Never under-estimate the British

Good post, and your are right in all that you state.

As to the last two lines, how about we think out the box, and reject the gloomy view that is given to us of it having to be either one or the other?

We are told that we have two choices, and both are grim.

How about we shove that, and dispense with the false dichotomy, and get people thinking that it really doesn't have to be this way OR that way.

It can be several other ways....


Jack

 

Wrong .
Dropped .

 

Right until dropped, huh?

This gives an interesting insight into how different democracies function. The Brits (as are Kiwis) are ever-ready to protest in the streets about bad or self-serving government policies. And those protests often produce changes in policy. In the US, this almost never happens (Wisconsin is a notable exception). Brits and Kiwis have some level of control of their governments through the unofficial institution of public opinion. The Americans don't.

 

Sitting here in NZ, I have often wondered and been ambivalent about that.

But I have come to the conclusion that the British monarchy serves useful purposes that would be less well served, if at all, without it. We have a growing republican movement here but the Maori population hold the monarchy in very high regard because it guaranteed their rights under the Treaty of Waitangi the Crown signed with them back in 1840.

On a broader front, I doubt there would be a British Commonwealth were it not for the monarchy. Whatever its faults, it has maintained a connection among the 54 different ex-colonial countries that belong to it and brings a sense of identity that would not exist without it.

That is surely worth the paltry 8 million pounds the British taxpayer contributes towards maintaining this institution.

 

I am certain that George W Bush probably mis-underestimated the British, as much he mis-overestimated his own significance.

 

However, it may be quite possible to mis overestimate the insignificance of New Zealander threads.

 

Pom society is as corrupt, if not more corrupt, than America. If that's possible.

The latest banking scandal to emerge is the manipulation by Barclay's bank of interest rates.

No banker has yet been charged with a criminal offence. Just as no American banker has been charged with a criminal offence.

Britain is no less of a sick society than the US.

 

That is because there are no nations, my friend, there are no nations, and there are no true political philosophies.

There is only increasing plutocracy, and financial speculators, who operate outwith the law, most of the time.

The game is over, and you've all been lied to and misled.

No matter where you are, but esp in the US.

 

It seems that the rich have succeeded in entirely subverting any pretence of democracy in both the US and UK.

But NZ has some way to go before it achieves those levels of corruption. Prosecuting fraudulent directors of failed finance companies is almost an industry here.

In the US and UK they go free.

 

It's a global thing, you will have no choice but to be contaminated, in some form or another.

Unless you do not use a fiat currency, and operate an entirely state run bank, with strict rules on corporations.

If it gets to you slower, or in a less aggressive manner, it's only because having you is less important or valuable to them.

But it is global, so it WILL get to you.

 

You missed my amendment:

 

Today's 'countries' are Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, Microsoft, etc, etc, and the arms industry, that's doing well, lots of good corporate investment in creating new ways to engage in mass murder.

 

I see that Diamond, the Barclay's recently resigned CEO, is about to trot out the usual senior management mantra in defence of his own corruption.

Of course we all know CEOs live in cocoons and have no idea what is going on in the organisations they claim not to be managing when anything goes wrong, don't we?

I have seen this brand of absurdity trotted out even the organisation I work in. It is farcically absurd. And I would expect any investigating committee to treat it with the disdain and disbelief it deserves.

 

I know, it is pathetic.

 

Even in the fantasy world of CEO ignorance when- it-suits-them, there is the argument that they ought to know.

More CEOs behind bars would help to dissipate this malady.

 

NZ has a regular stream of CEOs heading towards cells.

 

So does Chicago and its Mayors.

 

Chicago invented corruption.

 

It is my contention that the Americans modelled their corruption after the British.

And exceeded it.

However unlikely that was.

 

You mean on the Empire?

Different times, different context, different altogether, but I see what you mean.

The key difference is that the British Empire, rightly or wrongly, was about expanding British interests.

If you are alluding to 'American Imperialism', it differs, because it actually doesn't really serve to expand American interests, at all, indeed, it damages American interests, and boosts those of Jewish extremists, in a foreign land.

 

It is a small historical mercy that the British were far more merciful than the Yanks. Though their intentions were the same.

These days, however, the British have shown a fondness for alimentary corruption that would make even the Yanks blush.

Or may just provoke them towards even greater excesses than they currently indulge in.

The difference is perhaps that now the Brits seem to be taking some belated actions to curb their out-of-control bankers and press.

 

Not good enough.

 

The Yanks are now having fun with the British banks. Investigations galore.

While the Pommy banks are trying to figure out how to save themselves.

But, then, they are not worth saving, are they?

There is a flight of capital from the big 5 into more ethical institutions.

The British standard of living is about to take the biggest hit since WW2.

 

It will just make the people MORE political.

Which is good.

 

The British banks seem to behave like the British imperialists of the 19th century. And the level of apathy in the British (well, English) electorate towards their behaviour, and the behaviour of their government, is stunning.

But it was a glimmer of light to see Galloway elected in Bradford West. I saw him in an RT interview and was very impressed. Though the Respect Party is doing themselves no favours with their internal shenanigans.