Typically, this blog has been a wrestling one. Unfortunately, in the last two-or-so years I have fallen heavily OUT of love with wrestling. It's gotten to the point where I was just watching WCW Nitros on the WWE Network, but now I've cancelled the subscription and that's the end of that (for now?).
Over-analysing wrestling and letting crap shows get me down, I've now accepted that it's just not for me any more. I don't have the time, either. Since my last blog post (about two years ago?!), I have bought a house and am expecting my first child any day now (note: by publishing time, he will probably be here!). As a result of this, I have given up a lot of shows I was watching, podcasts I was listening to, and generally clearing out the clutter that took up too much of my time. It was hugely needed and I've not missed the various things that I've sacrificed as I enter the next stage of my life.
Over this period of time, I have gotten into politics quite a bit. That brings me to this post:
Introduction to the post
Currently, I am wading my way through all the goings-on in politics. This is mainly US politics as I have a very negative view of British politics. It almost feels like a lost cause in this country to care any more due to the right-wing's achievement of fooling the majority of the country into believing that they have their best interests at heart. I'm getting ahead of myself, though.
US politics really interests me at the moment obviously due to Donald Trump. I am still baffled as to how America elected such a moron as President. I realise that many Americans feel left behind and not catered for, but this protest vote will be hugely regretted, if it hasn't already started to feel that way. Trump saying that he will look after the little guy is right up there with the notion that a Tory government out of Europe would put £350 million into the NHS - Labour's massively successful Socialist achievement.
Anyway, this post will hopefully be the start of something. My goal has always been to write regularly, but wrestling really took a hammer to that. Politics is something that can really piss me off at times, but I'm OK with that. I'd be very surprised if it didn't!
I should point out, as I did to the two mates who suggested that I start writing about politics on here, that, although I have many thoughts and feelings about politics, there are probably many, many gaps in my knowledge and understanding of things within the political landscape. So, until I learn a little more, I will probably come across as a complete novice and a ranting, rambling idiot. Basically, it's the same as Trump; we're both learning on the job, the difference is I haven't got millions of people's lives in my hands.
The UK Election approaches...
On 8th June, we have a general election in the UK. It was opportunistically called by Theresa May, despite saying she wouldn't call one before 2020. Even though I think she's a bitch (worse than Thatcher? Only history will judge), I can't fault her timing. There are so many things in her favour. The billionaire-owned media have done a wonderful job in making her main rival, Jeremy Corbyn, look like a completely incompetent radical - despite his policies/ideas being anything but radical. I'm not even sure that there's an argument that he's not helped himself, really; I think that the deck has been so overwhelmingly stacked against him and Labour (even from within his own party), that there's just not enough trust in him. The second, and probably more important factor is Brexit. The people of the UK were fooled into this decision because foreigners are to blame for everything, apparently, and not the powers-that-be that actually have the power to change certain things, but won't because scapegoats are just SO easy to find. As a result, I can't see the tide turning against the Tories with the important negotiations ahead of us.
I suppose what needs to happen is for the Tories to oversee Brexit to the finish and then be held accountable for the catastrophic fallout. Hopefully by then people would have seen the utter devastation that a Tory government can cause and be angry enough to vote for REAL change. Or they can carry on reading the daily rags and believe every word of it. This probably seems like I want the world to burn, but it just appears that people are completely blind to what is going on and, maybe, things need to get really bad - as if increased homelessness over the last several years isn't reason enough to worry - before they open their eyes and get genuinely angry.
Fundamentals
From a young age, I was always encouraged to vote Labour. Dad got me into this. But, as I got older, I realised that I really did aligned with their beliefs. It hasn't been until the last few years that I have realised (convinced myself?) that the 'New' Labour government under Tony Blair was just Tory-lite. Don't get me wrong; they probably did do things for the working classes, but ultimately, for thirteen-years, they were the lesser of two evils (more on that term later).
When I say 'probably did do things for the working classes' it would probably be better put that they 'threw them a bone'. This, it appears, is what every government in my lifetime has done - thrown a bone to the lower end of society just enough that they vote for them. The bigger priority has been to appease the rich and big business (more on that later, too).
I am left-wing. Absolutely. I am for EVERYONE being able to live a good life without worry of homelessness or poverty. It is crazy that in 2017 things like that haven't been eradicated. Unfortunately, we live in a world where Capitalism has got its grubby hands on all aspects of life and as a result we live in a 'survival of the fittest' environment. In the past, I think I have said that Capitalism is evil and needs bringing down, which is 100% true while it is being abused the way it is, but I think I'd be more willing to see a half and half situation, whereby Capitalism can work alongside Socialism. Unfortunately, that's not the most profitable and will never be allowed to happen. I think it DID happen in the 1940s/50s (?) and worked pretty well (here's a gap in my knowledge that I could be wrong on).
A note on Left vs. Right
I'm not sure if this is a good way to look at things, but it's very black and white to me when it comes to political alignment. If you are left-wing/leaning then you want everyone to be OK/comfortable in their lives and it would massively help if, instead of the super-rich siphoning all the money upwards (and out of the country), they, maybe, pay a bit more to improve the country's well-being. Not just improve their own. Right-wing/leaning, in my eyes, seems to be more about the individual, the lower end of society be damned and the top end NOT be condemned.
