Conservative party/opposition watch

[BritDownUnder]

You never know how many people are Russian agents of influence. Some of the bonkers short-sighted actions made by the civil service in the past can be either gross incompetence or overseas influence. No doubt a lot of people over 50 would have been exposed to the hard left at University or in the workplace. However, I expect most of the strike action is just copycat or me-too wanting to keep up with the Joneses regarding pay rises.

[UndercoverElephant]

You never know how many people are Russian agents of influence. Some of the bonkers short-sighted actions made by the civil service in the past can be either gross incompetence or overseas influence. No doubt a lot of people over 50 would have been exposed to the hard left at University or in the workplace. However, I expect most of the strike action is just copycat or me-too wanting to keep up with the Joneses regarding pay rises.

Russia no longer has anything to do with "hard left" ideology. It is a plutocratic oligarchy/dictatorship.

[BritDownUnder]

You never know how many people are Russian agents of influence. Some of the bonkers short-sighted actions made by the civil service in the past can be either gross incompetence or overseas influence. No doubt a lot of people over 50 would have been exposed to the hard left at University or in the workplace. However, I expect most of the strike action is just copycat or me-too wanting to keep up with the Joneses regarding pay rises.

Russia no longer has anything to do with "hard left" ideology. It is a plutocratic oligarchy/dictatorship.

Useful fools around the world, mostly from the far-left, but very recently from the far-right too have long looked to Russia for guidance, and money. You could have argued that Russia and the Soviets before that were always an oligarchy and dictatorship just whitewashing (or should that be redwashing) as Communism.

[UndercoverElephant]

You never know how many people are Russian agents of influence. Some of the bonkers short-sighted actions made by the civil service in the past can be either gross incompetence or overseas influence. No doubt a lot of people over 50 would have been exposed to the hard left at University or in the workplace. However, I expect most of the strike action is just copycat or me-too wanting to keep up with the Joneses regarding pay rises.

Russia no longer has anything to do with "hard left" ideology. It is a plutocratic oligarchy/dictatorship.

Useful fools around the world, mostly from the far-left, but very recently from the far-right too have long looked to Russia for guidance, and money. You could have argued that Russia and the Soviets before that were always an oligarchy and dictatorship just whitewashing (or should that be redwashing) as Communism.

You might try to argue that, but it would be nonsense. The Soviet Union was a communist state right up until the end. Communism failed, but not because it was an oligarchy or dictatorship. It failed because communism doesn't work very well. The Soviet Union collapsed because communism doesn't work. It doesn't work because without a connection between effort and/or ability and reward, not enough people can be bothered to try very hard. Nobody gives a shit, so the whole system inexorably declines all the time. Soviet communism was replaced by Russian oligarchy/dictatorship.

[BritDownUnder]

Russia no longer has anything to do with "hard left" ideology. It is a plutocratic oligarchy/dictatorship.

Useful fools around the world, mostly from the far-left, but very recently from the far-right too have long looked to Russia for guidance, and money. You could have argued that Russia and the Soviets before that were always an oligarchy and dictatorship just whitewashing (or should that be redwashing) as Communism.

You might try to argue that, but it would be nonsense. The Soviet Union was a communist state right up until the end. Communism failed, but not because it was an oligarchy or dictatorship. It failed because communism doesn't work very well. The Soviet Union collapsed because communism doesn't work. It doesn't work because without a connection between effort and/or ability and reward, not enough people can be bothered to try very hard. Nobody gives a shit, so the whole system inexorably declines all the time.

I doubt Russians ever believed in Communism. For them it was just a way of getting influence and maintaining control. If Lenin had lived longer it may have become a market economy, same if Beria had taken control. And then there is "Communism" in China and North Korea.

The only people who believe in Communism are those people at Universities and selling the Socialist Worker on the streets in the West. The biggest con of the 20th Century and took a lot of clever people in. The name says it all - useful idiots. A term coined by Lenin I think.

[UndercoverElephant]

Useful fools around the world, mostly from the far-left, but very recently from the far-right too have long looked to Russia for guidance, and money. You could have argued that Russia and the Soviets before that were always an oligarchy and dictatorship just whitewashing (or should that be redwashing) as Communism.

You might try to argue that, but it would be nonsense. The Soviet Union was a communist state right up until the end. Communism failed, but not because it was an oligarchy or dictatorship. It failed because communism doesn't work very well. The Soviet Union collapsed because communism doesn't work. It doesn't work because without a connection between effort and/or ability and reward, not enough people can be bothered to try very hard. Nobody gives a shit, so the whole system inexorably declines all the time.

I doubt Russians ever believed in Communism.

You doubt that Lenin was a communist??

Did every Russian believe communism was the best way? Of course not - that is why people tried to escape across the iron curtain. But that isn't what we are discussing. We are discussing whether or not the Soviet Union was communist, and if you're doubting that then you are bonkers, quite frankly.

For them it was just a way of getting influence and maintaining control. If Lenin had lived longer it may have become a market economy, same if Beria had taken control. And then there is "Communism" in China and North Korea.

The only people who believe in Communism are those people at Universities and selling the Socialist Worker on the streets in the West. The biggest con of the 20th Century and took a lot of clever people in. The name says it all - useful idiots. A term coined by Lenin I think.

I think you may have had too many magic mushrooms this evening.

[BritDownUnder]

You need to look up the New Economic Policy and the Dictatorship of the Proletariat.

Dictatorship was the goal - Communism was the means.

Now go get a good nights sleep.

[dustiswhatweare]

Amusing take (well I think it's amusing) on far right 'competence'. A look at UK Conservatives and US Republicans.

I haven't punched myself in the face repeatedly of late. Maybe next time I'll vote Conservative, it'll be just as painful, but less physicality involved.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfr ... tory-party

[BritDownUnder]

I read a history textbook that used the phrase "managing decline". It sums it up quite well. Some do it well. Some do it poorly.
However it must be said that most "far-right" government have been handed a far from optimal economy by centre-left governments that have outlived their popularity.

[adam2]

Zahawi gone. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-politics-64439757

[dustiswhatweare]

Raab next, followed by Braverman. Unless someone else does something dumb or something dumb is unearthed. I'm not counting Johnson and the current inquiry into his behaviour.

[Mark]

Zahawi gone. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-politics-64439757

Yet another self entitled Tory caught with his snout in the trough...
I've seriously lost count now.... that must be nearly 50% of their MPs done for something or other...
They're taking us for fools, but they'll still get plenty of votes come the next GE.......

Also, remember this guy was in charge of the national finances...
His every action whilst in post should now be reviewed in light of his corruption.

[UndercoverElephant]

They're taking us for fools, but they'll still get plenty of votes come the next GE.......

Not enough votes to remain in government.

[Catweazle]

Which makes them even more dangerous. Expect to see massive plundering of public money in the next two years, probably in infrastructure construction.

[Mark]

Which makes them even more dangerous. Expect to see massive plundering of public money in the next two years, probably in infrastructure construction.

Agreed - with such a high level of government corruption, theft of our money is almost inevitable...
We've already seen what has happened with PPE Contracts, 'Bounce Back' loans, 'Eat out to Help out' etc. etc.