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In reality, the left is the target of political violence
https://www.theguardian.com/commenti...tical-violence
Tony Benn. I wish Labour had more like him. I'd still be a member.
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Re: In reality, the left is the target of political violence
This one, for example has had f*ck all interest. LOM WUM threads get more. I’m not being precious btw. It’s hilarious tbh.
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Re: In reality, the left is the target of political violence
I don't think anyone believes it tbh
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Re: In reality, the left is the target of political violence
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Originally Posted by
JamesWales
I don't think anyone believes it tbh
As someone old enough to remember the ludicrous private armys set up in the 70s as a reaction to the Wilson Government I do.
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Re: In reality, the left is the target of political violence
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Originally Posted by
JamesWales
I don't think anyone believes it tbh
From someone so interested in politics that's quite a shocking, disparaging, and dismissive comment.
The final paragraph from Andy Beckett reads:
"Yet as the Hester episode shows, violent sentiments can be expressed by people very close to power, seemingly without serious consequences for their political and commercial activities. Meanwhile, peaceful protesters are increasingly sent to prison. Where a country draws the line between acceptable and unacceptable politics is always very telling".
It's hard to disagree with that, isn't it? Considering Frank Hester said that Dianne Abbott "should be shot".
I suspect that hardly anyone has read the piece.
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Re: In reality, the left is the target of political violence
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Originally Posted by
the other bob wilson
As someone old enough to remember the ludicrous private armys set up in the 70s as a reaction to the Wilson Government I do.
Me too.
And from more recent examples, including state violence directed at the political left (the police riot at Orgreave for one).
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Re: In reality, the left is the target of political violence
The Economic League
The Silent McCarthyism
Not all violence is physical
JamesWales should read about that
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Re: In reality, the left is the target of political violence
The establishment are against anything they see as a threat to their power, so instead of left v right you should view it as establishment v anti-establishment.
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Re: In reality, the left is the target of political violence
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Originally Posted by
Wales-Bales
The establishment are against anything they see as a threat to their power, so instead of left v right you should view it as establishment v anti-establishment.
No thanks.
Left v right works for me.
Apart from a few fringe far right groups in the UK 'the establishment' is the embodiment of the right. Almost by definition!
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Re: In reality, the left is the target of political violence
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Originally Posted by
jon1959
No thanks.
Left v right works for me.
Apart from a few fringe far right groups in the UK 'the establishment' is the embodiment of the right. Almost by definition!
That's the con, and it works for most people :biggrin:
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1 Attachment(s)
Re: In reality, the left is the target of political violence
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Wales-Bales
That's the con, and it works for most people :biggrin:
Attachment 6120
:biggrin: :biggrin: :biggrin:
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Re: In reality, the left is the target of political violence
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Originally Posted by
jon1959
No thanks.
Left v right works for me.
Apart from a few fringe far right groups in the UK 'the establishment' is the embodiment of the right. Almost by definition!
Surely you realise that many establishment institutions, parts of the media, universities etc are pretty consistent in promoting left-wing ideals though?
And equally, on this whole debate, surely you recognise that whatever measure you use of failure; murdering your citizens, economic mismanagement, starvation, denial of democracy or rights etc, that the left is no better than the right, and vice-versa. It really is a totally outdated way of viewing things really. It's become little more than window dressing and a term for a cultural outlook
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Re: In reality, the left is the target of political violence
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Originally Posted by
JamesWales
Surely you realise that many establishment institutions, parts of the media, universities etc are pretty consistent in promoting left-wing ideals though?
And equally, on this whole debate, surely you recognise that whatever measure you use of failure; murdering your citizens, economic mismanagement, starvation, denial of democracy or rights etc, that the left is no better than the right, and vice-versa. It really is a totally outdated way of viewing things really. It's become little more than window dressing and a term for a cultural outlook
Ah yeah, Scandinavian countries with all their socialist policies regularly murder their citizens. Aneurin Bevan after the formation of the NHS went out and slit some throats as well. You've truly got us.
