What will happen with the NHS bill, in 5 tweets
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Category Archives: Politics
Misrepresentation
Do you read the Irish Independent?
Making the money work
I posted a few days ago about giving money to a political party that sat firmly on the Left. After looking and asking in a couple of forums I cannot see a way to give money for a realistic impact politically. I considered a Union more but that came to nothing for a variety of reasons.
I want to give to make a change though. I feel I should. I am fortunate in so many ways and I genuinely feel that I should help others where I can. I give to the NSPCC, loan in Kiva and pay so I’m trying to do something but I had also been paying into the Labour Party and that money should be more usefully spent. So I looked and I found.
Centrepoint. The money can help now. Someone will benefit now. It will have a real effect which means someone will feel safe, services can be accessed which may not otherwise. That is a Good Thing. It’s not warm fuzzy feeling though but more of a sad one because we – as a society – should be doing more. We should be working hard to stop this, to make things fairer, less harsh, less destructive.
Giving politically is really an investment, the hope that the change you want will happen. I don’t really do investments like that. It’s a bit like gardening – do the work, wait months and maybe get a decent result. I’m more the instant gratification guy so it fits better to give money and have it work straight away.
From their email:
Today’s a very special day, because today you’ve helped to change someone’s life forever. And it’s not often anyone gets to say that.
You could do that too.
Seen
First they came for the communists, and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a Jew.
Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn’t speak out because I was Protestant.
Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak out for me.
Voter fraud
South Carolina’s Attorney General, Alan Wilson says an analysis found 953 ballots cast by voters were people who are listed as dead. Link
And if this was even suspected in any other country anywhere the US politicians would be crying out for reform, claiming it was a fraud, deception, a violation of democratic human rights blah blah.
Left left not centre left
Ed Milliband is on BBC News and when that happens now I click Mute. His ineffectiveness and the general aimless wandering of the Labour Party are why I’ve left the Labour Party after 2 1/2 years. Ed proclaims that Labour are centre-left. I want Left and hoped with the backing of the Trade Unions he’d take it there. But he didn’t and I along with many others have some middle fudge instead. So I’ve been looking for alternate organisations I can join which have a Left-wing agenda.
If you want to join the Labour Party you go to this page, fill in the details and bingo – you are in. They focus first on money (which used to be fine by me when they had a clue) and you second. If you want to join the Conservative Party then this is the page you need and the effect is the same. The BNP follow the pattern. Contrast this with the UK Communist Party. You can fill in some details but they want to talk to you – there is no automatic ‘in’. It is the same process for the Socialist Party. And the Socialist Labour Party. Think about that – the two parties closest to capitalism want your money but the parties closer to the people want to know you first. The Alliance for Green Socialism puts money first though. I am undecided on which to join. I am not into the doorstepping activity, I did a couple of protest marches years ago but I am unsure of what I can contribute apart from money right now (and I’m not loaded, I just want to pay monthly/annual subs). Time isn’t something I have much of week to week.
An alternative is to join a Union. Arguably the parties above are marginalised – they have very little local influence through Council seats and no Parliament presence. Communist Party – 0.3% of the vote. Socialist Labour Party – less than 2% in 23 constituencies. So is giving them my monthly sub going to be money usefully spent? The principle is sound but can the cash be better used by others? I think it might be. Unions lobby, they represent real people and they can and do affect life positively. They are able to affect policy. Question then is what Union to join – given what I do it’s hardly surprising that there isn’t one already there. On that score I’d not fit in any but I don’t want to be a member to get any benefits, I just want to put my money somewhere it can work. Donate? Yes, that’s an option but I’d like to be part of a Union so I can say I am and which shows a level of commitment behind it. Maybe donating says more.
So at the moment with my goal of giving effectively to help make a political point I am a bit stuck on what to do.
Whatever happened to childhood?
Lyrics (NSFW – well, it uses the f-word) listed on the YT page. I’d also blame Blair if not more so. He and New Labour had the reins from 1997 and it’s those kids who are now also teenagers. This country needs a socialist govt not more right wing elitism. And Labour needs to get rid of Ed.
Political position
On 26 Aug last year I took the test at Political Compass.
This was the result:
I saw something about the politics of US politicians the other day, remembered I’d take this test so I did it again. I did not look at the above diagram and even if I had I’d not have remembered my answers to 6 pages of questions.
Today’s result:
So I’ve moved further to the Left which isn’t that surprising.
No more money for you.
Rich and staying that way
Two dozen “patriotic millionaires” traveled to the Capitol on Wednesday to demand that Congress raise taxes on wealthy Americans. But then they were actually asked to….
that they are total hypocrits is surprising?
As for the complete twat with the “I’m very philanthropically active” – yeah right.