Monopoly.

           Do you believe that the media plays a large part in forming people's opinions? You would be foolish to believe otherwise, it is to the media we turn for information on what is happening, if that information is controlled by a handful of very powerful companies, then you have to admit that the information we get is somewhat limited and one sided. If that is the case then can we honestly say we live in a democracy when a small group of extremely powerful people decide what information you get and what ideas will shape your opinions. The modern day media is not there to feed you information, it's there to shape your opinions, make lots of money and protect the status quo, keeping power where they want it to be.
          Corporate capitalism and monopoly media are part and parcel of this corrupt system of wealth equals power and they will fight tooth and nail to make sure it stays that way. It is up to the ordinary people to change this insanity of wealth means power and monopoly media that perpetuates the system.

Image lifted from Grant Campbell.

          The following extract from a report by Media Reform Coalition.

            This new report, published in March 2021, shows that just three companies (News UK, Daily Mail Group and Reach) dominate 90% of the national newspaper market (up from 71% in 2015). When online readers are included, these three companies (News UK, Daily Mail Group, Reach) dominate 80% of the market. In the area of local news, just six companies (Gannett, JPI Media, Reach, Tindle, Archant and Iliffe) account for nearly 84% of all titles. Two companies, Bauer and Global, now control nearly 70% of all local commercial analogue radio stations and 60% of national commercial digital stations.

Read the full article HERE:

Visit ann arky's home at https://spiritofrevolt.info  

Democracy?

         I penned this little piece three years ago, but thought as it is "jubilee year", I would repeat it, just to express my thoughts on our UK "democracy".

         The establishment and its mouthpiece, the mainstream media keep referring to the UK as a democracy, but a democracy with a monarch. This edifice to imperialism may get labelled as a “constitutional monarchy”, but a democracy? I’m sure anyone with a modicum of rationalism must see this as a contradiction, who voted them in, how do you vote the monarch out? Built on that template only an idiot would refer to the UK as a “democracy”. Somewhere else this fantasy democracy falls down is in how it treats it citizens. I would imagine that in a democracy those in most need would receive the most care. Well how does the UK “democracy” fair in that aspect? Well for starters we have lots of privileges heaped on those with lots of money, while at the other end, those in need suffer in poverty. 

         In this UK “democracy” while wealth and plenty is displayed for all to see, it is out of reach for the majority. The fact is that more than 14 million people live in poverty in the UK. Of that army of disadvantaged, 4.5 million are children, while a further 1.4 million are pensioners. Mired in that swamp of avoidable poverty, 7.7 million are deemed to be in persistent poverty, meaning that they have suffered this deplorable condition for four years or more. Then there is those with greater needs, the disabled. Of the unacceptable army of poverty stricken, 6.9 million are in families with a disabled member.
       If you live in this fantasy UK "democracy" and you are a family with a disabled member, you are far more likely to be living in poverty than a family with no disabled member. In fact approximately half of those living in poverty in this land of milk and honey, are disabled, or living with a disabled person.
        Now how do we equate these facts with the word and idea of “democracy? It seems that in this UK fantasy “democracy”, the greater your need the deeper you sink into poverty.
     If we want a "democracy", a real "democracy", we have to get rid of the pompous circus of monarchy and privilege, we have to get rid of the party political system and its inherent corruption, self interest and privileges, we have to dismantle the capitalist system that fosters and is fostered by a brutal, callous, greed driven indifferent drive for profit and growth for the few, at the expense of the many. Or we can continue to live in the self destructive illusion that we are equal participants in a democracy, and that getting shafted is part of the deal.

 

 Visit ann arky's home at https://spiritofrevolt.info      

Democracy??

         I find it mazing that a system can create an illusion, so far removed from reality as to be ridiculous, yet millions of ordinary people swallow it and even join groups and parties to support the illusion and in other cases take up arms to defend that phoney incredulous illusion. I am of course talking about "democracy". There is a whole apparatus of parties, states and armies all prepared to defend something we have never had, something that has yet to be experienced in this society. They are defending a lie, an illusion, a fabricated theatre of smoke and mirrors. We live in a society of illusions. It is said in certain places the Greece was the cradle of democracy, a nice story that helps to hold the illusion together, Greece in those golden days at the birth of "democracy" was a slave owning society. Ah, so much for the definition of "democracy".

