BS: Power corrupts, absolutely !

Subject: RE: BS: Power corrupts, absolutely !
From: Greg F.
Date: 17 Dec 16 - 01:09 PM

Actually, Ache's views - especially in relation to U.S. politics- are incompatible with reality even in the broadest sense.

Subject: RE: BS: Power corrupts, absolutely !
From: Stu
Date: 17 Dec 16 - 12:14 PM

Like I say Ake, words. Your views are incompatible with socialism even in the broadest sense.

Subject: RE: BS: Power corrupts, absolutely !
From: akenaton
Date: 16 Dec 16 - 05:42 PM

If the confusion does not clear up try reading some of the views of Jim Sillars, who is also a social conservative, just like myself.

Subject: RE: BS: Power corrupts, absolutely !
From: akenaton
Date: 16 Dec 16 - 05:39 PM

I think you are getting confused Stu......don't you really mean

" I see nothing in your posts that indicates a disposition towards "liberalism"?   I regularly promote socialism on this forum.

Subject: RE: BS: Power corrupts, absolutely !
From: Stu
Date: 16 Dec 16 - 01:20 PM

"but surely you are aware of the main tenet of socialism, which is the replacement of the capitalist economic system?"

You sure about that? There's more than one strand of socialism, you can't reduce such a diverse and disparate political creed into a single definition.

"I have been a member of a socialist party for most of my adult life."

Means nothing Ake, not a thing. It's actions, opinions and intent that attract us to whatever interests us, and I see nothing in your posts that indicates a disposition towards socialism.

Subject: RE: BS: Power corrupts, absolutely !
From: beardedbruce
Date: 16 Dec 16 - 12:50 PM

Sorry, GregtrF,

You have demonstrated that is where you keep your brain, where it can't be exposed to any reality.

Subject: RE: BS: Power corrupts, absolutely !
From: Greg F.
Date: 16 Dec 16 - 12:46 PM

No, GregtrF, it is YOUR head up your ass.

Jeri?

Subject: RE: BS: Power corrupts, absolutely !
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 16 Dec 16 - 12:25 PM

"the main tenet of socialism, which is the replacement of the capitalist economic system?
That is a non sequitur - of course that is what it is - the question is TO WHAT State Capitalist, Fascist, feudal, nomadic rural... what a crass statement.
Socialism is a system run by the people as a whole, answerable to all and for the benefit of all.
It is, by definition - a left movement
The extremist right-wing philosophy you have persistently propounded runs exactly counter to all of these, if fact, you have dismissed them as undesirable or impractical.
You may have been a member of Socialist organisation all of your life, but you have learned nothing.
Perhaps you might clarify your stance by pointing out where we can find it documented and accessible.
Trump's Socialism - a sick joke?
I doubt if you know what any of us here have been members of or voted for and it is arrogance worthy of Teribus to make such a statement
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: BS: Power corrupts, absolutely !
From: beardedbruce
Date: 16 Dec 16 - 11:55 AM

No, GregtrF, it is YOUR head up your ass.

Subject: RE: BS: Power corrupts, absolutely !
From: Greg F.
Date: 16 Dec 16 - 11:50 AM

Ache's hand up your back, Mr T?

Subject: RE: BS: Power corrupts, absolutely !
From: Teribus
Date: 16 Dec 16 - 11:26 AM

By the what they write and by the things they feel they have to defend GregF

Subject: RE: BS: Power corrupts, absolutely !
From: Greg F.
Date: 16 Dec 16 - 11:17 AM

I know none of you are socialists

How?

Subject: RE: BS: Power corrupts, absolutely !
From: akenaton
Date: 16 Dec 16 - 10:56 AM

I know none of you are socialists and certain none of you have voted for or been members of a Socialist Party, but surely you are aware of the main tenet of socialism, which is the replacement of the capitalist economic system?

You are a bunch of pseuds, you walk the walk....etc.

I have been a member of a socialist party for most of my adult life.

Subject: RE: BS: Power corrupts, absolutely !
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 16 Dec 16 - 07:53 AM

"You gotta call out the alt-right."
Agree absolutely Stu, but from personal experience, these eejits are only worth so much time.
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: BS: Power corrupts, absolutely !
From: Stu
Date: 16 Dec 16 - 07:12 AM

You gotta call out the alt-right.

Subject: RE: BS: Power corrupts, absolutely !
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 16 Dec 16 - 06:44 AM

Oh God, don't encourage him, Stu.

