Watch out for sneaky government legislation.

[Serial_Apologist]

Covid has provided a very useful (unfortunately) screen behind which to hide all the various undesirable moves. As to why it's not reported, well my perception is that little of what happens in this country is now reported anywhere, presumably to avoid the ire and action of those who wield control over the press and BBC. So much for a free press, only applies when writing about other countries?

Those who wield control being the multi-billionaire press barons and evermore compliant boards of director's of broadcasting companies, including the BBC, who (from what we have seen for years now in their management of Radio 3) just want to keep infantilising and grooming compliance in their consumers. Passive consumption just about sums it up, really: Marcuse was, after all, right when he wrote One Dimensional Man and warned about all this back in the 1960s. Such a shame really, because what has it all been for? Or, more pertinently, whom?

[french frank]

Passive consumption just about sums it up, really: Marcuse was, after all, right when he wrote One Dimensional Man and warned about all this back in the 1960s.

That was what FoR3 was arguing, beset by all the red herrings of 'They want to get rid of jazz/world music/speech programmes' to enrage as many people as possible against us. Passive consumption is just where R3 is heading too and this is supposed to be for the intelligentsia . Insidious.

I did have this plan of organising people to join the Tory party and establish a 'Tory party activist' reputation and then write in to papers all over the country as Worried/Angry/Appalled Conservative to publicise all this. But I've just looked: standard annual sub is £25, so I ditched the plan and removed the cookie ('38 seconds ago') from my laptop. Back to the drawing board.

PS Just struck by this headline from the BBC Live feed: "Tory donors 'vetted in the normal way' - PM"

[oddoneout]

That was what FoR3 was arguing, beset by all the red herrings of 'They want to get rid of jazz/world music/speech programmes' to enrage as many people as possible against us. Passive consumption is just where R3 is heading too and this is supposed to be for the intelligentsia . Insidious.

I did have this plan of organising people to join the Tory party and establish a 'Tory party activist' reputation and then write in to papers all over the country as Worried/Angry/Appalled Conservative to publicise all this. But I've just looked: standard annual sub is £25, so I ditched the plan and removed the cookie ('38 seconds ago') from my laptop. Back to the drawing board.

PS Just struck by this headline from the BBC Live feed: "Tory donors 'vetted in the normal way' - PM"

Now why did the words "two bricks" come to mind I wonder? Wishful thinking perhaps, knowing that what the PM actually meant was the nod and a wink "normal way".

[oddoneout]

Don't remember "establish police state" appearing in the manifesto.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/oct/05/priti-patel-to-enable-police-to-stop-disruptive-protesters-going-to-demos

This is a whole different order of control beyond the public interest action that prevents known football hooligans from travelling to/attending matches. Thin end of the wedge.

[gradus]

Just wonder what percentage of the Great British Public are aware of the government's undemocratic plans.
Apart from Jonathan Freedland's article there seems to have been little discussion of them in the mainstream media.

JR

Freedland's article should be spread as widely as possible and I'll do my bit.

[Serial_Apologist]

Don't remember "establish police state" appearing in the manifesto.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/oct/05/priti-patel-to-enable-police-to-stop-disruptive-protesters-going-to-demos

This is a whole different order of control beyond the public interest action that prevents known football hooligans from travelling to/attending matches. Thin end of the wedge.

In police stopping, without then-existing legal back-up, miners' pickets travelling to coal depots during the miners' strike in the 1980s, the Tories have form in this area.

[ardcarp]

Don't remember "establish police state" appearing in the manifesto.
https://www.theguardian.com/politics...going-to-demos

Horrendous infringement of civil liberty. Is this what THEY meant by 'getting our country back'?

[oddoneout]

Horrendous infringement of civil liberty. Is this what THEY meant by 'getting our country back'?

It would seem that "our" has a rather more limited meaning for this government than the general public would understand.
It's such a disproportionate response; yes it's a problem when the motorway gets blocked temporarily, but when compared with the blockages caused by the avoidable petrol and diesel supply problems resulting from government mismanagement, which has actually caused the most difficulty? And wouldn't it be an idea to try talking with the protestors who after all have a perfectly legitimate point to make about the dreadful standards of house building and energy demands in this country - again which can be laid at this government's feet since they have been in power long enough to make changes, but have chosen not to since it might affect the flow of money into the Party coffers.

[oddoneout]

And still it comes...

https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/ournhs/forget-the-spin-new-english-nhs-bill-is-all-about-cutting-our-right-to-healthcare/

[ardcarp]

OMG This makes scary reading.
Especially: https://calderdaleandkirklees999call...ly21-final.pdf

Thanks for bringing it to our notice, odders.

[teamsaint]

In police stopping, without then-existing legal back-up, miners' pickets travelling to coal depots during the miners' strike in the 1980s, the Tories have form in this area.

Yes they do indeed. Unfortunately things have careered out of control over the last 18 months, and the censorship enabled for “ public health” reasons is , I fear, just a starting point. Covid has been a cover for some really disastrous changes in policy.

[teamsaint]

OMG This makes scary reading.
Especially: https://calderdaleandkirklees999call...ly21-final.pdf

Thanks for bringing it to our notice, odders.

Yes, agreed. First I have heard of this. What on earth to make of “ Group of people” in point no 2, for example ?

Where is parliament when you really need it ?

[oddoneout]

Yes, agreed. First I have heard of this. What on earth to make of “ Group of people” in point no 2, for example ?

Where is parliament when you really need it ?

Translation: those tiresome inadequates who insist on being or becoming ill when they do not have the means to support that lifestyle choice.

[subcontrabass]

And still it comes...
https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/our...to-healthcare/

A "rule of thumb" that I have found useful is that whatever the Tories claim some policy or legislation is intended to achieve, it will normally achieve exctly the opposite.

[teamsaint]

Translation: those tiresome inadequates who insist on being or becoming ill when they do not have the means to support that lifestyle choice.

I don’t suppose retreating into music with a decent pair of headphones will help much ?

No, though not.
tempting though

I must say that the last few years, and 18 months in particular have found me looking more and more, musically , to times when possibilities seemed to be endless and positive, musicians might help drive us in great new directions, protest might actually achieve things. When visions were of better times ahead.

50’s jazz , 60’s psychedelic pop, the Beethoven late quartets, whatever.