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Re: In reality, the left is the target of political violence
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Originally Posted by
JamesWales
Surely you realise that many establishment institutions, parts of the media, universities etc are pretty consistent in promoting left-wing ideals though?
And equally, on this whole debate, surely you recognise that whatever measure you use of failure; murdering your citizens, economic mismanagement, starvation, denial of democracy or rights etc, that the left is no better than the right, and vice-versa. It really is a totally outdated way of viewing things really. It's become little more than window dressing and a term for a cultural outlook
There are a lot more parts of the media that lean to the right
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Re: In reality, the left is the target of political violence
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Originally Posted by
Doucas
Ah yeah, Scandinavian countries with all their socialist policies regularly murder their citizens. Aneurin Bevan after the formation of the NHS went out and slit some throats as well. You've truly got us.
I mean you have literally selected two very specific and curious examples from the great history of political nations.
And one of them is wrong too. Scandinavian countries aren't socialist at all.
The issue of right, just, moral, good, honourable or successful governance of countries is nothing to do with the left/right scale at all. They will tend to be liberal democracies but that spans the spectrum in itself.
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Re: In reality, the left is the target of political violence
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Originally Posted by
stevo
There are a lot more parts of the media that lean to the right
Of course, I doubt anyone disputes that
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Re: In reality, the left is the target of political violence
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Originally Posted by
Citizen's Nephew
Great man , great quote about him "Tony Benn's politics had depth because he had a sense of history." today's shallow Labour Party could not hold any credit , when matched with his honesty .
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Re: In reality, the left is the target of political violence
Quote:
Originally Posted by
JamesWales
Surely you realise that many establishment institutions, parts of the media, universities etc are pretty consistent in promoting left-wing ideals though?
And equally, on this whole debate, surely you recognise that whatever measure you use of failure; murdering your citizens, economic mismanagement, starvation, denial of democracy or rights etc, that the left is no better than the right, and vice-versa. It really is a totally outdated way of viewing things really. It's become little more than window dressing and a term for a cultural outlook
‘Surely you realise’…. ‘Surely you recognise’…. Surely I don’t!
There is nothing outdated in realising and recognising that the wealth, power and privilege of the UK establishment has nothing to do with the political left which exists to challenge those things. A few sociology departments does not offset the vast and growing concentration of establishment power that exists to maintain that wealth, power and privilege. In my experience it is only the apologists for that inequality and abuse that argue the analysis is now irrelevant.
If you insist on widening the view to take in the crimes of parasitic bureaucratic castes in states that claim to be inspired by Marx and Lenin then all I can say is those regimes are not of the political left. The ‘left’ were among the first victims of those autocratic regimes. But that is a massive deflection anyway from the Andy Beckett article that started this thread which was clearly directed at the history and current threats of political violence directed at the left in the UK - that you claimed no one believes.
The terms still have meaning and value. You seem to think they are no more than archaic flags in someone’s culture wars. Gluey seems to see the world through a lens of pro-WEF and anti-WEF - who is in the Swiss bunker and who isn’t. I disagree with you both.
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Re: In reality, the left is the target of political violence
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Originally Posted by
jon1959
‘Surely you realise’…. ‘Surely you recognise’…. Surely I don’t!
There is nothing outdated in realising and recognising that the wealth, power and privilege of the UK establishment has nothing to do with the political left which exists to challenge those things. A few sociology departments does not offset the vast and growing concentration of establishment power that exists to maintain that wealth, power and privilege. In my experience it is only the apologists for that inequality and abuse that argue the analysis is now irrelevant.
If you insist on widening the view to take in the crimes of parasitic bureaucratic castes in states that claim to be inspired by Marx and Lenin then all I can say is those regimes are not of the political left. The ‘left’ were among the first victims of those autocratic regimes. But that is a massive deflection anyway from the Andy Beckett article that started this thread which was clearly directed at the history and current threats of political violence directed at the left in the UK - that you claimed no one believes.
