The Political Thread

[The Legendary Shark]

Of course I don't think I'm David Cameron, that would be insane.
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I *am* David Cameron.

[TordelBack]

Here's a hell of a fine piece of analysis of the Greek situation and the future of the EU from Mike Watson. I mightn't agree with all of it, but I'm damned if I can put together anything resembling as cogent an argument.  The sharper echoes of what we endlessly discuss here in Oirland are painful to read. 

[ZenArcade]

Bring it down and start again. Hmmm lots to agree with there....it might even be Democratic and transparent the next time. Z

[Professor Bear]

Interesting to see headlines about the Greek result like "why isn't the market crashing?" and seeing how threatened media people are by the idea of lefties in charge of anything in case they nationalise it and make it start working.

[ZenArcade]

Ah sure what ever way you look at it the instability over the next few days, weeks, months will make Goldman Sachs a few more tens of billions on the margins. Z

[The Legendary Shark]

Listening to the radio in the waggon I was struck by how these Greeks who object to austerity forced upon them by the elites are labelled "radicals." Since when has it been radical to not want to have all one's wealth stolen? Bloody BBC muppets.

[ZenArcade]

The sheer neck of these people; bought and paid for. Z

[paddykafka]

This King Abdullah bollocks marks the last time I'm going to feel ashamed about DeValera's letter of condolence on Hitler's death.

Well, probably not, but sheesh, what a disgrace nonetheless.

His half-brother and successor, King Salman is 79 years old. So at least they're giving Youth a chance.

[Professor Bear]

Listening to the radio in the waggon I was struck by how these Greeks who object to austerity forced upon them by the elites are labelled "radicals." Since when has it been radical to not want to have all one's wealth stolen? Bloody BBC muppets.

I think it's more that Greece is a highly conservative country, so a socialist party taking power is pretty radical - though hard left socialists in power is pretty radical in Europe anyways, thanks to rightwing scum media peddling the fear necessary to make people retreat into the illusion of stability offered by conservative political entities and the familiar comfort of consumer behavior.  Fear has been overridden by anger, and hopefully Greece won't be the last place this happens.

[ZenArcade]

The bullshit system worked on keeping a large percentage of the populations if not happy at least content. Events post 2008 has blown that core component away in that the majority including the old middle class now see themselves being dragged squealing to the moneterist chopping block. It will be extremly interesting to see how the Greek 'problem' is 'managed'. Think along the lines of Ukraine as a possible scenario. Z

[The Legendary Shark]

I expect back-door economic sanctions of Greece by the banks and their thralls to make things worse, maybe even some sabotage, so they can say, "Look! Look what happens when you try to ignore the good economic sense of bankers who know how economies work! Now come on Greece, stop messing about and have this generous loan to help put right everything you just cocked up through your financial ignorance."
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[Professor Bear]

You need to have more faith in people, Sharky.
The revolution in Iceland was ignored because of the relative economic unimportance of the territory, but now Greece - a first-world country, EU member and the birthplace of gayness - has gone pinko on us, maybe we should view Iceland as the first domino to be toppled by rising public anger at the robber barons?  The right-wing media use every trick in the book to keep us afraid instead of angry and it clearly isn't working anymore, so maybe this is it.  Maybe this is the start of glacial-but-real change.

[The Legendary Shark]

I do believe in people, Bear, I truly and honestly do. For just as it was people who got us into this God-awful mess it's people who will get us out of it as well.
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Maybe I am a woolly-headed dreamer but I believe that Everyone, even Cameron, Obama and Assad are all basically good at heart. The elites are afraid of us - we outnumber them millions to one - so we need a way forward for all of us. Somehow we need to work through their fear and ours. If we don't, we're screwed.
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I've said it before - we need a global Truth and Reconciliation plan. It will be hard and there will be a lot of pain and anger but we need to get through it together so we can move forward together.
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I know I might come across as some kill-all-the-bankers kind of lunatic but I'm really not, I'm a different kind of lunatic altogether. I'm the kind of lunatic who thinks Every human being is a creature of infinite worth and potential.
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There's no way we're all going to be friends but we can at least all try to respect one another. But that kind of thing doesn't come from above, it can't be ordered or legislated into being. We all, each and every one of us, must do it ourselves, personally, and treat those who can't (and you know who you are) not as enemies to be reviled but as mental health victims to be pitied and helped.
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Cameron isn't evil, he's a sociopath who's had his disability taken advantage of by the terrified 'elites.' Cameron, Obama, Assad and the rest are to be pitied, not reviled.
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And yes, that is a hard thing to do and I often forget it myself, to my shame. It's the system that is the true enemy. Attack that, not the ignorant and damaged people who run it*.
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*Not that I'm accusing you of attacking anyone, I hasten to add!

[ZenArcade]

Hmmm, muses over Sharky's plea for clemency and understanding.....nah, fuck them, break out the pitchforks and bill hooks. Time we headed for the castle outside the village. Z 

[NapalmKev]

It's Hard to "Pity" someone like David Cameron when he seems determined to Dismantle the NHS!

Cheers