 

       The following video is an accurate depiction of modern day Greek "democracy". However, we know that all other states follow the same model and definition of "democracy". 

 

Visit ann arky's home at https://radicalglasgow.me.uk 

Racism.

UK democracy in action.

       So the discussion is now about should Harry and Meghan be stripped of their titles. The establishment love this sort of debate, it lends legitimacy to the subject of privileges and titles, when the whole subject matter of hereditary titles and privileges is unsustainable. Then there is the inquiry into is there racism within the royal household. What a stupid question, the whole edifice of British royalty is built on the racist view that we British are superior to the indigenous peoples that we subjugated and plundered, and had every right to invade and take control of their lands and resources for the greater glory of the crown. If that's not racism on a grand and brutal scale, then the word has no meaning. 

An ordinary day in UK democracy.

 

      British royalty is the pompous edifice to white power and the class system, never will you see an African, Indian or any other member of the so called British Commonwealth sitting on the UK throne, or next in line, that just would not be tolerated by the powers that be. Yet they try to fool everybody by saying they are going to look to see if there is any racism in the royal household and its entourage.

Kneel before your superior.

 

     Royalty is an archaic system from a barbaric past, and has no place in a sane and civilised society. Pomp, privileges,and hereditary power are a bulwark against democracy, it is simply a system of fiefdom and serfdom with a host of appendages to make sure you know your place, when to kneel, when to courtesy, when to touch your forelock.
      Instead of having a debate about the obvious in an attempt to justify injustice, it should invoke anger and disgust, and a desire to rid our society of such injustice and inequality, once and for all. Enjoy the ecstasy of your righteous anger. 

 

Visit ann arky's home at https://radicalglasgow.me.uk   

Governed And Controled.

        For those who still believe we have democracy in Europe, they should open their eyes to the constant rise in police brutality, and the growing resistance to this aspect of authoritarian states. From Athens to Prague, from Paris to Leipzig, The police act with brutality and impunity against peaceful protests, gatherings of ordinary people and large celebrations by the public. Also the open attack on migrants and their mass detention in appalling conditions. None of these procedures equate with democracy, they are more akin to fascism. 

      Pick your territory and you will find these conditions in greater or lesser form, but they are always there. To be governed you must first be controlled and then subservient. Freedom, justice and equality don't fit with that formula.

       The following is a short extract from an article on police brutality in Leipzig which you can say mirrors what is happening in Exarcheia in Athens and elsewhere in today's world. 

From Enough is Enough:

 

        ------ In view of the increasing police violence, it would nevertheless be wrong to portray oneself as a victim. One should not complain about people being harassed, beaten, insulted by cops. Because we know that the police will always be on the side of the rich and powerful, and also on the side of fascism. This is shown sometimes more, sometimes less clearly.⁵ All people who fight for a better world, free from exploitation and oppression, are logically in conflict with the state power and its allies. And must therefore expect attacks by cops. We have no expectations and no demands on these pigs! We reject dialogue with them as long as they wear their uniforms and defend a system of injustice with brutality! Nevertheless, the increasing police violence should be addressed and we, as a movement, must think about how we can face it collectively and in solidarity.
      What was also to be seen on New Year’s Eve was that many people reacted in solidarity against the brutality and aggressiveness of the cops. Some of those who were arrested were liberated again, cops were put in their place when they tried to drag people out of the crowd and beat them up, even though unfortunately this was not always successful. In addition, many people took part in the attacks on the pigs. All this illustrates the increasing anger caused by the constant provocations of state authorities.-----

Read the full article HERE: 

Visit ann arky's home at https://radicalglasgow.me.uk
 

"The World's Largest Democracy"???

 

       The Indian elections are in full swing at the moment, and I have heard it described by one mainstream reporter as "the largest democracy in the world". That phrase of course makes me want to take a look at this "democracy", how do the people fare in this "largest democracy in the world"? 

      Well of course we know it is a "democracy" built on the usual capitalist format. It is a land of unimaginable wealth, fantastic economic growth figures,  10% over a considerable numbers of years, its GDP is 1,644 billion US dollars, it is one of the largest economies in the world, all this is built on a vast swamp of abject poverty and deprivation. Corporate bosses and members of the financial Mafia rub their hands in glee at the opportunities India offers to exploit millions of poverty stricken people. To these parasites, India is a land of milk and honey, but a "democracy", never by any stretch of the imagination.

