Saturday, Mar 21, 2009
There's only one way to find out... FIGHT!!!
Telegraph: Britain at risk of serious social unrest,
A leading British thinktank Friday warned of the "grave threat" of social unrest in response to the global recession over the next two years.
The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), in a paper published Friday, rated the risk of upheaval that could "disrupt economies and topple governments" as "high or very high" in 95 countries.
The paper, called Manning the Barricades, identified Britain as one of a group of "heavily indebted economies that experienced housing bubbles" and "are particularly vulnerable to deleveraging and asset price declines".
""The UK has been among the worst-hit developed countries by the global downturn and the majority of the population fears a deep and long recession Popular discontent and anger are likely to rise, and populist sentiments will strengthen. "
21 Comments
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1. paul said...
Righto, where do I sign up?
2. japanese uncle said...
I am against any form of violence, basically. But it is insane to think that this nation/economy should be able to carry through this crisis without the legislation to shift massive wealth from the very wealthy to the state and the less well-off. The thugs like Freddy the 'SIR' shamelessly having devoured the wealth of the nation and those behind the scene (Freddy seems to be deliberately targeted as scapegoat) must return their unjustifiable riches to the people. NayLabor, Tories, as well as neutered Lib-Dem cannot be depended on for this purpose. More radical movement is needed badly. Confiscation of all private assets in excess of 30 million is a very practical idea. With 29 million, any can be far well off.
3. wiltshire said...
Like everything else that's going on, social unrest was predicted on this site years ago.
It's time for a more equitable society but sadly that won't happen because the 'establishment' can only defend the status quo, they will never be prepared to allow a more balancy system.
4. Wilkshire_man said...
'japanese uncle' said: "Confiscation of all private assets in excess of 30 million is a very practical idea".
Not very likely, David Cameron and his wife are said to have "At least £30 million" and once he's Prime Minister he'll be planning on making a ton more. Then he has his wealthy cronies (sorry "associates") to think about.
5. happy mondays said...
Viva la Revolution !
6. crunchy said...
Roll on the day that Britian gets back some of the bulldog spirit of the long lost past and fights the enemy from within.
We have become domesticated toy poodles, groomed to perfection.
7. unplugged said...
Its looking more and more inevitable to me. Something needs to be done but I'm with you JU on being against violence. Confiscation of assets sounds like a great long term plan too. After all nothing has changed in reality - exactly the same amount of potential exists as before the bust. The establishment are more than prepared for unrest anyway:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2007/apr/09/frontpagenews.news
If this discontent is expressed in riots that will justify marshall law and all sorts of new powers. Privacy, ID cards and databases and who knows what else. Whats more, the angry mob can all too easily (and all to often) function as another tool for those in power.
"The real action is in the reaction" so they say.
Action has to be taken, but far better to go down a more mature and considered route. Freedom of speech is often held up as the cornerstone of democracy etc, the media love it, but when does freedom of thought get a mention?
A more positive way forwards could involve; introspection, non-compliance, forming local action groups, local currencies, general self sufficiency, greater participation in politics, a widespread wider understanding of the mechanisms of power a less reliance on TV and newspapers for entertainment and information.
An interesting perspective:
http://www.freedom-force.org/freedom.cfm?fuseaction=creed
8. japanese uncle said...
unplugged
You are right. Look at the thousands of CCTV throughout the country, which never fail to go out of order in the 'event' such as 7/7.
Anyway reports about possible 'social unrest' can provide a nice pretext to suppress civil liberty yet again.
9. happy mondays said...
History has taught us that violence, is not the way to go, as violence breeds violence! The powers at be can easily sqaush uprisings. what is needed is for a revolution of the mind & for people to demand & be the change they want to see happen. This can only happen when all things are equal, which we are a long way of yet!
An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, makes us all blind and toothless! Ghandi...
10. unplugged said...
Good point JU - its possible that these reports could serve to justify the preemptive suppression of freedoms before any unrest takes place. I've noticed more and more cctv cameras pop up over recent years... almost as if the authorities were preparing for something. I also hear talk of traffic wardens (now known as civil enforcement officers!), cctv operators and security personell being issued with new powers incase the police are required to undertake frontline work.
This suggested slide towards something resembling totalitarianism could all sound a little paranoid to some but like many issues discussed here less and less so.
Regarding 7/7 by the way, I can never get over this image: http://jforjustice.co.uk/77/images/boldbrilliant.jpg
11. flashman said...
japan and happy: I understand your stance against violence but I think you are mistaken. There is something quite healthy and invigorating about a punch up. I personally have no fiscal reason to fight (yet) but I'd still like to stick my fist in an estate agents face. If I could get away with it, I'd kick Sir Fred into a coma without a secong thought. For years I have put up with sniveling politically correct turds (I dont mean you) telling me that any kind of manly or sporting tendency is unacceptable and patriotism equates to racism. The country has been taken over by turds and violence is the only thing that will make a difference. Any other course of action plays to their strengths. My pension fund, investments and savings are under severe threat. If I even get a sniff of any confiscation or unfair taxation by the government, I wouldn't think twice about a violent response. In fact, I think that anti-violence sentiment is a bit pasee and out of step with the times. I wouldn't go so far as to say that anti-violence sentiment is traitorous to your fellow citizens, but rolling over and taking one up the shit*er is really not very helpful.
