The Last Ditch by Tom Paine

5 responses to “Some cynical nihilism”

1. 

   Guthrum

   November 7, 2008

   If you have ever been to Glenrothes you will understand why, it is a classic client state of Labour. A new town designed from day one to be like that. Frankly I never really saw why Glenrothes new town existed, I do now.
   The truly terrifying thing about the Glenrothes by election was the news blackout, I even tuned into BBC Scotland on Sky- nothing absolutely nothing, until the result came in and now it is the lead or second story on every news bulletin- attributing the ‘victory’ personally to the Lord Protector.
   For me the result was not a surprise, the news management was for just how blatant it was.

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2. 

   Alix

   November 7, 2008

   Heavens. Thank you.

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3. 

   Kevyn Bodman

   November 7, 2008

   Tom,
   Many years ago there was an advertising campaign for a now un-remembered product that had the slogan , ‘It’s good, but not that good.’
   That works for the blog post you linked to.
   We could all benefit from Blears’ speech being fisked.
   It’s only been partly done.
   Her implication that there is any obligation to ‘add value’ should be dealt with.There is no such obligation.
   Then it should be demonstated that some blogs do in fact add value by exposing the venality of some politicians.Exposing deviousness and mendacity in our leaders is always beneficial.That point has been made, and bears repeating. And repeating.
   The implication that in some way Cabinet ministers are excluded from participation in web-based debates should be laughed off, and dissected.
   Then the coordinated action of Blears, Burnham and Nominet in floating the idea of ‘control’ of websites must be exposed;Samizdata did this but more bloggers should pick that up.
   Then there is the on-going process of chipping away at our liberties that have been systematically eroded since May 1997.
   We could do with regular reminders of what has happened, and a warning that our leaders still have unfulfilled ambitions.
   I think the Opposition have been woeful on these matters.
   So weak have they been that I suspect they too are tempted to take the view that the population should be treated as suspects.
   I believe that many MPs in opposition parties side more with their House of Commons colleagues than with the voters, and they join in what seems me to be the dislike of the population.Peter Oborne’s idea of the ‘political class’ seems pretty accurate to me.
   Many states regard their own population as potential enermies; ours may not have gone that far, yet. But they certainly view us as suspects.
   Then there are the instances of lying by the PM and other organs of the state.
   We are in a desperate mess.
   Another reason the post is ‘not that good’ is the descent into swearblogging.
   I can be as foul-mouthed as most people at the appropriate time; it’s a way of identifying with a group and we probably all do it at some time.
   But swearbloggers do not change their readers’ minds.
   I would bet that His Grace, even though he has been dead for more than 400 years, changes more minds than the Devil, who is immortal.
   And that last sentence, I’m afraid, shows another shortcoming.
   You and most of your readers know who His Grace and the Devil are, but it’s a limited reference.
   We all write for our readers, but it’s better not to make it too difficult for passers-by.
   But I am tending towards despair.
   There are days when I really do think it is all hopeless.

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4. 

   guthrum

   November 7, 2008

   OH has put the demographics of Glenrothes up, 30% are inactive, 35% work for directly for the State, its a client state

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5. 

   Rob

   November 8, 2008

   “….it is quite possibly the best political blog post I have ever read. My congratulations to Alix Mortimer are – to be honest – tinged with envy. It is the post I have been trying to write for three years.”
   I think you’re being too kind to AM and far too unfair to yourself.
   There is not much in her post which isn’t said repeatedly in the comment section of the Guardian’s Comment is Free. So, whilst there is nothing to disagree with, there is nothing original either – more importantly, there is nothing memorable – nothing which stands out and makes you say to yourself, I must remember that phrase and use it myself if I have the opportunity.
   It is on this point that I beleive your own writing is in a class of its own. Somehow you manage to summon just the right words to crystalise what others are thinking. For me, in the passage you have just written, this; “the Scots have yet again proved that there is no Labour government too vile for them to support.” sums up the despair many in England feel towards our northern cousins. It exemplifies why, in my opiniion, Tom you are the master of the mot juste.

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