Subject: RE: BS: Power corrupts, absolutely !
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 16 Dec 16 - 06:44 AM

"Jim lad, "
For Christ sake Ake - can you not coome up with something better than an invention of a raving troll
Grow up.
" a true socialist is never a member of the "liberal" left."!
Your claim showsd an ignorance of the term liberal and of my politics.
I have asked you to identify your "socialism" - you refuse
I have asked you your opinions on basic socialist beliefs - you refuse to respond
You claim you don't have to be left to be socialist and contemptuously refer to "lefties" (having thrown a hissy-fit when you were accused of doing so)
You are not a socialist - I have never counted national socialism as anything but a misnomer - that is what you are.
You appear to be incapable of posting without displaying your homophobia
You never ever answer questions and you have ben exposed as aserial liar.
You are a mess - you are certainly in no polsittion to tell others what they are when you don't seem to know what you are
If you have anything to say on this subject, do so, but get out of my ****** hair - you are becoming a stalker.
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: BS: Power corrupts, absolutely !
From: Stu
Date: 16 Dec 16 - 06:27 AM

"As I have repeatedly tried to explain, a true socialist is never a member of the "liberal" left"

A "true socialist"? What does this mean exactly? Sounds like the sort of reductionist claptrap you'd expect from the alt-right; a term vague enough to mean nothing but sound a bit dismissive of people who hold a different opinion.

Socialism's a broad church, so what makes a "true socialist" would be interesting to know. Certainly not someone who supports Trump, Farage and Putin. C'mon Ake, enlighten us.

Subject: RE: BS: Power corrupts, absolutely !
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 16 Dec 16 - 06:15 AM

You may have tried, but you have never actually managed to explain anything to anybody. You are one of the most confused people I've ever encountered, and, as you once again reveal in your post, you spice your confusion with both ignorance and bigotry. Detestable.

Subject: RE: BS: Power corrupts, absolutely !
From: akenaton
Date: 16 Dec 16 - 05:56 AM

""liberal" left, whinging and complaining constantly..."
Spoken like a true "socialist"

Jim lad, As I have repeatedly tried to explain, a true socialist is never a member of the "liberal" left. You people have no intention of changing the economic system....you are all much too comfortable for that; better to live out your days whining about the marriage "rights" of sexual minorities, our "duty" to accept unlimited numbers of economic migrants and suchlike nonsense.

I think they call it "posturing" but in modern parlance its paucity is betrayed by "transparency".

Subject: RE: BS: Power corrupts, absolutely !
From: Iains
Date: 16 Dec 16 - 04:51 AM

Jim I would hope context would distinguish clearly when I am being serious and when I am having a little dig. Unfortunately some project a persona that positively invites retribution, as I have found out.
Such is life!

Subject: RE: BS: Power corrupts, absolutely !
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 15 Dec 16 - 07:22 PM

".irony requires a sense of humour and a little intelligence, "
And honesty requres responses to point - none from you Ake - just dishomest and distortion of the English language
"I would certainly hope so too!"
Glad to hear it - you srike me as being better than that.
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: BS: Power corrupts, absolutely !
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 15 Dec 16 - 03:40 PM

Well I'll just have to come over all enigmatic and tell you two silly buggers to work it out for yourselves, won't I. Get a grip, Iains. As for you, Ache, I always take great comfort from your criticisms as it proves I'm doing something right.

Subject: RE: BS: Power corrupts, absolutely !
From: Iains
Date: 15 Dec 16 - 03:24 PM

I would certainly hope so too!

Subject: RE: BS: Power corrupts, absolutely !
From: akenaton
Date: 15 Dec 16 - 03:24 PM

"Steve was being ironical"......irony requires a sense of humour and a little intelligence, neither of which Mr Shaw seems to possess.

Subject: RE: BS: Power corrupts, absolutely !
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 15 Dec 16 - 02:58 PM

"you really must hide your jealousy, "
Please don't disillusion me by suggesting that anybody should be jealous of being friends with you - or anybody.
It really isn't what we're here for.
I have little doubt that Steve was being ironical - I hope you were.
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: BS: Power corrupts, absolutely !
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 15 Dec 16 - 02:27 PM

Oh, I know. I keep harassing myself with the thought "with friends like Iain's...."

