To see what is in front of one's nose is a constant struggle." - George Orwell
Capitalism, Gramsci suggested, maintains control not just through violence and political and economic coercion, but also ideologically, through a hegemonic culture in which the values of the bourgeoisie became the ‘common sense’ values of all.
This page seeks to address some of these 'common sense' perceptions and break through this hegemonic domination. Liberation from this propogation is an essential first element in our emancipation.
No Better Place to Start!
All Watched Over By Machines of Love and Grace
This episode discusses the influence of Ayn Rand on Western societies over the last 60 years. She has become a hero to some especially to those on the right who advocated a brand entitled 'radical individualism'. Alan Greenspan, in particular, - who has had as much influence over global economic policy in the four three decades as any other person - believed in a philosophy called logical positivism (objectivism) that has taken logic to extreme and often illogical conclusions. These illogical conclusions have been imposed on to billions of people with no pause to question whether it was democratic or whether in praxis it was in the interests of the many. The outcome: 'disaster capitalism'.
As Brecht stated 'unhappy the land that is in need of heroes' and that appears to explain her influence.
A fascinating documentary. Enjoy!
As Brecht stated 'unhappy the land that is in need of heroes' and that appears to explain her influence.
A fascinating documentary. Enjoy!
Tory links to Atlantic Bridge reflect ideological dogma over democratic accountability
The Atlantic Bridge was a think tank founded in 1997 with Margaret Thatcher as its President to promote Atlanticism, a philosophy of cooperation between the United Kingdom and the United States regarding political, economic, and
defense issues. It was set up by Liam Fox, former Secretary of State for Defence of the United Kingdom. Cabinet ministers, Michael Gove, George Osborne and William Hague and Chris Grayling have previously sat on its advisory panel, as have American senators, Jon Kyl, Lindsey Graham and Joe Lieberman. The organistion's principal staff included Catherine Bray (US Executive Director), Adam Werritty (UK Executive Director) and Kara Watt (Operations Director).
See article linking Tory Party to the US Radical Right.
See article linking Tory Party to the US Radical Right.
We were never in this together!
How the City bankrolls Tory party
The Conservative Party has become reliant on bankers, hedge fund managers and private equity moguls for more than half its annual income, an independent analysis of Tory finances has revealed. Since David Cameron became Conservative leader in December 2005, the amount of money the City has given to bankroll the Tories has gone up fourfold, to £11.4m a year. Over those five years, the City has donated more than £42m to the party. Read more...
Greed and Corruption: Take your Pick
Legitimating Greed and Ignorance
So many fields of public life are now dominated by those with, at the very least, a private education, [and] in many cases wealth and in a few instances a title. In the arts, sport, television, fashion, music, nightlife and, of course, politics, it's positively Brideshead Revisited Revisited. Or, if you prefer, Born To Rule Britannia.
Beware those that absorb 'celebrity' and influence the vulnerable and gullable. You do not have to vote for an ideology to give it legitimacy. But those that do should be held to account for their stupidity. Take Tracy Emin - post modern arts femme fatale - does she have a purpose? No! How many other 'cultural icons' feed off the vulnerable and apathetic? Over to you!
Beware those that absorb 'celebrity' and influence the vulnerable and gullable. You do not have to vote for an ideology to give it legitimacy. But those that do should be held to account for their stupidity. Take Tracy Emin - post modern arts femme fatale - does she have a purpose? No! How many other 'cultural icons' feed off the vulnerable and apathetic? Over to you!
Now we know the truth. The financial meltdown wasn't a mistake – it was a con.
Hiding behind the complexities of our financial system, banks and other institutions are being accused of fraud and deception, with Goldman Sachs just the latest in the spotlight. This was the most pressing election issue of all and yet it was barely mentioned. WHY? Because it was in neither New Labour's or the Tories interest to highlight it. They are both up to their necks in the stink of corruption and complicity! Read More
Hiding behind the complexities of our financial system, banks and other institutions are being accused of fraud and deception, with Goldman Sachs just the latest in the spotlight. This was the most pressing election issue of all and yet it was barely mentioned. WHY? Because it was in neither New Labour's or the Tories interest to highlight it. They are both up to their necks in the stink of corruption and complicity! Read More
Mainstream media ignores and reinforces genocide by neo liberal regimes
Peace, Propaganda And The Promised Land
Peace, Propaganda & the Promised Land provides a striking comparison of U.S. and international media coverage of the crisis in the Middle East, zeroing in on how structural distortions in U.S. coverage have reinforced false perceptions of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This pivotal documentary exposes how the foreign policy interests of American political elites--oil, and a need to have a secure military base in the region, among others--work in combination with Israeli public relations strategies to exercise a powerful influence over how news from the region is reported.
Through the voices of scholars, media critics, peace activists, religious figures, and Middle East experts, Peace, Propaganda & the Promised Land carefully analyzes and explains how--through the use of language, framing and context--the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza remains hidden in the news media, and Israeli colonization of the occupied terrorities appears to be a defensive move rather than an offensive one. The documentary also explores the ways that U.S. journalists, for reasons ranging from intimidation to a lack of thorough investigation, have become complicit in carrying out Israel's PR campaign. At its core, the documentary raises questions about the ethics and role of journalism, and the relationship between media and politics.
Through the voices of scholars, media critics, peace activists, religious figures, and Middle East experts, Peace, Propaganda & the Promised Land carefully analyzes and explains how--through the use of language, framing and context--the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza remains hidden in the news media, and Israeli colonization of the occupied terrorities appears to be a defensive move rather than an offensive one. The documentary also explores the ways that U.S. journalists, for reasons ranging from intimidation to a lack of thorough investigation, have become complicit in carrying out Israel's PR campaign. At its core, the documentary raises questions about the ethics and role of journalism, and the relationship between media and politics.
