Comments - 3rd of July 1970: Day of Treachery - The Wild Geese2024-03-29T07:50:03Zhttps://thewildgeese.irish/profiles/comment/feed?attachedTo=6442157%3ABlogPost%3A215449&xn_auth=noTo Michael Dunne:
Michael, I…tag:thewildgeese.irish,2017-05-06:6442157:Comment:2166512017-05-06T13:50:42.568ZColm Herronhttps://thewildgeese.irish/profile/ColmHerron
<p>To Michael Dunne:</p>
<p>Michael, I didn't address the other reasons you gave for the Irish Labour Party being also rans for most of their existence - but I agree with the 3 reasons you gave. My computer was driving me mad for 3 hours (" You are offline, etc, etc") and by the time I was allowed to reply to your message I was a wet rag!</p>
<p>To Michael Dunne:</p>
<p>Michael, I didn't address the other reasons you gave for the Irish Labour Party being also rans for most of their existence - but I agree with the 3 reasons you gave. My computer was driving me mad for 3 hours (" You are offline, etc, etc") and by the time I was allowed to reply to your message I was a wet rag!</p> To That's Just How It Was:
Ma…tag:thewildgeese.irish,2017-05-06:6442157:Comment:2166502017-05-06T13:44:02.624ZColm Herronhttps://thewildgeese.irish/profile/ColmHerron
<p>To That's Just How It Was:</p>
<p>Mary, democracy really is a maddening thing. Fools are voted in by people who can't think straight because they are preoccupied with a host of personal, health and financial problems and the bell curve (of normal intelligence distribution of intelligence) adds to the problem. Only a minority of people are equipped to see through the lies and half-truths, etc. It's no wonder dictators and autocrats want to lengthen their term in office; they think they are…</p>
<p>To That's Just How It Was:</p>
<p>Mary, democracy really is a maddening thing. Fools are voted in by people who can't think straight because they are preoccupied with a host of personal, health and financial problems and the bell curve (of normal intelligence distribution of intelligence) adds to the problem. Only a minority of people are equipped to see through the lies and half-truths, etc. It's no wonder dictators and autocrats want to lengthen their term in office; they think they are right and that no one else will do the job properly. Put simply, they try to run rings round the electorate because they (the dictators) don't trust them. It's terrible, Mary. Will you join the revolution? :-))</p> We live in interesting times.…tag:thewildgeese.irish,2017-05-05:6442157:Comment:2166442017-05-05T21:56:37.489Zmichael dunnehttps://thewildgeese.irish/profile/michaeldunne
<p>We live in interesting times. I worry for the young people, but live in hope.</p>
<p>Colm,</p>
<p>Seems like a long time ago since I read it also but I I never will forget the loathsome Joe Gowlan. Even though this book is long out of print sadly the world has many Joe Gowlan's in political life today, and the ability to manipulate the media facilitates to this end.</p>
<p>We live in interesting times. I worry for the young people, but live in hope.</p>
<p>Colm,</p>
<p>Seems like a long time ago since I read it also but I I never will forget the loathsome Joe Gowlan. Even though this book is long out of print sadly the world has many Joe Gowlan's in political life today, and the ability to manipulate the media facilitates to this end.</p> Oh Colm... When are the peopl…tag:thewildgeese.irish,2017-05-05:6442157:Comment:2165582017-05-05T16:14:50.685ZThat's Just How It Washttps://thewildgeese.irish/profile/MaryThorpe
<p>Oh Colm... When are the people of the UK going to wake up to what the Tory's have done to the country, Bedroom Tax, NHS in Crisis , Food Banks for goodness sake, in a wealthy country... It is really unbelievable ......And yes I agree with you... unless Labour wake up, then its another 5 years of cuts, cuts , and more cuts... As a retired Social Worker ,, I remember all too well when Margaret Thatcher was in Power , She <span> dissemination teh country, roads full of potholes, NHS in…</span></p>
<p>Oh Colm... When are the people of the UK going to wake up to what the Tory's have done to the country, Bedroom Tax, NHS in Crisis , Food Banks for goodness sake, in a wealthy country... It is really unbelievable ......And yes I agree with you... unless Labour wake up, then its another 5 years of cuts, cuts , and more cuts... As a retired Social Worker ,, I remember all too well when Margaret Thatcher was in Power , She <span> dissemination teh country, roads full of potholes, NHS in tatters, Social Services almost obliterated , Strikes were banned. the whole country was in a state of </span> poverty, yet the people in their ignorance still voted her in for a 3rd term.... Thankfully I heal onto my job !!!</p> You've brought back memories…tag:thewildgeese.irish,2017-05-05:6442157:Comment:2163832017-05-05T15:13:52.367ZColm Herronhttps://thewildgeese.irish/profile/ColmHerron