The terms still have meaning and value. You seem to think they are no more than archaic flags in someone’s culture wars. Gluey seems to see the world through a lens of pro-WEF and anti-WEF - who is in the Swiss bunker and who isn’t. I disagree with you both.
How is the left challenging the establishment at the moment? Aren't most on the left cheering on the house of lords in the last week or two, praising the top universities decolonising programmes, trying to overturn the referendum to keep us in a huge free market and pretty content with the BBCs editorial stances? I'm not sure I see the challenging? Not in a real sense. Even less so in America, although there are of course other countries!
Ah, of course, when it goes disastrously wrong, then it doesn't count! Come on Jon, a great great many libes in history have been deeply ruined under left wing ideas and if you can't see that then I am very surprised.
I don't think they are entirely meaningless, but I think it's largely cultural flag waving, a borderline religious role more than an attempt at real problem solving.
Just sounds fanatical if only good things can exist under left wing politics, it's like those who say the same about islamic states or those states in history that must be true to the bibles teachings etc.
Shit governance and shit policies has little to do with the left/right scale IMO
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Re: In reality, the left is the target of political violence
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Originally Posted by
JamesWales
I mean you have literally selected two very specific and curious examples from the great history of political nations.
And one of them is wrong too. Scandinavian countries aren't socialist at all.
The issue of right, just, moral, good, honourable or successful governance of countries is nothing to do with the left/right scale at all. They will tend to be liberal democracies but that spans the spectrum in itself.
Pinochet , your maggies mate
The Caravan Of Death
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Re: In reality, the left is the target of political violence
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Originally Posted by
SLUDGE FACTORY
Pinochet , your maggies mate
The Caravan Of Death
Yes, he is a right-wing dictator. Can you think of any left-wing ones?
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Re: In reality, the left is the target of political violence
Quote:
Originally Posted by
SLUDGE FACTORY
Pinochet , your maggies mate
The Caravan Of Death
Yes, he is a right-wing dictator. Can you think of any left-wing ones?
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Re: In reality, the left is the target of political violence
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Originally Posted by
JamesWales
Of course, I doubt anyone disputes that
They all do the Labour party is a lite Tory one and in tune with them, watch the Sun back Blair Starmer and Rachel Thatcher as it did with Blair ,
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Re: In reality, the left is the target of political violence
Quote:
Originally Posted by
jon1959
‘Surely you realise’…. ‘Surely you recognise’…. Surely I don’t!
There is nothing outdated in realising and recognising that the wealth, power and privilege of the UK establishment has nothing to do with the political left which exists to challenge those things. A few sociology departments does not offset the vast and growing concentration of establishment power that exists to maintain that wealth, power and privilege. In my experience it is only the apologists for that inequality and abuse that argue the analysis is now irrelevant.
If you insist on widening the view to take in the crimes of parasitic bureaucratic castes in states that claim to be inspired by Marx and Lenin then all I can say is those regimes are not of the political left. The ‘left’ were among the first victims of those autocratic regimes. But that is a massive deflection anyway from the Andy Beckett article that started this thread which was clearly directed at the history and current threats of political violence directed at the left in the UK - that you claimed no one believes.
The terms still have meaning and value. You seem to think they are no more than archaic flags in someone’s culture wars. Gluey seems to see the world through a lens of pro-WEF and anti-WEF - who is in the Swiss bunker and who isn’t. I disagree with you both.
Well said, lots of going all around the houses in this thread and none of it makes the original article less true.
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Re: In reality, the left is the target of political violence
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Originally Posted by
the other bob wilson
Well said, lots of going all around the houses in this thread and none of it makes the original article less true.
Well yes, the problem with the article is that it is entirely one sided. Absolute classic guardian. Will ignore anything that doesn't fit in with what readers want to read.
The idea that left wing protesters are somehow oppressed or painted as an angry mob, or that the same isn't applied to rare "right wing" protests is bizarre to me.
I'm not sure the article gave much compelling evidence really