Student Fees, the Tories and the Police
Propaganda - Moulding the USA
Animating a Crisis
Micheal Gove and the imperialists
The new Education Secretary has declared his intention to set out a "traditionalist" curriculum "celebrating" Britain's achievements. Andrew Roberts, another historian lined up to advise on the new curriculum, has dined with South African white supremacists, defended the Amritsar Massacre and suggested that the Boers murdered in British concentration camps were killed by their own stupidity. It looks like this "celebratory" curriculum might turn out to be a bunting-and-bigotry party, heavy on the jelly and propaganda. Please click.
The Tories are less ideologues, more skilled political pugilists (Click me)
The Inventor of the 'Underclass' finds defending Eugenics somewhat challenging!
The Collapse Of The Consensus, The Myth of Popular Capitalism, And The 'New Realism'
Contrary to the myth of popular capitalism, only 4% of workers owned shares in 1987, and only 13% of the population as a whole. Today, individual share ownership accounts for 10% of total share values, with most accounted for by overseas owners in the US and EU, and institutional investors such as banks and financial institutions. The Department of Work and Pensions maintained in 2005 that 20% of households owned some shares but, as the UK Shareholders Association pointed out to its members, "the vast majority hold only a few shares". Read More...
Health Service Privatisation: The Truth is Out!
The key proposals are:
- Abolishing 10 strategic health authorities by 2012, and scrapping the 150 primary care trusts by 2013. This would mean that up to 30,000 managers face being cut or redeployed.
- Replacing these management structures with about 500 GP "consortiums" (not optional), meaning that family doctors will have control of £80bn public money.
Allowing hospitals to leave public ownership to become "not-for-profit" companies.
See Article
This video explains how the government's NHS White paper will result in the privatisation of the majority of the NHS.
Tory iatrogenesis kills the poor and appeases the rich
Where are the Liberal Democrats in this budget? Are they the 3% shift away from cuts to tax rises or are they off digging their political tomb having rendered themselves unelectable way into the millenia? This budget is an ideologically driven exercise in punishing the public sector for being the public sector. The Tories aspire for the economy to get worse so to enable them to introduce even more extreme measures with the full support of the right wing media. They will blame the previous goverment for as long as they can get away with it, all the while resurrecting the ghost of Milton Friedman.
Child benefit frozen! Is this a form of contraception for the poor. Reduce poverty by reducing the economic capacity of the poor to afford children. Of course the poor have always had a significantly smaller capacity to afford children. That is why we call it poverty. Or is it the more straightforward approach by the Tories to undermine the chances of the poor to successfully survive childhood?
Where are the higher taxes for the high earners? Where is the tougher prison sentences for tax evasion and avoidance? Where is the cancelling of Trident? Why aren't the banks being asked to pay a majority of the debt over a 5 or 10 year period? Why? Why? Why? Whenever the Tories are in power their solutions are so predictable. Higher mortality rates the further down the social hierarchy one looks.
Please see the budget summary below and let us know.
Child benefit frozen! Is this a form of contraception for the poor. Reduce poverty by reducing the economic capacity of the poor to afford children. Of course the poor have always had a significantly smaller capacity to afford children. That is why we call it poverty. Or is it the more straightforward approach by the Tories to undermine the chances of the poor to successfully survive childhood?
Where are the higher taxes for the high earners? Where is the tougher prison sentences for tax evasion and avoidance? Where is the cancelling of Trident? Why aren't the banks being asked to pay a majority of the debt over a 5 or 10 year period? Why? Why? Why? Whenever the Tories are in power their solutions are so predictable. Higher mortality rates the further down the social hierarchy one looks.
Please see the budget summary below and let us know.
new_statesman_-_budget_2010_everything_you_need_to_know.mht | |
File Size: | 506 kb |
File Type: | mht |
The Poor are such a nuisance!
Nearly two-thirds of the public consider poverty to be either an inevitable part of life or due to a person’s own laziness. See 'Attitudes to Poverty' - a report by The Joseph Rowntree Foundation. Then look at the facts on 'The Poverty Site' and Poverty and Inequality in the UK 2008 and one can find reality. Why the 'reality gap'? Who doesn't want the public to know?
To find out about the actual extent of poverty we have to dig deeper than most of the media care to go. But once you get there and find the data and the causes it becomes clearer why some prefer it to be kept hidden. Poverty and Social Exclusion in Britain and Hard Work: Life on Low Pay are must reads if knowing is your bag!
To find out about the actual extent of poverty we have to dig deeper than most of the media care to go. But once you get there and find the data and the causes it becomes clearer why some prefer it to be kept hidden. Poverty and Social Exclusion in Britain and Hard Work: Life on Low Pay are must reads if knowing is your bag!
Fear: What is it Good For? For some: absolutely everything!
.As the sociologist David Altheide has argued, ‘fear does not just happen; it is socially constructed and then manipulated by those who seek to benefit’. While this description of socially constructed fear tends to inflate the role of self-interest – the extent to which fear entrepreneurs exploit fear in order to gain some direct benefit – its emphasis on the role of human agency in the making of fear is nonetheless a useful counterpoint to the idea that fear is something natural or purely psychological.
State Manufactured Fear is what we should really Fear!
The Culture of Fear
State Manufactured Fear is what we should really Fear!
The Culture of Fear