Subject: RE: BS: Power corrupts, absolutely !
From: Iains
Date: 15 Dec 16 - 02:19 PM

Mr Shaw you really must hide your jealousy, it is becoming embarrassing

Subject: RE: BS: Power corrupts, absolutely !
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 15 Dec 16 - 02:03 PM

Too late, Greg. They've already made friends on another thread, the one about panicking about getting hit by a fireball sent from heaven! 😂

Subject: RE: BS: Power corrupts, absolutely !
From: Greg F.
Date: 15 Dec 16 - 01:05 PM

Now if we can just convince CowFart to put his oar in......

Subject: RE: BS: Power corrupts, absolutely !
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 15 Dec 16 - 01:03 PM

You weren't doing too well before, Iains. Now you're in real trouble. Akenaton's become your best mate! 😂

Subject: RE: BS: Power corrupts, absolutely !
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 15 Dec 16 - 12:53 PM

"This thread has regressed into drivel."
It certainly has now you've arrived
""liberal" left, whinging and complaining constantly..."
Spoken like a true "socialist"
"her job was to make it profitable."
For the already wealthy at the cost of working class jobs and standards of living
Socialist my arse
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: BS: Power corrupts, absolutely !
From: akenaton
Date: 15 Dec 16 - 12:08 PM

This thread has regressed into drivel.
"Maggie's destruction of the mining industry in particular and of trade unions in general was entirely ideologically-led."

Of course it was ideologically led, for fuck sake she was Prime minister of a capitalist economy, one which you twerps have voted for all your lives, her job was to make it profitable.
It wasn't Maggie's fault or even the swine Blair's fault....it was your fault; you intelligent well educated people should know that is how capitalism survives and when it can no longer survive it moves on as it has done now.....We can look forward not to regeneration but to third world status unless we wake up, curtail our wastefulness and start a bit of forward planning.
That is the trouble with the "liberal" left, whinging and complaining constantly....always somebody else's fault while living your comfortable lives on pensions that most of you never did a days proper work for.

Iians I applaud your posts, you are a great addition to the forum.

Subject: RE: BS: Power corrupts, absolutely !
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 15 Dec 16 - 08:36 AM

"Good Governance requires a strong opposition to make the ruling party accountable"
Not sure of where Thatcher stands in this description
Good government has to work for all, not just the privileged, as it does now - and has, with a few notable blis, always done.
If it is not accountable to all, it has to be made to be - in my opinion, only a change in how they are elected and how accountable they are have to be built in to aby democratic system.
How are people to remain engaged?
A good start might be to make them engaged in the first place - they most certainly are not at present
You mention the Luddites - a perfect example of an entire voiceless class attempting to defend itself - brave, if muddle-headed man and women with an eye to their starving families.
I can agree with much of what you say, but it lacks conclusion and it is somewhat confused- how to change things and what to?
Survelence happened long before the artistically-named "war on terror" - and excuse to find out what we are doing and saying.
Terrorism has become a meaningless convenient label
The poor of the middle east and Africa who protested all became "terrorists" when they got no help and took things into their own hands - genuine terrorists took advantage of the support we never gave - now all are "terrorists" and monsters like Assad are on our side in the "War on Terrorism", backed by a Russia that has been "freed from Communism" - that's how nonsensical the term has become.
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: BS: Power corrupts, absolutely !
From: Iains
Date: 15 Dec 16 - 07:31 AM

Jim both you and Steve make interesting points. But:

Good Governance requires a strong opposition to make the ruling party accountable, otherwise it will ride roughshod over everyone.
The government as an entity will survive no matter what the social cost. Do you seriously believe all the propaganda thrown out about the war on terror or is it just a subterfuge to enable the government to keep tabs on the citizenry. Why is this paramount? Is it because government sees a future when they can no longer hide the fact that jobs are evaporating far faster than they can be replaced? Could it be they are scared? It is very convenient to have Mr Putin as the neighbourhood bogyman as an excuse curtail freedom and spy on everyone. They have looked at the future and to quote the add, If it is bright and orange it is probably from flames fanned by an outraged citizenry.
We cannot return to the days of the Luddites, we have built a technological civilisation. The concomitant result of this is that as systems get more complex they require far less manpower and become far more vulnerable.
    Neither of you appear to distinguish clearly between economic cost and social cost- two very different entities.
What could be, should be, would be are entirely different animals when considered from the social and economic perspectives.
    There are conversations that should be in the public   domain to indicate why certain decisions are made and what social costs are attached. Unfortunately we have a political system where integrity and accountability are alien concepts and tomorrow is regarded as the same as yesterday and last year...... and forward planning is simply to be re elected. How does society remain cohesive when unemployment is rife and ever accelerating. How do people remain engaged, housed and fed?
    The low hanging fruit of cheap fuel has already been plucked and squandered, the climate is changing and further accentuated by human activity. We are destroying our environment and society is gently coming to the boil. We have massive migrations occurring because of drought and war(many of which revolve around energy and it's distribution)
      You can be certain that government is aware of these things.
What you should be asking is what are their nefarious plans for us?
If you feel certain sectors of society are being abandoned now,where do you think we will be when the scenarios above kick in?
It will nor be Mad Max but you can be sure it will not be utopia either.

