You know I do think Marx was essentially correct in much of his thinking. Capitalism is probably ultimately unsustainable when the gulf between the haves and have nots is too big and the have nots are great in number. This will inevitably come about I think as we inexorably progress towards a world where robots and AI have eliminated nearly all jobs. Another method of redistribution of wealth will be needed. I've thought so for the past 35 years, and incidentally way before I knew anything about Marx!
I also think he was right about religion. It's a load of poppycock which served a purpose hundreds of years ago - "fear of God" etc - but which has no place in modern society. Far from being a ludicrous but nevertheless harmless pastime, it is the root cause of all kinds of problems and indeed deaths on an enormous scale. It does far more harm than good and ultimately we should get rid of it.
Marx' problem was that he was so insightful, his ideas were perhaps 250 years ahead of his time. Nowadays most people in the west lead comfortable lives and the numbers who want to rise up in a cultural Revolution are few.
Do you agree more benefits should apply to those that have worked in the past but now can not do so due to illness, disability of simply unable to get a job because of their age?Within the next few decades more and more people will be sat on their arses and will have no choice, AI will see to that and once it’s in, it’ll snowball.
When it comes to the “scroungers” now, it’s a drop in the ocean when it comes to government expenditure. We’ve lost more fannying about with Brexit since 2016, and we’ve not left yet, than we’ve spent on the unemployed.
Over 70% of the welfare state is spent on people’s pensions.
If Labour do look after the unemployed more, which any government should do, the cost will be a lot lower than you think.
Reading some of the comments from former Thomas Cook staff and how they cannot afford their next mortgage payment, it got me thinking their must be a safety net when people are plunged into these situations.
Do you agree more benefits should apply to those that have worked in the past but now can not do so due to illness, disability of simply unable to get a job because of their age?
Or do you think idle fuckers who have never worked or have any intention of working should get the same benefits with the kicker of having more kids equals more benefits? The problem being kids of long term non working parents are far more likely to drop in that trap themselves and with inspiration and aspiration sadly lacking the spiral of more and more benefits for the unemployed will continue.
I’m all for looking after the genuinely affected individuals and families but there’s a significant number out there who take the piss out of the system and have a far better lifestyle than a lot of minimum wage earners, however the latter still have their dignity.
Again, not making that distinction. Where the hell have you gotten that from!?
He was stating that Marx, being a Jew, meant that Labour members who support Marx, couldn't be antisemitic because Marx wasn't antisemitic on the grounds he was also jewish. Antisemitism is hatred of both the faith and/or the people. Marx hated the faith and made many antisemitic statements about religious Jews. Being of Jewish decent did not mean he didn't or couldn't say things that were antisemitic, or that many Marxist hold antisemitic views based on Marx's comments.
You can be atheist and Jewish; that is an absolutely ridiculous and offensive statement to make, and also goes against entirely what point you were making. In many ways "Jewish" has replaced "Hebrew" as the ethnic term for many Jews, because "Jewish" is an ethnoreligious term. You're talking to someone who's part-ethnically Jewish here, mate. You can be an ethnic Jew and not follow the faith, or be an ethnic Jew and follow the Jewish religion. Marx was the former, I was making that distinction, that Marx wasn't a religious Jew, which is how the post appeared to me. The fact he was an ethnic jew is irrelevent to the fact he made antisemitic statements, nor does it absolve him from for being seen as making antisemitic statements for doing so.
As I said, the knock on effect from generation to generation is the worrying aspect, not just the increasing cost of the benefits to the state but the social aspect of the kids lacking ambition and pride.Completely agree yes.
My point is though that they piss takers are so insignificant that it doesn’t make a difference.
As I said, the knock on effect from generation to generation is the worrying aspect, not just the increasing cost of the benefits to the state but the social aspect of the kids lacking ambition and pride.
Someone once told me there are no bad kids, just bad parents, not far off the truth.
So would I, I feel for the kids that live in poverty and have very unhealthy lifestyles due to their parents benefits being partly spent on fags and booze.I’d much rather concentrate on promoting the benefits of working than trying to punish a fraction of the population and it is a fraction.
Then I apologise for the outburst.Sorry that was a typo - meant to say “you can be Jewish and Atheist”.
Fucking phone is always autocorrecting the wrong shit.
That’s my whole point that the faith is different to the ethnicity.
Marx criticising the faith isn’t antisemitic and because he’s a ethnic Jew he’s well within his rights to.
Criticising the faith doesn’t make you antisemitic, the term literally means bigotry against ethnic Jews.
Of course he is wrong, being a Marx follower doesn’t exempt you from being an antisemite.
Then I apologise for the outburst.
This next election is gonna show us exactly where we are from a social point of view. If the Tories win seats in poor northern towns based on Brexit and Boris fighting for the people against the elite when Labour are promising to sack off the devastating universal credit then we know the manipulation will be complete.
I do get the picture, absolutely.The issue comes when those that claim they have nothing in reality have a 3 bedroom semi, a car, maybe even 2, both in work, kids in school, holiday abroad every year, take out once a week......you get the picture.
Possibly. But I see and hear about the misery uc has caused people these past couple of years. If those same people that have been affected by it then vote Tory then what can you do?!Or you have just called it badly wrong?
I do get the picture, absolutely.
For a few in our society these days, life is truly awful and for them my heart goes out and we really do need to provide as much help and support as we can.
But for the many, life is not truly awful, in fact it's OK.
And yet Labour would have you believe everything is *terrible* and the majority are in dire straights. It's nonsense. And this misalignment between what they are "selling" and actual reality, explains why a true left wing Labour party has not won a general election for 45 years.
Who you fooling? Which part am I lying about, going out with my wife and having a lovely evening or the taking her to bed bit?Hahahahaha, I knew it.
You've been on here all night, replying to me. Who you fooling?
Been thinking on that comeback all day, have you? ;)Who you fooling? Which part am I lying about, going out with my wife and having a lovely evening or the taking her to bed bit?
I did say evening. I was out from 6pm and didn’t get home until around 9:30pm, a nice meal and a few drinks.
Stop being a hater just because you could probably only manage a wank and a pot-noodle.
I logged on for the first time today about 5mins before I posted it. I had a late night so had a bit of a lie-in.Been thinking on that comeback all day, have you? ;)
Had to add an oxo.I logged on for the first time today about 5mins before I posted it. I had a late night so had a bit of a lie-in.
How was your pot-noodle? ;)
Who you fooling? Which part am I lying about, going out with my wife and having a lovely evening or the taking her to bed bit?
I did say evening. I was out from 6pm and didn’t get home until around 9:30pm, a nice meal and a few drinks.
Stop being a hater just because you could probably only manage a wank and a pot-noodle.