        Approximately two thirds of India's population live in poverty, the figures of India's "democratic" poverty are staggering, 68.8% of the population lives on less than $2 a day, while more than 30% try to get by on less than $1.25 a day, this by international standards classifies them as extremely poor. These figures translate into making India one of the poorest countries in the world. Are you seeing "democracy" yet, nor me. 

      The Indian "democracy" is the usual capitalist "democracy" built on the principle of the rich and powerful having all the rights they require to exploit the many, to subject them to poverty and deprivation to increase the wealth and power of that small bunch of parasites that hold the reins of power. The words "democracy" and "capitalism" are incompatible principles, capitalism is the plunder of the world's population and assets to enhance the wealth and power of the few, democracy, true democracy, is the use of the world's assets to see to the needs of all people in a sustainable manner, and ner the twain shall meet. "Largest Democracy In The World" my arse. 

Visit ann arky's home at https://radicalglasgow.me.uk

A Right Royal Democracy.

           We are a supposed to live in a democracy, but we have a monarch, a very expensive symbol of British imperialism. You could say that the present monarch landed lucky, as without any effort on her behave, she fell heir to approximately 46,000 acres of land, which generates a considerable income. This is called the Duchy of Lancaster and is held in trust for her personal use. It is referred to as the Privy Purse, a nice name, and at the last reckoning generated around £12.5 million. I suppose she could get by on that, and take care of her brood, but no, there are other incomes to help her get by. There is another Duchy, the Duchy of Cornwall, this is give her son Charles a little income of his own, and last year it is reckoned to have netted him a cool £19.8 million. The royal brood are not afraid to have a wee fling now and again, like Andrew spending £14,692 to see the golf at Muirfield, and Andrew splashing out a wee bundle of £46,198, on a charter flight to a couple of resorts in Europe. Then there was Charles, so overcome with grief at Nelson Mandela's death that he spent almost a quarter of a million on a private jet to be at the funeral.

 Look, pie-in-the-sky, that's what our loyal peasants get.

           Apart from their nice little earners from the Duchies, there is the sovereign grant, tax payers money, to make sure they don't fall short before the end of the month, I suppose you could call this their tax credits. Last year it was a tidy little some of £35.7 million. However, this sum is disputed by the group called Republic, who point out that the massively expensive security bill to look after this privileged bunch, is picked up by the Metropolitan Police, (tax payers) and when they go walk-about and visit their humble subjects, the local councils pick up the tab,(tax payers). Republic state that the actual bill to the tax payer for keeping this family on benefit is about 10 times the stated £35.7 million and comes in at around £334 million annually.
            Another anomaly with this rather large family, although they are all on benefit, none of them have ever been forced to take a workfare placement, nor have any of them been sanctioned. Don't you feel that this is a bit unfair, I think it is because of their connections in high places, but I must be wrong, as we live in a democracy!!!

Visit ann arky's home at www.radicalglasgow.me.uk

Snitching, Snooping, Surveillance Democracy??

            How deep have we sank into the fascist world of Orwell's 1984? More and more legislation stopping you from doing this, more and more legislation stopping you from saying that, more and more surveillance, a polite word for snooping, ever greater encouragement for people and institutions to snitch on people's idiosyncrasies, if you don't fit into their straight-jacket, you're a threat. Always the bogey man of terrorism is dangled in front of you, seeking your acquiescence in this avalanche of fetters on your freedom. 

            The recent case of school boy, Rahmaan Mohammadi who had a visit from the police after his school reported him under the government's “Prevent” scheme, gives us some idea of how this snitching, snooping, paranoia permeates our society. What was Rahmaan's heinous crime, he wore a “Free Palestine” badge, what narrow minded, paranoid member of the school staff thought that supporting the cause of the people of Palestine, merits a police investigation? Rahmaan also alleged that the police warned him not to talk about Palestine in school, and further claimed that staff members put pressure on his 14 year old brother, telling him to get Rahmann to ”stop being radical”. This is an outrageous assault against the individual's right to voice their opinion on whatever matters to them. You and I know, this is not an isolated case, this cancer is everywhere. The government is spending £40 million on the snitchers program, “Prevent”, while continually cutting budgets to health, education and all other social services. Under no stretch of the imagination, would you call this democracy.

