The Masses Rise

[scottdisco]

i must admit i too have a fairly low opinion of Guido Fawkes, in general

great map work Josef!

 

[crackerjack]

Of course there's no evidence - but the interesting thing is that this is the kind of rumor being spread.

By Tory bloggers, several days after the alleged event...

Did you know Cameron's a paedo?

It's bollocks, but curious that the question should even be asked.

 

[josef k.]

Of course I know Cameron's a peado!

 

[vimothy]

There was a thoroughly Rodrikian (I hope I am the first person to use that neologism) report released by the WB last year to much fanfare, recommending an industrial policy (of all things). Solow was on the steering group, making it thoroughly neoclassical, if not thoroughly neoliberal (if anyone is interested in such a distinction). Hopefully Naomi Klein will brand them socialists!

 

[josef k.]

I would now like to boldly predict that the UK government will fall in a matter of days...

 

[vimothy]

If it does, can I still claim back my bank charges?

 

[crackerjack]

I would now like to boldly predict that the UK government will fall in a matter of days...

How many?

 

[josef k.]

Say, five?

We could do a pools...

 

[vimothy]

http://www.intrade.com/

 

[crackerjack]

This starts well, but dribbles away into pop-cultural poo.

 

[nomadthethird]

This is quite interesting:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article5616686.ece

Or perhaps more precisely, where the dynamic assumes a startling visual form:

Is this really a new issue, though? Isn't "insourcing" old hat at this point? (not that this makes it excusable in some way, of course, but...)

Old White Men in like Texas and well basically everywhere else here have been bitching for the last 20 years because Mexicans have been sneaking in to replace them as wage slaves at like call centers and horrible construction jobs that ruin your body and force you into early disability benefits retirement.

And for a hundred years before that because the Irish came, and the Italians, and blah blah. There's always someone who's willing to work for less than you are, especially in a global economy. The problem is probably a global economy with no regulation.

 

[nomadthethird]

Wow, 'Total Oil' - that's an, erm, uncompromising name for a petrochem firm! I can imagine their board meetings: dude in a slick suit (possibly looking a bit like this guy) stands there after giving a presentation, pounding his fist into his palm, "Gentlemen, we have one agenda, one vision, one creed: TOTAL OIL." Cue rapturous applause. Someone rips the head off a fluffy toy panda they've brought in specially, to general hilarity.

Sorry, carry on...

Total Oil is like the name of a company that Daniel Plainview (from There Will Be Blood) and Dick Cheney would dream up together while laughing all kinds of sinister laughs and grinning evil grins. In my fantasy.

 

[Mr. Tea]

Oh well, I'm glad someone picked up on my completely spurious 'comedy' post, anyway.

 

[nomadthethird]

I suppose there's something interesting about the way people are actually doing something about their anger lately. I like it. Civil unrest is translating into something tangible.

You can't say Obama doesn't have something to do with it, at least emblematically.

 

[zhao]

in America people are rising up too.


to go to work.

 

[crackerjack]

You can't say Obama doesn't have something to do with it, at least emblematically.

emblematically is about right. Obama is currently made of magical material which means he can represent whatever the other person wants him to.

Heard a radio phone-in yesterday where someone spent ages talking about the wonders of Obama and how he'd rejuvenated America and blah. He said we need the same here - an entrepreneur, someone to think outside the box.

So this politician who came up through the Chicago machine and has never run a business or even worked in the private sector (that right?) now symbolises the power and ingenuity of the free market. Gotta get me some of that Obama juice.

 

[josef k.]

It is true. Obama's key symbolic role in these wildcat strikes is inarguable.

 

[DannyL]

Caught a bit of a discussion about the strikes on the radio. It was stressed that:

a) a proper process of tendering for the work was conducted, with this Italian firm (Irem) being selected for their specific expertise at a competitive price; and
b) that there will be no redundancies of any workers - British or otherwise - as a result of Irem's decision to bring in its own staff from abroad since this is a new project requiring a new workforce.​

Not sure i see what all the fuss is about....?

Interesting piece here by John Cruddas setting this in the wider context of liberalisation and so forth. I get the sense it's part of a wider manifesto ("new forms of economic citizenship" and "maximum income - ?!)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jan/31/economy-trade-unions-john-cruddas

 

[josef k.]

"I get the sense it's part of a wider manifesto ("new forms of economic citizenship" and "maximum income - ?!)"

Cruddas seems to be tilting towards some kind of economic nationalism ("Britain has lost control of key industries and their labour procurement procedures... Crucial economic sectors have been handed over to unaccountable foreign ownership.")

 

[Mr. Tea]

"I get the sense it's part of a wider manifesto ("new forms of economic citizenship" and "maximum income - ?!)"

Cruddas seems to be tilting towards some kind of economic nationalism ("Britain has lost control of key industries and their labour procurement procedures... Crucial economic sectors have been handed over to unaccountable foreign ownership.")

And is there anything wrong with that? If industry in Britain were run by companies based in Britain, the law would have far more leverage over them as far as workers' rights are concerned. Not to mention the extra tax income the government could make if profits were banked here instead of spirited offshore.