Is there any alternative to the jaundiced Tory attitudes?

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Depressing, isn't it? All the miserable gits can come up with is oppression of the poor and fear of the disadvantaged. Never mind, here's something that can make us all feel better about the human race - even if it does have to include Cameron and Company .........

http://www.buzzfeed.com/expresident/pictures-that-will-restore-your-faith-in-humanity

A bit low for myself to live on Ivan, people know that us scroungers on benefits are more use to living on 120.000 pounds a month just to survive, are we not?

Mark Field like others of his ILK (Tory MPs & voters) if the truth where known the Tory MPs want paid the same salaries as there donors in the City of London (bankers & hedge fund managers) only then will Tory MPs be truly happy.

Ivan wrote:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CGwA-p5XEAAi6Qk.jpg

And that's before expenses.....

Well the Tory freeloader can go and get ******.

Why doesn't he go forth and join his mates in the city rather than scrounge off the hard pressed taxpayers!

I will agree LWS if they are not happy with there MPs salary, go join there greedy unscupulous banker & hedge fund managers and let someone who is honest & truthfull get there MPs job.

They were definitely ready for the General election result - had their plans made in some detail well in advance - exactly what we were warned about - and STILL people voted Tory

The Tories have always been ready for when they got voted into power boatlady, apparently Landsley had been working on his top down reorganization of the NHS for 6-7 years

There is always an alternative to tory loathsomeness - solidarity and self-respect. The workers, united, can never be defeated.

"The Workers, united, ...." are becoming an endangered species as a result of Thatcher's radical policies, especially that "right to buy" council houses - with all the intended and Unintended results which ensued.

Those who can have done well for themselves. Well enough to decide that they no longer identify with the working-class struggle.

The remainder have been designated a sub-species by the Tory Press and Iain Duncan Smith's DWP, comprised of what Jonathan Meades describes as, sociopaths,recidivists, junkies, the unemployable, the wilfully dependant and recipients of "care in the community. Unsurprisingly this stratum puts not its faith in politicians.

Though in spite of all that, thousands of the world's poor are plainly prepared to risk death to come here. How can a balance be struck?

Workers are those who live on wages, and as Marx predicted, they are growing more and more numerous. What they lack is organisation and self-respect.

I think that's why there is a Trade Union movement. Maggie did her best to eliminate it, and many apoplectic Tories would like to complete the job.

Nevertheless it is what you describe as necessary, and should receive total support from any socialist worthy of the name.

oftenwrong wrote:I think that's why there is a Trade Union movement. Maggie did her best to eliminate it, and many apoplectic Tories would like to complete the job.

Nevertheless it is what you describe as necessary, and should receive total support from any socialist worthy of the name.

In principle the trade unions are a great idea. In practice they are useless. Mark Serwotka talks constantly about how unfair DWP policy is, which is true. But what does he do about it? eff all.

And what do you think he should do? In practical terms? If you were in his position, what would you be doing, in a practical and workable sense?

Penderyn wrote:Workers are those who live on wages, and as Marx predicted, they are growing more and more numerous.    What they lack is organisation and self-respect.

Hi P,

Forgive me as I may be misreading your post, but it seems to suggest that "the workers," although they are currently not an homogeneous group, all at heart would have the common good foremost in their considerations. I suspect that sales of the lottery and The Sun suggest otherwise. Or am I just overly cynical?

Even the humblest of citizens is entitled to feel hope, the possibility of a "lucky win" that can transport them into a different existence.

Lottery and the Bookies are recognised as a tax on the poor, but having something to look forward to is as good as actually being rich - until reality intervenes.

The alternative viewpoints are, as you suggest, cynical. After all, someone has to win, don't they?

ghost whistler wrote:

oftenwrong wrote:I think that's why there is a Trade Union movement.  Maggie did her best to eliminate it, and many apoplectic Tories would like to complete the job.

Nevertheless it is what you describe as necessary, and should receive total support from any socialist worthy of the name.

In principle the trade unions are a great idea. In practice they are useless. Mark Serwotka talks constantly about how unfair DWP policy is, which is true. But what does he do about it? eff all.

So what are you going to do about it?

Penderyn GW will just continue to whinge & maon on here then sit on there hands and keep STUME

By inflating Islamic extremism, David Cameron has lost sight of what really threatens us

Extracts from an article by George Monbiot:-

Churchill was right when he claimed in June 1940: “Upon this battle depends the survival of ... our own British life”. Those who have borrowed the sentiment are in most cases wrong. The Taliban, al-Qaida, Saddam Hussein, Isis, Islamic extremism: none of these were, or are, existential threats to the life of this country. But all are inflated until they appear to be so.