        Our millionaire friendly state now plans to go further, 

under new government legislation Local councils, public bodies and even some university student unions are to be banned by law from boycotting “unethical” companies, as part of a controversial crackdown being announced by the Government.
        Under the plan all publicly funded institutions will lose the freedom to refuse to buy goods and services from companies involved in the arms trade, fossil fuels, tobacco products or Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.

        So you elect your local council, they are supposed to do your bidding, you instruct them to stop handing your money to industries that ruin your kids health, tobacco, industries that gain from bloodshed, the arms industry, and those millionaire shareholders sitting the Westminster Houses of Hypocrisy and Corruption, say, no you can't do that, we might lose if the share prices go down. According the millionaire Bullingdon Club boys that walk our corridors of power, the boycotting of such vile, destructive, money making concerns is responsible for, “undermined good community relations, poisoned and polarised debate and fuelled anti-Semitism”. 

       So, where is our “democracy” that illusion that the state has created by means of smoke and mirrors, that same illusion the state used to get millions to shed their blood, supposedly defending, when in fact they were participating in an imperialist land and power grab, defending the wealth and power of those who control that state. Democracy can only be found outside the state, the state is authority, democracy is anti-authoritarian, the two are totally incompatible. If you want freedom and democracy, the state has to crumble and the system that it spawns must be destroyed.

Visit ann arky's home at www.radicalglasgow.me.uk

Surreptitiously Herded Into Silence.

         Here in our Western "democracy" terrorism is the bogeyman, and to counter that will-o'the-wisp, what freedom of speech we still have, is being shut down. Added to the restrains on our rights, political correctness throws in its demands. There are certain groups against which you have to be very careful how you criticise them, a joke could be a joke too far. What can place you under the heading of a terrorist, can vary from country to country. In Spain recently it was a tattoo and owning a particular book, no bombs, no plot to maim or kill. This erosion of our rights, is like a creeping cancer, as each part of our freedom of speech is shut down, it is one helluva fight to try to get it back. Control and subservience is the aim of the state and it will use every opportunity to that end. Freedom of speech is the enemy of authoritarianism, conversely, authoritarianism is the enemy of freedom of speech. What type of society do we want to live in, one under total control of the faceless bureaucrats, or one in which we can all express our beliefs and thoughts openly without the fear of repression? We can only have the latter if we are vigilant and fight tooth and nail for that right of freedom of speech.

         It is difficult to grasp just how far down the road to state censorship of our words and deeds we have been surreptitiously herded. It happens under many guises, protection for certain religions, individuals and institutions, placing them beyond criticism, but criticism is my right if I disagree with any on the list. In a true democracy we should not have to fight for the right to express our opinion  openly and freely, it is a given, if we have to fight for that right, we do not live in a democracy. 

      Received the following article from comrade Loam, it is a must read and worth spreading widely. So read, think and share.

Notably, police also found “small sign” with the slogan “Gora Alka ETA” on one of the men. The judge adopted a curious interpretation. “Gore ETA” is a common meaning of “Long live ETA”, but the judge concluded it was meant to refer also to “Long live Al-Qaeda-ETA.” Putting aside the interpretive approach, finding a sign on one of the men is a problematic aggravator, let alone a basis, for a criminal case. This concern is magnified by the court noting that a “cover of a book called ‘Against Democracy’, by the Coordinated Anarchist Groups” had been found among their possessions.

And:

We have previously discussed the alarming rollback on free speech rights in the West, particularly in France (here and here and here and here and here and here) and England ( here and here and here and here and here and here and here and here and here and here). Much of this trend is tied to the expansion of hate speech and non-discrimination laws. We have seen comedians targeted with such court orders under this expanding and worrisome trend. (here and here).

The full article can be read HERE:

Visit ann arky's home at www.radicalglasgow.me.uk
 

Which Side Are You On?

A quote from Herald Scotland:

       SCOTLAND’S trade union movement is being urged to fight “outside the law” in order to scupper the looming Tory crackdown on union rights.
         The super-union Unite has called for all 630,000 union members north of the border to resist the “malicious” Trade Union Bill now going through in its final stages at Westminster.
        In a newly-published motion to the STUC’s annual congress, Unite urges “mass protests” against the bill once it is passed and “the maximum possible financial and industrial support to trade unionists who find themselves outside the law”. 