I think that because of the last (nearly) forty-years of right-wing control, we have gotten away from being a community and have just concentrated on ourselves. This has been somewhat a necessity as purse-strings have gotten tighter. This has been sold as a great thing, but in truth, it just feels like a sneaky divide-and-conquer tactic. And it's worked. It's actually become the norm and to question it gets you odd looks, as if being about the many and not just the self makes you a bad person. Instead of getting together and having a shared view of the powers-that-be, we argue amongst ourselves and blame
Scroungers vs. The Super-rich
I often have conversations with a mate about our beliefs on this matter. He is someone that is very proud of how hard he has worked to get where he has gotten. I'm very proud of him, too, as I am with anyone I know that has done well for themselves and works hard. One topic of dispute is when he makes the point of his annoyance at benefit recipients (mainly 'scroungers'). A reason that he votes for Tories is that he believes that Labour are too lenient on this issue. I would agree with him to a certain extent when it comes to people on benefits that rely on them and don't have any intention of finding a job. Where the conversation often takes a turn and doesn't get resolved is when the issue of (a) the working poor and (b) the super-rich/big businesses comes up.
With regards to the working poor of this country, how is it fair that someone works forty-hours a week and is still in poverty; in some cases they claim benefits to top-up their inadequate wages? Not everyone can have a great, well-paid job. Some people didn't do well at school for numerous reasons; why should they be punished for this? No, they shouldn't be paid the same as a doctor, but it shouldn't be acceptable for them to be below the breadline, either.
There is also the reality that certain jobs simply need to be done. As much as they are sometimes ridiculed, people still need to clean toilets and someone needs to grill the burgers in McDonald's etc. Why is it that someone should not be paid enough from these jobs that they can't afford the basics in life? And additionally, why do these people then get demonised for claiming benefits that they NEED to top up their wages?
(On the subject of pay; why is it that there is a 'living wage' for over-25s? What did the 18-24 year-olds do wrong?)
"It's the way it is"...
This phrase is said too often with regards to the situations I addressed above. It's particularly apt when talking about how much tax those at the top end of society pay (or don't pay). It is completely unacceptable that those at the top shouldn't pay their fair share. I saw an interview on the TV where the presenter said that Google doesn't pay anywhere close to the 20% tax that they should do in the UK. How do they get away with it? I couldn't get away with offering to pay what I felt I wanted to pay, so why should they?
I suppose the easy answer is Capitalism. Google CAN pay what they want because if our government doesn't like it, then they'll (Google) simply move business out of the UK and a lot of jobs would be lost as well as the measly amount of tax that they do pay. This is a great example of who ACTUALLY runs the country. Capitalism has allowed people to get filthy rich and, in turn, dictate what does and doesn't work for them. If this isn't the case, it sure looks that way.
Connected to this is the tax rate that big business/high earners pay. Under the Tories, it would continue to reduce because 'competition'. What a wonderful excuse, eh? It wouldn't be so bad if the profits from the lower tax rate was shared amongst the workers nearer the bottom that created it, but it won't be. It never will be in this system we have. The alternative would be a Labour government putting the tax rate UP. Unfortunately, this is what's needed, but would probably be great ammunition for the Tories and their media pals as big businesses would show their power, up-and-leave and Corbyn and co. would be seen as the bad guys.
I'm really not sure what the answer is to this, but simply saying 'that's the way it is' is such a defeatist attitude that far too many people have.
Not voting
There are times when I feel like it's pointless for me to vote. Where I live, it is a heavily Tory-voting area. The Lib Dems are the closest thing to competition here. Therefore, I have to vote tactically to stand any chance of seeing my preference (Labour) get into power. I don't want to vote for the Lib Dems, but voting for Labour is a wasted vote in this area. How is that democracy? The system is not fit for purpose. This is probably a massive reason why so many people don't vote. Not only do they not believe that their vote matters anyway, but they probably don't even understand how the voting works. They probably see it as how the US votes for a President: red or blue, A or B, him or her (more likely him or him). In this country, you're not actually voting directly for Jeremy Corbyn or Theresa May, unless you live in Islington North or Maidenhead. Even then, you're only voting for that person to retain that seat.
This convoluted, arcaic method, coupled with apathy and gerrymandering, has the Tories rubbing their hands with glee.
The 'lesser of two evils'
Is this what the 'choice' has come to? Doesn't it say that things are completely damaged when Clinton vs. Trump and Macron vs. Le Pen is a toss-up between the 'lesser of two evils'? Why have we never got two decent, solid choices for the most important job in the land?
OK, I've probably rambled for long enough. I've probably missed loads out, but I've always gone by the rule that it's my blog, my rules, so I'm sure I'll do a follow-up post to add more thoughts on my beliefs etc.
Please vote on June 8th, and please vote Labour. Do you really disagree with many/any of their policies?
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