Cameron maintains that confronting Islamic extremism is “the struggle of our generation”. We must pursue this struggle in the spirit with which we “faced down Hitler”. Yes, Islamic extremism is real. Yes, it creates genuine problems and presents genuine threats. But to claim it as the struggle of our generation suggests a total collapse of perspective.

In terms of mortal risks to people in this nation, it might rank among the top 50, but that’s probably stretching it. Diet, smoking, alcohol, loneliness, the slow collapse of the NHS, child poverty, air pollution, traffic accidents, lack of exercise are likely to kill far more people in this country than Islamist terrorists will manage.

All should demand more resources and political effort than are deployed to confront Islamic extremism. In the longer term, climate change, antibiotic resistance, soil loss and nuclear proliferation by states (including our own) are orders of magnitude more dangerous. But a Churchillian struggle against an identifiable enemy is grander and more glamorous than the battle against faceless but much greater threats. It is also politically less costly, as it offends the interests of neither corporations nor billionaires.

For the whole article:-
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/jul/21/islamic-extremism-cameron-struggle-generation

Claudine wrote:And what do you think he should do? In practical terms? If you were in his position, what would you be doing, in a practical and workable sense?

If the Tories do away with the Unions all is left to do is "CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE" Claudine

That was a good article by George Monbiot - I think it's more than generous of him to assume David Cameron has lost sight of what really threatens us
I would be more inclined to say David Cameron is deliberately and cynically using the moral panic about IS to divert attention yet again from the state of the environment, the state of the economy, and the fact that his government is still and to an increased extent trying to pay off the deficit caused by the bankers out of the pockets and the very lives of the poorest and most vulnerable members of this society

"....using the moral panic about IS to divert attention yet again...."

Never mind the quality - feel the width!

The Trade Union movement is a shade of its former self, as a result of hostile legislation in every Tory administration since 1980, but they are still spitefully sticking pins in - now seeking to outlaw the established practice of deductions from worker's pay to cover Union subs.

'Mean and spiteful' is what mean and spiteful people do best...

oftenwrong wrote:The Trade Union movement is a shade of its former self, as a result of hostile legislation in every Tory administration since 1980, but they are still spitefully sticking pins in - now seeking to outlaw the established practice of deductions from worker's pay to cover Union subs.  

Once the Tories get rid of the Unions, there next step will be to get rid of the MINIMUM WAGE OW.

You're probably right about that, Redflag, but also under threat will be the various Health and Safety regulations that protect working people from dangerous working conditions, combined with reductions in things like holiday entitlement, maternity benefits and severance pay (but not for Directors of course - don't be silly!)

I believe the Tories have loads of nasty stuff they want to bring into law & none of it good for the working man/women OW, I also have a theory the the Tories want to get rid of the Labour party so that they can stay in power for good just like they where in the 18th century before the Labour party was founded.

IVAN I believe there is a lot more to come of the nasty kind, if the people of the UK do not rise up and tell this Tory gov't to go and boil there heads and start taxing his rich & wealthy mates instead of hitting the sick disabled & low paid of the UK.

In response to the Tory attack video about Corbyn:

FACTS ABOUT THE TORIES:

* They sanction the terminally ill and force them to work. 1,300 ESA claimants died within six weeks of being placed in a 'work-related activity' group between January and November 2011.
The figures prompted outrage and since then the DWP has released no more, insisting it's 'irresponsible' to suggest stopping benefits can kill someone.
The Tories policies are responsible for far more deaths of British citizens than any terrorist group. Since they came to power their cruel, and unnecessary, policies on welfare have been responsible for the deaths of thousands of our fellow citizens.

*They are surreptitiously privatising the health service. Over the last year private firms have won £3.5bn worth of new clinical contracts – an increase of 500% on the previous year.

*Homelessness has rose by 55% since this cruel Tory government came to power.

*They claim that are creating jobs BUT:  ONS statistics show that the number of zero hours contracts - where workers aren't guaranteed any hours - are still rising.
Even if they get rebranded 'flexible contracts' as Iain Duncan-Smith suggested to Sky, they're not going away.
Since the Coalition government was formed in mid-2010, average earnings adjusted for inflation have fallen by 5.7%, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies, a politically independent think tank.
By the end of September 2014, average weekly earnings were £478 per week - around the same in real terms as they were over 10 years earlier in the summer of 2004.