<p>You've brought back memories Michael, especially of The Stars Look Down. I read that when I was 19 and it got to me, influenced me in important ways.</p>
<p>I see British Labour got a drubbing in the local elections. A dry chastening run. I was glad to see that because it should give them pause for serious thought. If they don't change direction from their present Brexit strategy - if you can call that incoherence a strategy - then real bad times lie ahead.</p>
<p>You've brought back memories Michael, especially of The Stars Look Down. I read that when I was 19 and it got to me, influenced me in important ways.</p>
<p>I see British Labour got a drubbing in the local elections. A dry chastening run. I was glad to see that because it should give them pause for serious thought. If they don't change direction from their present Brexit strategy - if you can call that incoherence a strategy - then real bad times lie ahead.</p> A bleak but honest outlook Co…tag:thewildgeese.irish,2017-05-04:6442157:Comment:2163762017-05-04T10:24:19.527Zmichael dunnehttps://thewildgeese.irish/profile/michaeldunne
<p>A bleak but honest outlook Colm. Tweedledum and Tweedledee are representative of the general public. This adds further to the bleakness as a combination of material considerations. Irish conservatism and the opposition of the Catholic Church, were powerful enemies to a Labour government. I think the biggest stumbling blocks were the unhealthy relationship between Labour and the Trade Union Movement and the elitist politics of their Labour candidates. It should be incumbent on any socialist…</p>
<p>A bleak but honest outlook Colm. Tweedledum and Tweedledee are representative of the general public. This adds further to the bleakness as a combination of material considerations. Irish conservatism and the opposition of the Catholic Church, were powerful enemies to a Labour government. I think the biggest stumbling blocks were the unhealthy relationship between Labour and the Trade Union Movement and the elitist politics of their Labour candidates. It should be incumbent on any socialist minded people aspiring to politics, to read the Ragged Trousered Philantrophists, The Stars Look Down, The Grapes of Wrath, Rousseau's Treatise on Inequality and the Social Contract and of course Animal Farm. </p> Michael, the way I see Irish…tag:thewildgeese.irish,2017-05-04:6442157:Comment:2165462017-05-04T09:20:16.003ZColm Herronhttps://thewildgeese.irish/profile/ColmHerron
<p>Michael, the way I see Irish (RoI) politics is this. The civil war divisions segued into a form of tribalism between Tweedledum and Tweedledee and this state of affairs went a long way to snuffing out real socialism. That said, I have great respect for Joe Higgins and now for the <span>Socialist Party/Solidarity alliance which is starting to make inroads. Sinn Fein pose selectively as some kind of socialist party but if they do finally take power- in coalition or otherwise - with a rainbow…</span></p>
<p>Michael, the way I see Irish (RoI) politics is this. The civil war divisions segued into a form of tribalism between Tweedledum and Tweedledee and this state of affairs went a long way to snuffing out real socialism. That said, I have great respect for Joe Higgins and now for the <span>Socialist Party/Solidarity alliance which is starting to make inroads. Sinn Fein pose selectively as some kind of socialist party but if they do finally take power- in coalition or otherwise - with a rainbow mishmash, I think they will be exposed as charlatans. Remember that old Smirnoff TV ad where the revolutionaries marched into the president's office and took over and almost immediately began sampling from the drinks cabinet. Soon the door crashes open and the new revolutionaries take over .... and so on and so on. Cue for last paragraph of Animal Farm!</span></p>
<p><span><span>The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again: but already it was impossible to say which was which.</span> </span></p> Hello Mary and Colin. Thank y…tag:thewildgeese.irish,2017-05-03:6442157:Comment:2165422017-05-03T23:19:27.310Zmichael dunnehttps://thewildgeese.irish/profile/michaeldunne
<p>Hello Mary and Colin. Thank you.</p>
<p>That summary after the Tressil extract was written pre Brexit and I though, like most, that the remain camp was reasonably safe. The voting pattern and the general dissatisfaction with the status quo in the UK appears to be coming from the older age group, who, after having a reasonable quality of life thanks to the EU, have pulled up the ladder on the younger citizens ignoring the inferior quality of life now looming. If they were truly analytical…</p>
<p>Hello Mary and Colin. Thank you.</p>
