – and your decisions on what to engage with and what not. I am sorry there are those who only want to troll or abuse. Please look after yourself and continue to do what pleases you.
Thank you.
KUTGW!
It is your right to state your opinion and thinking people will respect this even if they disagree. There are however those who envy your reasoning, your knowledge and your thought process and in reality, by being abusive, they show their own inadequacies and their own lack of attainments, by wanting to sabotage your reputation and your success. Thank you for all of your work.
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I visited the Eyam Plague museum today and was horrified to read that in 17th century Europe Jews were being burnt alive because non-Jews believed they were responsible for causing the bubonic plague. Now-a-days in Gaza non-Jews are being killed indiscriminately for wanting their own homeland and this UK government aids the process. Humanity appears not to have progressed at all.
Perhaps I’m overthinking this but to me there is a difference between publishing something on paper which goes out of your control and a blog which remains “alive”. Paper things written before a law is passed “predate” that law. In a sense your older blog posts are still being made available in “the present”. IANAL, but I would encourage you to check whether you need to withdraw any older blog posts (that you continue to make available) might be considered to be currently infringing the law.
I disagree.
So does the law.
You are not finding papers editing/censoring themselves, and I do get legal advice.
Good.
Thank you for the work you put into this blog. I admire the effort and the generous helpings of food for thought.
I admit, some effort is required
12 hours a day, probably…..most days
While I understand that your main interest is economics and its effects the fact that the UK government can designate those it disagrees with as “terrorists” is just another example of uncontrolled power in the service of the state. George Mombiot has a U-Tube video encouraging everyone to voice support for Palestine Action. Can they arrest everyone? Also this very government , so keen to enforce the laws, even new ones is in fact in breach of international law as laid down by the International court of Justice as well as numerous international laws. What are the penalties for that?
I respect and like George, and we talk/communicate, but as I said, we have to decide the battles we fight and George is not deciding for me.
I am not going to decide for you either.
The progress ( is progress the right word?) of Keith Starmer from enthusiastic human rights lawyer to his present status reminds me of the hero of FAME IS THE SPUR by Howard Spring modelled on Ramsay McDonald who betrayed the then Labour Party by joining with the Conservatives to form a ‘national’ government. I just ordered 2 copies of it for £4.30 each on eBay. I hope to persuade at least a couple of local L.P. councillors to read them hoping it may awaken them from their lethargy. Possible but not probable!
The title summarises it all…
Respect to you. If we all had more respect for eachothers opinions abd beliefs, the world would be a better place
‘I fight big battles, not small ones. Knowing the difference is key.’
Ah yes. Everyone else is ‘losing the battle’ but some such as yourself are going to ultimately ‘win the war.’
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I’m being privately prosecuted by the ‘Campaign Against Antisemitism’ under the Communications Act 2003.
https://x.com/Tracking_Power/status/1940499112572690511
https://x.com/Tracking_Power/status/1941567255822684379
—
You have to be able to look at yourself in the mirror each day, Richard. Of course, I do understand you have a reputation to uphold. We eagerly wait for the fight against neoliberal economics to help us.
Patience is a virtue I guess.
https://x.com/AsaWinstanley/status/1845740101705367924
Good day sir.
I can look at myself in the mirror.
I don’t help my primary cause by taking the risk you ask of me.
I recognise others have different opinions
I suggest you should too
Is spending large amounts of money on an illegal genocide rather than investing more in our welfare state, Education and NHS not a significant part of the reason why we have the economic problems with our economy. This money is also going out of our economy and creating profit for the wealthy on the backs of dead innocent Palestinians.
No You are right. Strategy is everthing. As is playing to your strength and using your expertise to greatest advantage.
There are others more suited to take on this: it’s a legal fight now.
I think your earlier posts on this subject, before the proscription, already made your opinion on this subject clear; and you are too high-profile to stick your head above the parapet and risk a court battle and long jail term as a result.
I would bet they are aching for someone influential to make an example of, to chill any widespread dissent taking hold. You are definitely needed for the bigger battle ahead.
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If they can arrest an 83 year old lady for merely protesting and defend their actions based upon the law is the law and we are responsible for upholding it then you are quite correct in being cautious. We do, sadly, live in dark times and I really fear for the future if we get a right wing Government!!
Richard, I regularly read your blog and find it very helpful. So please keep going.
My old maths tutor once told me something very important and it was at the top of every paper I should write RTFQ. Which means “read the fucking question”.
Throughout my life this phrase has been good advice for me and I have used it in all sorts of ways.
To me your version of RTFQ is what does this issue mean for the neoliberal order and then you decide accordingly how to act.
BTW, I like the countryside photos too
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RTFQ – very appropriate