A Recipe For Fascism

[Adam Blake]

As for Peter & Gordon - the only duo where both of them were the ugly one ??

The only duo where both of them were the useless one?

Lennon & McCartney apparently used to collapse into hysterical giggles over this song. They didn't believe they could get a hit with a song that started with the line "please lock me away". How wrong they were.

Thanks for the tip re Boots, Andy. I hate Boots, though. They are bad people. Here in leafy Notting Hill Gate we have our pick of independent apothecaries, don't you know. Besides, Tesco's own brand drugs are much cheaper.

[Jonathan E.]

. . . I'm sick to the back teeth of proponents of 'alternative' lifetyles lecturing the rest of us on how we are destroying the planet or perpetuating capitalism when they have done sod all themselves to organise any kind of resistance to the prevailing system. Until nu-greens come up with some positive solutions to the problems of the world instead of projecting their own guilt on the rest of us they can just sod off. . . .

No doubt you are speaking for yourself and so I won't bother with that obvious comment. However, you know little of how I've lived — and attempted to live — my life. You have the simplest of conceptions about my and others motivations. Guilt? What a prat's idea! Get it off the back of a cereal box, did you? So, OK, you are clearly not in a position to comment on me or just about anyone else's life.

However, I am actually quite happy with my own life and have consistently for forty or so years worked towards what I consider to be a saner and better world in a variety of ways. I can't claim any great success for the general reasons outlined by Hugh and Peter, but I fought the good fight — and continue to. Unfortunately, my conclusion at this time is that the "system" is tremendously resilient, the "positive solutions" called for are patchwork at best, and that, yes, indeed, at this time one of the biggest issues is the number of people on the planet and their desired standard of living, fostered by the capitalist system I point out. You, with a proclaimed interest in nature, should be able to see that but instead appear to be happy enough with your myopic backwards view of class warfare and your embedded position at the bottom of the pile making slurping noises. And, frankly, I don't care.

The cycles of nature will work their way through you and your pathetic conceits about your own importance. We'll all be dust soon enough and I don't give any current concepts of civilisation much longer — so there will go your traditional views of English class warfare, desirable consumer goods, and all the other bollocks you distract yourself with. Perhaps some current natural systems will come back in good shape and surely in the longest terms there'll be some kind of "intelligent" life around again. One hopes it will be more intelligent than what we have on display now — and, at the same time, I recognize that the process of human collapse will cause, is already causing, immense emotional pain.

So, OK, I've said my bit about what I think of your concepts and you are now welcome to go fuck yourself or whatever it is you do to pass the time when you're not impressing me with your lack of vision.

[NormanD]

Do something?

This afternoon in London is a start.

[AndyM]

Re. Peter & Gordon, I was attractivist, but in the genre of plinky-dinky pop, one can at least expect something worth ogling. Other musical zones - uggos not a problem (shagging any of The Magic Band would be the stuff of nightmares).

[Jonathan E.]

Do something?

This afternoon in London is a start.

Cryptic.

Bit late for a start.

Shall I fly over?

[AndyM]

Do something?

This afternoon in London is a start.

Cryptic.

Bit late for a start.

Shall I fly over?

Big demo in London today - students and academic staff protesting against ConDem plans for higher education.

As for such things being a bit late, well we only really have now as most of our time machines are at the repair shop.

And you shouldn't fly ANYWHERE, given your views about climate change.

[Neil Foxlee]

50,000 students and academics demonstrating, with some violence at Millbank Tower.

[Adam Blake]

Big demo in London today

Big demo in London? Oh, I remember them. There was one on February 15th 2003. I remember it well. It was very cold and over two million people marched across Central London demanding that we do not enter into George Bush's war. Achieved absolutely fuck all. Politicians don't give a damn about demonstrations. They'll just send the police in to practice beating people up.

[Jonathan E.]

. . . And you shouldn't fly ANYWHERE, given your views about climate change.

I just flap my wings. Haven't you read Carlos Castaneda?

Besides what difference does it make with tossers like you and Des gobbling up all the foie gras and playing ostrich? I'm through with saving the world for other people's children when they can't be bothered to do a thing themselves. Yes, I know you don't have children and Des is still a virgin, but you get my drift. Too bad Concorde isn't still flying.

