American social care

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The Rise of the Deplorables: Part 2

The symbolic power of the flag has undergone a renaissance over the last decade or so, particularly in the UK and America and, currently, your response to your national flag, more often than not, reflects your political outlook and societal values. In both the UK and America the national flag has become synonymous with patriotism and aggressive right wing politics. The above quotation refers to false patriotism camouflaging self interests and hidden motives. The accusation of a lack of patriotism and glorification of a country’s national flag is used to to undermine the loyalty of left leaning people and, in effect, is a stick to beat them with.

This is a typical tactic of the right to simplify the attack on thinking people and reduce essential issues to emotional jingoism. Populist, rabble rousing politicians and associated activists do not want the populace to think: they want them to feel. To consider issues objectively, with reference to agreed facts is anathema and to be absolutely avoided. Study the public addresses of megalomaniacs or autocrats in history and it will clearly demonstrate their power to arouse emotions and direct hostility towards particular target groups. Trump is the latest iteration, Nigel Farage, a minor UK example.

An associated tactic is the spreading of conspiracy and deep state theories. These work on many levels. The susceptible person or group is subject to information on the internet which, on the face it, purports to be scandalous, sexually outrageous, harmful to victims and decent law abiding society at large, unfairly financially rewarding or undermines trust in institutions. It doesn’t matter if the details are bizarre because the secret elites act in concert and have no respect for normal societal rules. They are powerful and capable of anything and need to be rooted out. State control should shrink drastically and personal freedom restored if the ordinary, hard working, decent person is to flourish. Out with woke nonsense and the nanny state. People’s precarious financial positions, inability to pay for their health needs, unemployment, lack of education, poor housing, lack of employment rights and failure to advance themselves gain little traction or objective analysis, at least amongst American Republicans and assorted right wingers. The stoking of fear, anxiety and hostile emotions, often towards demonised groups like immigrants or minorities, successfully deflects attention elsewhere. BUT Trump is the deep state. The obscenely rich fascist tech bros are the deep state. Who, but the comprehensively deceived, would trust highly dubious multi millionaires and billionaires and those with a vested interest in promoting paranoia?

In the UK we tend to put our trust in Conservative posh boys. The showman and charlatan Boris Johnson being the best example. Usually educated at the most prestigious fee paying publc schools, politicians like Johnson ooze confidence and self assurance. Their education provides the highest degree of articulacy and persuasiveness. We are mesmorised by their charm and easily manipulated. Boris Johnson’s comedic talents ensured style over substance won hands down.

In the UK we are far less into conspiracy theories but we do excel in demonising immigrants, welfare benefits claimants and taxing the poorest people in our society. Oh yes, and pretending we have influence on the international stage, another boys’ game for appearing to care about principles and creating a lavish spectacle. We have a Labour government at last, but there are formidable dark forces lined up against it. It doesn’t help that the government are perceived to be stumbling from one crisis to another. It all feels a bit like The Lord of the Rings.

Still running around 25-30k weekly. No further injuries. I’ll be rejoining a gym soon to get some upper body strength back. I ran the Epping Forest 10k trail run in October which I found challenging and I also fell over. Interestingly other runners usually ask if you are okay but run on before they receive a reply. This time several runners actually stopped. Fortunately I wasn’t injured and carried on with greater care. I think the course was chosen for the greatest density of trees with the maximum of exposed roots. It was a very enjoyable run and I’ll do it next year.

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Covid 19 has changed everything

The Cambridge half marathon took place on the cusp of more Draconian measures to combat the corona virus, on March 8th. So quickly have we been conditioned to self distance to protect ourselves, it feels unsettling to see these images.


Cambridge and Coleridge come in first and second (middle and right side C and C’er respectively). There should be a law to ensure they are putting in maximum effort and suffering at all times. I know this is the start of the race but they still looked composed at the end of it.

 No family member took part this year. I’ve still got a dodgy knee and my eldest son was unwell and had to forgo his place

In the UK, at present time of writing, we are allowed to exercise once daily, outside our homes, and appropriately observing social distancing requirements. My knee is still problematic, and my referral to the muscular-skeletal clinic has probably fallen into a black hole but I’m able to run short distances each day. The roads are very quiet and lots of people are walking around who wouldn’t normally be on the streets. Plenty of us are running. Personally, I feel the fitter I am, the greater resilience I will have if I contract the virus. I’m in one of the vulnerable categories because of heart disease so I am particularly careful. I feel fit and my lung capacity must be good. I don’t feel at risk but, of course, I risk others’ health if I become ill.

The middle class are about to discover the cruelty of Britain’s benefits system

The coronavirus crisis ignites a bonfire of Conservative party orthodoxies

Coronavirus exposes society’s fragility. Let’s find solutions that endure once it’s over

It takes a whole world to create a new virus, not just China

The above links are to Guardian or Observer articles and offer analysis to these drastically changing times. It’s ironic that the Labour Party’s manifesto, before the last Uk election in December 2019, was roundly criticised for its profligacy on spending plans to transform British society. We are in a crisis now and there doesn’t appear to be a shortage of financial help. This may be vital to maintain confidence in our economic system and prevent societal unrest and civil disorder. But the same Tories have presided over swingeing cuts to the NHS, education, social services, children’s services and local goverment for well over a decade  I had an argument with an idiot in a hospital outpatient clinic who kept on repeating “Where’s the money coming from?” The right wing have done such a good job in subverting the concept of public good and replacing it with fear and condemnation and personal threat, a large number of people can’t see the wood for the trees.

So galling seeing the Tories and their scientific and medical friends, standing at lecterns which proclain” Protect the NHS”, during the daily press briefings. As if they believe that.

I believe there will be a reckoning when this present emergency subsides and hopefully the evil Tories won’t succeed in spinning their own version of events.

Pity the poor Americans. Trump living on another planet and unable to string a coherent sentence together and suffering  wholly inadequate health care and social benefit systems. Where’s the humanity?