12. japanese uncle said...
flashman
Can you match up with tasers or machine guns just by the use of your fists?
13. flashman said...
ju: You are being defeatist and making excuses. There will always be opportunities if you a smart and determined. The attitude you are exhibiting is the very reason the authorities are so blasé about doing whatever they please. The best thing you can do is to step aside and not hamper the effort if it comes to it
14. unplugged said...
8. happy mondays said...
"what is needed is for a revolution of the mind & for people to demand & be the change they want to see happen".
Agreed. A more thorough exploration of Gandhi's principle is achieved by Kant's catagorical imperative:
"Act only according to that maxim whereby you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law."
A new balance must be found between individualism and the collective. The conception of freedom must be explored and apreciated by more. Currently too many people are playing themselves into oblivion - the young particularly. I hope to see increased interest in philosphical and metaphysical considerations. A a deeper consideration of the axioms on which our opinions and actions are based and wider understanding of ethical issues such as personal integrity, along with a greater apreciation of responsibility.
Collectivism:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6276223916862531753
15. unplugged said...
You have a point flashman violence is a great deterrant and can certainly help change along. The trouble is that the mechanisms are well understood by the establishment. The essential elements of our establishment are not stupid or incompetant as the press often suggests. Action is requires but it has to be unpredictable. Something new. History repeats itself as they say. The cycle has to be broken.
Its time to confront some difficult truths and dispense with some myths. The human mind has an tendancy destort reality which I believe is the source of a lot of trouble. I particularly like this speech given in 1968:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKGO7dAIvQU
One more interesting link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxSl0MRAS-Y&NR=1
And an appropriate quote from Frederick Nietzsche:
"There are no facts only interpretations"
Perhaps this subject is better suited to http://www.economicvoice.com/
16. flashman said...
Citing Gandhi is very illuminating. He was a fraud ... nothing more than a vain and selfish poseur. Here is a article that neatly shows him to have been one of histories greatest con men.
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3724/is_199708/ai_n8766542
All this drivel about collectivism is just so boring. I'm sure it went down a storm in the student union but it cuts no ice with the doers and achievers of this world. The day of the painted courtesan is over. Pull off your pink wigs and actually do something.
17. flashman said...
unplugged: sorry crossed post. You are right. Something new is required. If you come up with something let me know. I am trying to put across the idea that pacifism is often just appeasement in a new wrapper
18. stillthinking said...
Our monthly food bill is going to float out of reach -and- we get a kicking in the street. Hopefully the mob will pick on New Labour voters first, which should be fairly self-contained.
19. iguana said...
I note with some dismay encouragement for a violent response.
To use the vernacular 'get real', the people that are really good at violence are not those with pension plans or really big deposit accounts, (no matter how annoyed or threatened they become), they are pussycats compared with a section of society with nothing to loose who will stab you for fun if financial gain is not forthcoming. If you think that violence is the answer then spend a little time in some of the sink estates and meet close up the ones that will relish a bit of rioting, then tell us if you still think that you will enjoy anarchy alongside your new found friends.
20. flashman said...
iguana: you make a good point but in a way you are illustrating a particular problem with todays society. Fear is what allows these 'sink estate' types to hold sway. The officer classes of Britain never used to be so soft or afraid. My Father was a Captain in the British army. As a child, I well remember him dispatching an aggressive oik who climbed on the bonnet of his car. I was brought up in a boarding school, complete with cold showers, rugby and compulsory boxing (hence being sick of politically correct types sniping at my kind). I am an educated chap but that does not mean I am incapable of gleefully dispatching a few of todays deserving bastar*ds. We are not all soft Iguana. I know it is not your intention, but it is possible to interpret your post as glorifying these sink estate boggy men. Britain has to be reclaimed from these oiks and from Browns army of thieving petit bourgeois
Look what happened to the Poll Tax law. I happened to think it was fair but that irrelevant. People got violent and the government caved. There is no need to be so frightened.
Anyway, I have said my piece.
21. Mr G said...
Some weeks ago, following an article by Melanie Phillips in the Dail Mail, there was an outpouring of denial on this website about the dangers of sleepwalking into a muslim dominated state. I recall several contributors implying that people who held this viewpoint were cranks.
How does that differ from a lot of posts about this article? A common view seems to be that more CCTV proves that the establishment / powers that be are preparing for civil unrest. Absolute tosh, this website has outlived it's usefulness and is just becoming a platform for cranks to air their views.