tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4486641877026778105.post6189283159098454076..comments2024-03-27T09:14:27.496+00:00Comments on All That Is Solid ...: Parliamentary CretinismPhilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06298147857234479278noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4486641877026778105.post-2408449360318649312017-08-25T09:26:17.257+01:002017-08-25T09:26:17.257+01:00Hi Iaian,
I half-inched it from here. But can'...Hi Iaian,<br /><br />I half-inched it from <a href="https://www.marxists.org/glossary/terms/p/a.htm" rel="nofollow">here</a>. But can't find anything more than that, arrgh!Philhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06298147857234479278noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4486641877026778105.post-45250241448977293632017-08-25T09:08:00.064+01:002017-08-25T09:08:00.064+01:00Iain asks for the source of the Engels quote. Than...Iain asks for the source of the Engels quote. Thanks the MIA search function, I found it in seconds:<br /><br />https://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1852/germany/ch15.htm<br /><br />[Waves to Iain, an old sparring partner from back when the Net was young.]Kenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03493440163559858462noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4486641877026778105.post-19098090899547786922017-08-23T11:48:03.998+01:002017-08-23T11:48:03.998+01:00In their different ways, Pound (who is a windup me...In their different ways, Pound (who is a windup merhant) and Philips (who is an egomaniac) have both managed to get themselves in the papers during the annual silly season. Best to ignore.David Timoneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03568348438980023320noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4486641877026778105.post-2910673117375200662017-08-23T09:50:03.302+01:002017-08-23T09:50:03.302+01:00To be fair to Jess, Mark, she was apparently "...To be fair to Jess, Mark, she was apparently "just passing" and had her family with her. Over the last few days she has been very clear she thinks all of this is nonsense.Philhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06298147857234479278noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4486641877026778105.post-57268490920161166142017-08-23T09:47:42.396+01:002017-08-23T09:47:42.396+01:00Your best bit of prose ever. No more o be said. ...Your best bit of prose ever. No more o be said. Why not offer it to the Guardian ?Walsiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14287542481842382567noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4486641877026778105.post-43129131699115814782017-08-23T09:07:14.938+01:002017-08-23T09:07:14.938+01:00Silly question, but where exactly did Engels write...Silly question, but where exactly did Engels write the following:<br /><br />"is an incurable disease, an ailment whose unfortunate victims are permeated by the lofty conviction that the whole world, its history and its future are directed and determined by a majority of votes of just that very representative institution that has the honour of having them in the capacity of its members". <br /><br />This is much quoted on the internet, but never with a reference to a specific work or letter. It always seems to appear unreferenced. <br /><br />So any idea where it comes from? <br /><br />Iain<br />http://www.anarchistfaq.orgAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4486641877026778105.post-39985175105952119592017-08-23T07:40:12.536+01:002017-08-23T07:40:12.536+01:00While I can see that shaking off the medieval pomp...While I can see that shaking off the medieval pomp and Oxford Union snootiness are easy enough I'd like to know how we might do more to reduce the alienating effects you describe. Aren't they intrinsic to the nature of parliaments?<br /><br />What's notable about the bongs fiasco is that the MPs who mourned the silencing of the bell were jumping to the Daily Mail's tune. Our disgusting press will resist changes to Parliament far more than most MPs.SimonBnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4486641877026778105.post-23512832141979720382017-08-22T23:27:51.699+01:002017-08-22T23:27:51.699+01:00Jess Phillips was there.Jess Phillips was there.Shai Masothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00452453462950704943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4486641877026778105.post-54171198397125840902017-08-22T23:22:55.854+01:002017-08-22T23:22:55.854+01:00I think there are three things being conflated her...I think there are three things being conflated here.<br /><br />1) Parliamentary traditions (e.g., Black Rod, State Opening, etc, etc). I don't find these too objectionable. They certainly aren't a discouragement to 'normal people' who want to get into politics, because most of them will start at the local council level, where the only such flummery they're likely to encounter is a Mayoral chain or the odd Town Crier. If people want to get maudlin over a clock-tower, then let them. It's their workplace and they can be forgiven a bit of sentimentality.<br /><br />2) Out-and-out See You Next Tuesdays like Rees-Mogg. He's one of those horrible parody Tories who emerge from time to time, and more a symptom of the reactionary nature of that party than a symptom of a debased executive. Just off the top of my head, his conceptual ancestors include Rhodes Boyson, Gerald Nabarro, Nicholas Fairburn, and assorted other Wodehousian deadbeats - not least of which is currently our Foreign Secretary.<br /><br />3) The degree to which Britain's legislature and executive are profoundly detached from the economic realities of life for the overwhelming majority of the people they ostensibly serve. The contrast between their emoting over Big Ben and their near-indifference to Grenfell Tower is breathtaking. It's this point, I think, that is the most outright offensive.<br /><br />But finally, I think this is just a silly season story, puffed into the media by a bumbling administration looking to score easy media points. Ultimately, it's a distraction from far bigger things going on in the public psyche. What does nearly everyone remember about the death of a certain minor royal, 20 years ago this month? The argument over the fucking flag on top of Buckingham Palace.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com