Saturday, December 26, 2009

Boxing Day Review of Blogs

For once I am fairly up-to-date on what is being posted on my “favourite” blogs. So here is a quick review of some of the stuff I found interesting in the last week or so.

Topically I found Jack of Kentfisking” of the Christmas Story to be pretty convincing. In “An Atheist looks at Christmas” he sets out to demolish there being any historical basis whatsoever to the biblical Christmas Story. Despite having a similar approach to organised religion as Jack I found myself surprisingly disappointed at what he had found.

Harry’s Place had two very good posts IMO (I would say that wouldn’t I) here and here.

While former Labour and Tory Newham Councillor “Big Bad Mikey” who I have just barred from posting comments on this blog is bemoaning his lot and trying to tell the world how ‘orrible I have been to him! Check out "I Love Newham Labour".

Tom Harris MP co-incidentally “says it as it is” about Mr Very Angry bloggers and newspaper letter writers.

Stronger Unions have been posting a Union advent each day this month on all the advantages of trade unionism.

Check out the picture of a Ghost of Christmas Past at trade union history site Country Standard.

Will Straw in Left Foot Forward argues persuasively that Labour needs a new electoral policy. While I agree we need a new policy I am not sure that writing off the aspirational working class is necessarily it?

Finally the Higher Rate Tax Payers Avoidance Alliance are asked to repay the estimated £150k plus of tax they have fiddled.

9 comments:

ian said...

Happy New Year John.

I think we need to reassess what the 'aspirational working class' is in 2010.
In 1997 it featured heavily in New Labours philosophy. The recession has put paid to that along with Gordons 'end of boom and bust' view.

Most working class people I know now aspire to either getting a job or keeping it.

regards

Ian

John Gray said...

Hi Ian
And a Happy New Year to you!

Yes and Yes...but most of them do not think that the recession will last forever and are already thinking aboutwhat Party will be best for them and families economically.

When I go campaigning on a Sunday in the large former LCC council estates outside London practically every other door a Commercial vehicle or van is parked outside. Plumbers, mechanics, builders, contract cleaning, security, parcel delivery, catering... Yes, a lot of “self employment” is bogus but we need to get these people on our side.

What do we have to offer them? If we do not offer them what they think is important then they will vote Tory (or worse)

They are still a key part of our core vote. They are our people. To win we need to get everybody out next year. So Yes, do more in terms of social justice and squeeze the rich but we ignore those “who want to get on” at our peril.

ian said...

Hi John

As an ex self employed person I can say that collectivism rules over individualiam. That is what the Labour Party should be about.

The white van brigade represent a minority of the working class. You have to go into the service sector and the banks to to where the new working class is, Also you need to look into the public sector.

You have a 1997 view there John. It isnt going to get us votes.

Regards

Ian

Anonymous said...

We need more Class war not less

the rich are still getting richer

we need to drag the Party back to that

I dont care how we dress it up

its them or us

to the barricades comrades

keeping fighting John Iam sure you will be on our side and the Tories and Trots on the other

Jack of Kent said...

Hi John

Thanks so much for the mention. Could you tell me why you were disappointed?

Best wishes
Jack

John Gray said...

Hi Ian
As a former white van man myself (well, I use to deliver bread and pies from my uncles bakery during summer holidays) and someone was self-employed for a time (a pretty horrible experience on the whole) I agree with you. However, it’s no use agreeing amongst ourselves we have got to go out and persuade people about the benefits of an active state and public services.

These are our people and if we don’t connect with them not only will we lose but they will go elsewhere. And I don’t mean the Tories...

Hi anon
Trots and Tories! Love it!

Hi Jack
Thank you for your acknowledgement. I was disappointed because I was brought up on this story in School and in our wider culture and now find out that there is not a shred of evidence that it happened. I had always assumed there was something...

Keep up your good work with your blog and support for Simon against the evil ones. As you may know I declare a personal interest in this subject.

Anonymous said...

John
Is it right to continue to dig at Mike Law but bar him from responding?

I write as a Labour Party member with some sympathy for the principled stand Mike has taken over important issues in Newham.

I've always been impressed that you don't censor posts for political reasons and I feel you may be making a mistake here. But it's your blog, and you will make your own judgements.

It's ironic perhaps, since you yourself have taken a principled stand on occasions that has set you at odds with the establishment in our borough... Unlike Mike you've managed to stay with the Party, and I respect this of course. But that doesn't mean that Mike does not deserve credit for taking a principled stand.

I'll still support you for the council, in the hope that you may continue to show principle and independence.

John Gray said...

Hi Newham Anon
I take your point about barring Mike while still digging it out. I regret barring him since I don’t like censorship and it makes me seem a little full of myself.

People can judge for themselves whether or not it was the right thing or not. I think I can plea extreme provocation. Unlike some I would never suggest that anyone was a racist to make a cheap political point or joke. We’re see what happens when the dust dies down a bit.

In my defence I did link to his blog on this post where he explained (at length) how he was right and I was wrong. He has since made another similar post on this subject and will no doubt be responding to this comment as well (at similar length).

I don’t mind Mike making his “principled stands” what I object to is his “holier than thou” aggression coupled with a lack of any awareness or humility that maybe he is a little wrong, maybe he hasn’t gone about things the right way...

Says me...

Ps thank you for your support whoever you are.

Mike Law said...

No I won't