<p>That summary after the Tressil extract was written pre Brexit and I though, like most, that the remain camp was reasonably safe. The voting pattern and the general dissatisfaction with the status quo in the UK appears to be coming from the older age group, who, after having a reasonable quality of life thanks to the EU, have pulled up the ladder on the younger citizens ignoring the inferior quality of life now looming. If they were truly analytical the public should be the first to realize that the EU funding they received was squandered or helped the affluent sections of UK to be even more so. Poor government decisions led the UK citizens to this sorry state not the EU. I hope Corbyn gives himself a shake and takes the fight to the Conservatives. Even Heseltine stated that Labour has it in its power to win any general election. At least he appears to be of the people and there is still a sizeable Labour alternative there unlike Ireland. Cad a thárla leo?</p> To: That's Just How It Was
Ma…tag:thewildgeese.irish,2017-05-03:6442157:Comment:2166232017-05-03T12:07:21.661ZColm Herronhttps://thewildgeese.irish/profile/ColmHerron
<p>To: That's Just How It Was</p>
<p>Mary, I agree with most of what you say but I think it will be years before the harsh realisation re Brexit permeates most of their skulls. More than 80 of the British media is owned by big business - the shower of leeches who financed Brexit. And the BBC is a disgrace, always flowing with the effluent and affluent tide.</p>
<p>Unless there is a massive bolt from the blue between now and 8 June the Tories , in my opinion, will walk the election. Notice that…</p>
<p>To: That's Just How It Was</p>
<p>Mary, I agree with most of what you say but I think it will be years before the harsh realisation re Brexit permeates most of their skulls. More than 80 of the British media is owned by big business - the shower of leeches who financed Brexit. And the BBC is a disgrace, always flowing with the effluent and affluent tide.</p>
<p>Unless there is a massive bolt from the blue between now and 8 June the Tories , in my opinion, will walk the election. Notice that election day is plumb in the middle of big State exams in the UK, involving the very people who could make a dent in May's vote.</p>
<p>As for Corbyn, he's been badly advised. He still has time to change tack and take the Liberal Party's line on Brexit. But I can't see hi doing it. He'll never get anywhere by being Tory-lite.</p>
<p>To Michael:</p>
<p>"It is hardly credible these people want to return to the underside of the Edwardian Twilight, of exploitative employment,when the only safety nets then were charity, the workhouse and the grave...." So true Michael, but the Tory media currently has them in a stranglehold - and of course the Tories have all the tricks to get under their skin. Money makes money and success makes success. It's awful.</p>
<p>The Ragged Trousered Philantrophists is reminiscent of Swift. Tressils was a voice in the wilderness and a wilderness is what faces the Brits - and unfortunately all of Ireland now. The way ahead is desperately unclear. May wants only to make her mark on history; she doesn't care much how. This is important because, no matter about this "strong mandate" that she claims to need, she will go with the flow and the flow is controlled by the mogul-owned media.</p>
<p>"I dont believe the British people are that easily led and I do believe a clear majority will see this campaign for what it is." Michael, I wish you were right but I fear they may not. Not unless there is the bolt from the blue that I referred to in my reply to Mary. This could take any one of a variety of forms. It may be wishful thinking on my part that May will go before 2022 and that there will be a rerun of the referendum but those two possibilities are our only hope.</p> michael dunne.. thank you for…tag:thewildgeese.irish,2017-05-02:6442157:Comment:2165362017-05-02T12:22:56.371ZThat's Just How It Washttps://thewildgeese.irish/profile/MaryThorpe
<p>michael dunne.. thank you for that piece by<span> Robert Tressils</span> ... It is indeed a wonderful lessons in 'history repeating itself.' </p>
<p> I honestly do hope that the British people will see through this propaganda.by the Tory Party.. and vote for a government that will govern for all the people, not just the few.. Ireland will also be greatly effected by Brixit, and I cannot see how the Unionists would willing allow a united Ireland because of Border controls ... It is…</p>
<p>michael dunne.. thank you for that piece by<span> Robert Tressils</span> ... It is indeed a wonderful lessons in 'history repeating itself.' </p>
<p> I honestly do hope that the British people will see through this propaganda.by the Tory Party.. and vote for a government that will govern for all the people, not just the few.. Ireland will also be greatly effected by Brixit, and I cannot see how the Unionists would willing allow a united Ireland because of Border controls ... It is dangerous time we are living through again.. </p>