......oh and a fact about Jeremy Corbyn: During the 2009 expenses scandal, Corbyn was revealed to have claimed the lowest amount of expenses of any Member of Parliament. In 2010 he claimed the smallest amount of all 650 MPs. In an interview with The Islington Gazette he said: "I am a parsimonious MP. I think we should claim what we need to run our offices and pay our staff but be careful because it's obviously public money. In a year, rent for the [constituency] office [on] Durham Road, Finsbury Park is about £12,000 to £14,000." He rents his constituency office from the Ethical Property Company.

It's brilliant to have a Labour leader as serious, as principled and as NICE as Jeremy Corbyn - what we need now is 'boots on the ground' - everyone who believes in him and his policies just getting behind him and making sure the message gets out - just hope the CLP's get organised and make it happen - if they can, Corbyn will be the 'alternative' that can win

Ivan wrote:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CLtAVfYW8AAEHEW.jpg

Just to let you know Ivan there is now two foodbanks in Royal Tunbridge Wells who are so embarrassed they get the foodbanks to deliver it to there door.

Time for some music to celebrate the opening of the Tory Party conference (alternatively known as the annual general mugging of the British population):-


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHdKEhFM7mY

sickchip wrote:In response to the Tory attack video about Corbyn:

FACTS ABOUT THE TORIES:

* They sanction the terminally ill and force them to work. 1,300 ESA claimants died within six weeks of being placed in a 'work-related activity' group between January and November 2011.
The figures prompted outrage and since then the DWP has released no more, insisting it's 'irresponsible' to suggest stopping benefits can kill someone.
The Tories policies are responsible for far more deaths of British citizens than any terrorist group. Since they came to power their cruel, and unnecessary, policies on welfare have been responsible for the deaths of thousands of our fellow citizens.

*They are surreptitiously privatising the health service. Over the last year private firms have won £3.5bn worth of new clinical contracts – an increase of 500% on the previous year.

*Homelessness has rose by 55% since this cruel Tory government came to power.

*They claim that are creating jobs BUT:  ONS statistics show that the number of zero hours contracts - where workers aren't guaranteed any hours - are still rising.
Even if they get rebranded 'flexible contracts' as Iain Duncan-Smith suggested to Sky, they're not going away.
Since the Coalition government was formed in mid-2010, average earnings adjusted for inflation have fallen by 5.7%, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies, a politically independent think tank.
By the end of September 2014, average weekly earnings were £478 per week - around the same in real terms as they were over 10 years earlier in the summer of 2004.

There has also been a lot of talk of the cuts to working tax credits Sickchip, but the one thing they are not saying is the amount that you qualify for tax credits the Tories have lowered that from just over £6,000 to just over £3,000 this is something that needs to be brought to the attension of the working people of the UK.

Our thanks to the 24% of the electorate who in May gave us another five years of this unscrupulous shower.  


https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CQcIp9LWEAAvThK.jpg

The gift that keeps on giving

I just hope thast the gift that keeps on giving boatlady, keeps on giving that 24% of people the cuts that the rest of the UK will have to suffer under these VILE Tories.

The Low Paid are low paid because they do not 'work hard enough' ........Cutting tax credit to the low paid will create a culture change that will help them.......Low paid workers need to work hard like the Chinese.....The ideas of Chairman Hunt.....

When will a journalist or politician please as HUNT for his definition of 'Hard Work' or 'Work Harder' is?....... So far they have let the Tory's just repeat the party buzz words of the week........

I have yet to work out how, I as a Nurse,  can work harder......Yes I could work longer hours, more shifts each week but that is not harder, I already work as hard as I can which is within what my patients need......I wonder if he would like me to feed two patients at the same time rather than the one at a time I current manage....

We know he wants junior doctors to work more hours each week.

What (C)Hunt really means is workers should be working like Coolies(excuse my language) but the truth be known the Tories as just doing what they normally do "TELL BLOODY BLATANT LIES" . The reason they are continuing along these lines is because the people of the UK have not said much when other cuts have been put in place although they have meant that people have had to depend on food banks.

Some times you have to fight fire with fire, which would mean either a General Strike or the majority of the people of the UK will have to take some other sort of action. I think all NHS staff are Fantastic and do not deserve the treatment they are getting from this VILE Tory gov't astradt why won't they all just go on strike that would certainly be the way to go, the Tories will play on your concern for your patients but until you all come to the conclusion that is the only way to get this Tory gov't to do something for you and your patients lives will be lost and I am afraid they will keep on doing what there doing to NHS staff & your patients.

This is how the Tories and their media poodles define 'the centre ground' in British politics:-


https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CQpqLGKWoAAvY27.jpg