I'm not part of the actual Occupy movement as I'm not camping out in St Paul's Cathedral or anything like that, but I admire how the Occupiers are protesting against the greed of the banks and politicians.
I hate how the UK's current government is out to destroy the lives and livelihoods of all except their little upper-class mates with cuts and Workfare (Forcing people to take on unpaid work that they may well be unqualified to do; forcing the terminally ill to work and cutting off benefit to people with disabilities and mental illness after a year in the vain - and extremely stupid - hope they'll "get better".
Also, I enjoy shopping far too much and am quite brand-conscious.
Most of my "political ""activity"" " on Twitter or filling out online petitions. I follow a few accounts along the lines of @ManufactDissent; @GirlsManifesto; @Anti_Church and @InjusticeFacts.
I agree with some of what they say, but I find some of their views extremist. @GirlsManifesto is - I think - particularly bad for this and this account turns its nose up at anything to do with the mass media.
Actual examples:-
"The revolutionary girl hates the fashion industry because it violates and maims the psychology of women." - Only if you're stupid enough to take the fashion industry literally! It IS possible to enjoy fashion and have a conscience, strangely enough.
"The revolutionary girl despises capitalist 'pop' culture because it is mindless, stupid and poisonous to the struggle." - Sometimes you need a mindless escape from things!
I **know** I can unfollow the accounts that annoy me easily enough! It's just that I haven't yet because, irrationally, I feel like I might be betraying someone or something if I do.
I hate how the UK's current government is out to destroy the lives and livelihoods of all except their little upper-class mates with cuts and Workfare (Forcing people to take on unpaid work that they may well be unqualified to do; forcing the terminally ill to work and cutting off benefit to people with disabilities and mental illness after a year in the vain - and extremely stupid - hope they'll "get better".
Also, I enjoy shopping far too much and am quite brand-conscious.
Most of my "political ""activity"" " on Twitter or filling out online petitions. I follow a few accounts along the lines of @ManufactDissent; @GirlsManifesto; @Anti_Church and @InjusticeFacts.
I agree with some of what they say, but I find some of their views extremist. @GirlsManifesto is - I think - particularly bad for this and this account turns its nose up at anything to do with the mass media.
Actual examples:-
"The revolutionary girl hates the fashion industry because it violates and maims the psychology of women." - Only if you're stupid enough to take the fashion industry literally! It IS possible to enjoy fashion and have a conscience, strangely enough.
"The revolutionary girl despises capitalist 'pop' culture because it is mindless, stupid and poisonous to the struggle." - Sometimes you need a mindless escape from things!
I **know** I can unfollow the accounts that annoy me easily enough! It's just that I haven't yet because, irrationally, I feel like I might be betraying someone or something if I do.
This kind of socialism takes itself much too seriously and can't help but push out towards the radical fringe. The worst thing of all is that if you are centre-left, there is not only no newspaper for you in this country, but no political party either.
I don't understand why the right wing can cope with multiple shades of rightness and the left wing doesn't seem able to do the same with leftness.