Monday sees the real opening of the Labour Party Conference. Once again the news will be filled with the speeches, the outpourings of a variety of suited men and coiffured women, most of whom will remain unknown until their retirement. Leading actors (and this is a good word here) will flit across the screen pouting and lying with little real understanding of what to do about the major economic problems of the day. Ideology, all too often ill thought out by the present bunch in the 'House,' will govern they speech while underneath the real purpose of every word you hear is "I want to be King!"
As you will know the Labour Party grew among working men who suffered appalling conditions while the rich enjoyed the benefits of both Empire and their workers slog. Change had to come and now, after two major wars, years of depression, and several self seeking governments we have a wealthy nation confused and fearful of global economic collapse. What does this Labour Party, under it's somewhat insipid leader, have to say to those losing their jobs, homes and hope? Nothing except words I suspect. While millions suffer the majority have much, much more than they really require, a complacency exists among many who still have an income, and many talk of 'poverty' while real poverty is only found abroad in the Third World still.
One year, when I was rich, I had a year off and done a course with the Open University and done occasional temporary work to keep sufficient funds for luxuries, like bread and mince. I also watched all three major parties conferences, and I am not sure I could stomach this again. The liberal Democrats at that time were far from government, had lots of talk, many ideas, most hair-brained, and spent much time lying to camera while planning to stab one another in the back. The Labour Party, sorry, 'New Labour,' were very different. In days of yore the conference debated all major policy points, not by the time of Tony Blair. Only his agenda was followed and all went smoothly, except those speaking lies to camera while stabbing each other straight in the cheat! The Labour folk never hid their differences. The then governing Tories were "All together fighting the socialists" while lying to camera with false smiles and stabbing one another in the back. I just cannot bear, or is that bare, to think what it will be like when they meet this year. Cameron the PR guru will be more airbrushed than ever, the speeches full of self satisfied bumf and the leading millionaires will wander around looking down on their fellows smug in the knowledge that they, and their tax avoided millions in foreign banks, cannot be touched.
The populace, w will just have to make do and mend with this lot for a while. No beliefs, no policies that work, no real idea how to handle the real economic danger, and I have the feeling we are sleepwalking to disaster. You know I agreed with this early this morning, "No sense in being pessimistic, it wouldn't work anyway," But now I am not so sure!
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