And, yes, big demos? A waste of time unless you bring your own tanks. Those are serious fighting machines for the tender pacifists among you.

[NormanD]

Adam - that is so defeatist.

If people are starting to show their feelings - and anger - then that is a big start. The government is probably more woried now than they have been so far. They're probably amazed at how easily they seem to have gotten away with dishing out the shit on people's heads.

I went on a march a couple of weekends ago, just in my area, against the proposed closure of five branch libraries. A few hundred turned up. I know that the council is worried. What did we achieve? A sense of pride and a sense of solidarity, and an urge to carry on with similar protests.

I'm with Des, by the way.

And please, can people restrict their personal insults to private messages?

[judith]

And please, can people restrict their personal insults to private messages?

(Norman, no disrespect intended and you are quite right)When I read this, it all suddenly struck me as very very funny. PM's flying around all over the place. I'd just been watching Marx Brothers videos and listening to lullabies - other than that I cannot possibly explain why a serious topic all at once had that effect upon me. Believe me, there has been little to laugh about...you all know what I mean...nah, I'm not going to make excuses for myself.

[Pete Fowler]

One or two points....

. . . And you shouldn't fly ANYWHERE, given your views about climate change.

Are there climate change deniers on this site? Remember I’m green on the history of SOTW (that reads like a smarty pants pun but I meant ‘naïve’, honest…)…

I just flap my wings. Haven't you read Carlos Castaneda?

Wasn’t Carlos exposed as a fraud? Not that I noticed at the time as I tripped through at least three of his books, topped and tailed with Robert Heinlein and Thomas Disch if I remember those Belsize Park afternoons accurately.

Adam Blake » Wed Nov 10, 2010 4:40 pm

We are all of us cogs in the wheels of commerce, but I still haven't got a Tesco Club card

No, nor have I though I wonder if it’s only because I feel a bit smug when I’ve used my own bags and the woman at the check out looks askance at someone who turns down reward points. Perhaps I’ve stumbled on the definition of an eco-warrior….the Man With No Card.

BTW, if people get angry, so be it. The situation’s shit and we’re bound to have passions about it….and we’re hardly likely to have a uniform line…though don’t give me that nonsense on Peter and Gordon, I won’t put up with those lies. Gordon Waller was a good looking guy, he lived a few hundred yards from me, and I used to want to piss on his drop handlebar bike because it had derailleur gears. And then he had the nerve, when I got off with Judy Baker – we were all about fourteen – to cycle round her house, knock on the door and hand her a single of Elvis Presley’s Loving You. I remember saying to Judy, ‘what a prat – he could’ve got this on a 45’.

BTW, excellent Chomsky video up this thread somewhere…he’s a weird guy sometimes, but on this occasion, I thought he was right on every level.

[Jonathan E.]

. . . And please, can people restrict their personal insults to private messages?

You may or may not be referring to my public response to Des. It was difficult to construe his post as anything other than a personal attack and, when one makes a public personal attack, I think it only reasonable that a public response be made. Further, when there is substantive difference on opinions publicly expressed, it also seems only reasonable to respond publicly — and, as you should be aware, there is a long English tradition of this not necessarily being the politest of communications. PMs be damned. All this namby-pamby, let's-stroke-each-other's-egos_and-be-calm is soooo boring. Chuck a brick through a window once in a while. You'll feel better and the rest of your post implies that that's what's important anyway.

I will now immediately apologize for my sardonic attitude. Sorry.

[Hugh Weldon]

Pete

climate change deniers

I'm no expert on the topic - one day I must try and educate myself more about it - but I wish people wouldn't use that term. Aside from the insidious association with holocaust denial, it offends against the right to scepticism and individual opinion. Your man Chomsky would have a word or two to say about it I think, given his record of allowing the most insufferable and insane arseholes the right to express their views, which I've just recalled from some tv programme aeons ago.

[Jonathan E.]

Yes, but there's a lot of difference between personal opinions on, say, a moral or a political issue and legitimate versus illegitimate (or should I say "informed" vs. "ill informed"?) debate on scientific issues.