        It is naive in the extreme if you believe that you can win any game where the rules are set by your opponent and made to their advantage. The law is there to protect the very people that are producing this anti-working class legislation. This particular piece of legislation is not something in isolation, it is part and parcel of the continuing cull of the working class. It is all part of their ideology, which will lead to a society of trashed conditions for the ordinary people, no public assets or spaces, and everything privatised. To have any hope of having this continuing cull of the poor reversed, you will have to break the rules they make to tie you in chains.

         The trade union movement should not be looking to follow rules that tie their hands, their one and only reason for their existence is to protect their members from the ravages of capitalism. To follow the directive handed down by the employers friends in government, is a betrayal of their members and negates their right to exist. They are either 100% on the side of, and controlled by, their members, or they die. If this legislation was being enacted in some other country, it would be labelled fascist.

        Working within the rules of this capitalist exploitative system has so far got us, benefit cuts, disability allowance cuts, benefit sanctions, workfare, bedroom tax, zero hours contracts, disappearing libraries, day centres, social services, and ever deteriorating wages and working conditions. Playing by the same rules will in no way stop this anti-working class legislation. Where is it written that we the ordinary people have to swallow this pattern of greed driven economics, planned and implemented by a government stuffed full of corporate cronies. We are not represented in that Westminster House of Hypocrisy and Corruption, there are no cloth caps present among the pack of parasite millionaires. All of those millionaires, no doubt, have their millions invested in the very corporate bodies they legislate to protect. They know which side they are on, do we know which side we are on?

Music: Natalie Merchant

Visit ann arky's home at www.radicalglasgow.me.uk

The Ceaseless March Of Corporatism.

        An appeal from Global Justice Now, or should we take this as a warning, if we don't stop the march of corporatism in its tracks. 

       Next week, the Scottish Parliament will be discussing TTIP’s little brother CETA, the Canada-EU trade deal that includes all the same worrying things that TTIP does.
       If CETA is passed it could threaten public services in Scotland, the moratorium on fracking, and some of Scotland’s most iconic produce, such as Stornoway Black Pudding and the Arbroath Smokie.
       So, we’ve teamed up with 38 Degrees to run a petition calling on the Scottish Government to oppose CETA.  Click here to sign the petition.  And if you’re in or near Edinburgh on Thursday morning, please join us at 11.15am outside the Scottish Parliament to hand in the petition.
         CETA, like TTIP, will hand power from democratically elected governments to big business.  And CETA is due to be passed this year, ahead of TTIP.  Help us stop CETA.
Many thanks,
Liz
P.S. You can read more about CETA and its impacts on Scotland here Join Global Justice Now:
Become part of the movement for a more just and equal
world by joining as a member today. Join now.

Connect with us: Twitter | Facebook

Our mailing address is:
Global Justice Now Scotland
Thorn House, 5 Rose Street, Edinburgh, EH2 2PR
Phone: 0131 243 2730

We used to be the World Development Movement. Find out more.

    Visit ann arky's home at www.radicalglasgow.me.uk

Kobane Liberated, One Year Ago Today.

        On this day, January, 26th., 2015, the Syrian Kurdish town of Kobane was liberated by its defence forces, after having been under attack from ISIS for 134 days.

This by ROAR Collective

       During its four and a half months of resistance against the jihadist juggernaut of the so-called Islamic State, the small town of Kobane on the Syrian-Turkish border gained international fame as a bulwark of freedom, equality and democracy. The seemingly hopeless fight of the poorly equipped defenders of the city made up primarily of the local Peoples’ and Women’s Defense Forces (YPG and YPJ) became a contemporary saga of the universal struggle of good versus evil.
      What made the battle for Kobane unique was not only the refusal of its people to hand over their home town to the jihadists and their determination to continue the resistance against all odds. What truly triggered the collective imagination of observers of this heroic battle were the revolutionary ideas the town’s defenders were fighting for. As protectors of the birthplace of the Rojava revolution, what motivated the resistance fighters to continue their struggle were the revolution’s core values based upon the ideals of gender equality, direct democracy and ecological sustainability.
        The successful liberation of Kobane one year ago not only proved to the world that the Islamic State could be beaten, it also confirmed that a different world is possible, free of hierarchy and oppression, capitalist exploitation and imperialist aspirations. The battle for Kobane and the Rojava revolution have triggered hopes that the same region that was home to the birth of civilization thousands of years ago, could now once again provide the fertile soil for the creation of a new society.

Visit ann arky's home at www.radicalglasgow.me.uk