Yeah, I’ve not read Wealth of Nations, but I’ve heard that it doesn’t really support the libertarian/ultra-capitalist view of the economy who are the ones who like to quote it out of context the most… He was, after all, not an economist, but a moral philosopher.
Yeah, right wingers really just quote one sentence of Smith, and ignore everything else he says. Especially the following:
On the value of Labour:
Labour was the first price, the original purchase-money that was paid for all things. It was not by gold or by silver, but by labour, that all the wealth of the world was originally purchased; and its value, to those who possess it, and who want to exchange it for some new productions, is precisely equal to the quantity of labour which it can enable them to purchase or command.
On the origin of profit:
The value which the workmen add to the materials, therefore, resolves itself in this case into two parts, of which the one pays their wages, the other the profits of the employer upon the whole stock of materials and wages which he advanced.
On Government and policing:
Civil government, so far as it is instituted for the security of property, is in reality instituted for the defence of the rich against the poor, or of those who have some property against those who have none at all.
and on whining about wage increases:
Our merchants and master-manufacturers complain much of the bad effects of high wages in raising the price, and thereby lessening the sale of their goods both at home and abroad. They say nothing concerning the bad effects of high profits. They are silent with regard to the pernicious effects of their own gains. They complain only of those of other people.
Excellent! Good on her and Corbyn.
I’m not sure she would ban suffragettes (unless some of them were trans of course).
Being consistent isn’t really part of what authoritarians do. As Monbiot makes clear in his comparison between the different behaviours towards climate protestors and wealthy landowners in expensive tractors.
I’m not as confident
Keir Starmer, future Labour leader and prime minister, was on a team representing one of the appellants.
One of my friends was arrested a week ago at a London Palestine Action support protest, “obstruction”.
Are they out? Are they okay?
Out after a short visit, he is okay, no violence or aggro on either side.
It was basically a manufactured situation, the protest was moved at short notice from a largish area to a much smaller one (basic kettling technique). So with the numbers involved it overflowed onto the street, one officer warns people to get back onto the already jammed pavement (sidewalk), one of his mates sweeps along after to make arrests. C. is an experienced demonstrator and manages to avoid arrest while making his point, this time he failed, charges are unlikely, but the result is that temporarily (a likely story) his face and DNA are on record.
Well, good for him for taking the streets on this issue and I’m sorry he got arrested. Glad he’s okay! Do you think he’ll continue on, despite the authorities having his info?
That seemed to barely get covered. I read something on LBV about a vicar being arrested among others but the Guardian and BBC didn’t seem to have that protest covered.
I mean surely arresting people as terrorists for peaceful demonstration is newsworthy?
Yes he will. He believes the authorities already had some details, enough to identify him. I would be surprised if my image, at least, were not on some database although I am by no means as active.
It was reported by several outlets including BBC and Sky, but you are right that many demonstrations are routinely ignored.
My friend was not arrested as a terrorist (or under anti-terror legislation) but for obstruction which is a catch-all offence, often used by police to “keep the peace” and/or appease their political masters.
The bigger UK personality presence in these hearings has been Dame Esther Rantzen, who, among other impressive achievements, fronted the light entertainment show “That’s Life!” from 1973 to 1994.
She revealed that her lung cancer had progressed to stage IV in 2023, and has been heavily campaigning in favour of the bill.
With all the love in my heart to PTerry, Esther’s a far more widely recognised figure in UK culture.
Not sure the best place for this.
Easy way around age gating in bluesky in the UK