Subject: RE: BS: Power corrupts, absolutely !
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 15 Dec 16 - 05:58 AM

Maggie's destruction of the mining industry in particular and of trade unions in general was entirely ideologically-led. The long-term upshot of that is a bogus high-employment statistic (betrayed by the fact that productivity refuses to go up) that forgets to tell us that millions of jobs are now enforced "self-employed," part-time, temporary, seasonal or, worst of all, zero-hours contracts, and that vast numbers of unemployed young people are not allowed to claim jobseekers, instead forced on to fake apprenticeships where they will learn how to make tea and sweep floors. Every part of this is directly attributable to Thatcher's "legacy." That is the culture that she promoted, ruthlessly. We now live in a country that makes very little and which relies on an out-of-control "financial sector." We rely largely for our energy on outside sources, not all of which we should feel happy with. Millions of us are standing up in clothes that were all made in China. Catastrophically, Blair did nothing to reverse the trend, riding as he did a rather lucky wave of fake prosperity (Fake? He oversaw a massive increase in the gulf between rich and poor) until the whole unregulated house of cards collapsed in 2008. That's all Thatcher's legacy, mate. The icing on the cake was her cosying up to Reagan's detestable regime and her support for PInochet. She cultivated an extremely selfish devil-take-the-hindmost society so successfully that the country stands by as thousand of sick people are stripped of their benefits and thousands more are arbitrarily "sanctioned" (nice euphemism for having the bread taken out of your mouth) by arrogant jobsworths at job centres for the most trivial of bureaucratic transgressions. It all makes Scargill and Red Robbo look like a bunch of angels in comparison. Many large companies with respectable names that may be sewn into your underpants won't even recognise trade unions at all, their employees now at the mercy of management-led "staff associations." Come a long way from Grunwick, haven't we? All Thatcher's legacy. I'm all right Jack and sod the rest. Especially if they're sick, unemployed, mentally ill, old or foreign.

Subject: RE: BS: Power corrupts, absolutely !
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 15 Dec 16 - 05:47 AM

"Jim, I think history will not be as harsh on Mrs Thatcher and her legacy as you are. "
Being interested in history, I believe it has ways of sorting out the wheat from the chaff once the toes that stnd to be trod on have shuffled off
Thatcher was in essence a self declared fascist - she described the mass murder of opponents "democracy" and attempts to punish those crimes as "running a police state" - that's unequivocal enough for me.
She came to power on the slogan "labour isn't working" and proceeded to raise unemployment levels
She destroyed industries and left nothing in their place
Under the legacy she left behind technical progress is a threat rather than a benefit - can you possibly claim that advanced technology has proved a benefit to the majority of people in Britain?
Thatcher formalised the class differences in society, used them for the benefit of the wealth and began to dismantle the safety nets that workers had fought for for over a century.
Under her leadership, homes became potential investments, the rights to a voice in your place of work virtually disappeared, industry disappeared and was not replaced and greed was made respectable.
No amount of hindsight is going to justify what Britain has become and what part she played in making it
Just in case you believe I have any more time for irish politicians - forget it - Irish politicians are just as crooked and incompetent as are their British counterparts when let.
We have an electoral system that to some degree slow down their incompetence and corruption - but it can't stop it.
I am British born - that is how I describe myself when asked culturally it is what I am - I live here from choice, not by an accident of birth.
Don't tell me about the British Police, who admitted to institutional racism and did little more - go ask the Lawrence Family
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: BS: Power corrupts, absolutely !
From: Iains
Date: 15 Dec 16 - 04:56 AM

Jim, I think history will not be as harsh on Mrs Thatcher and her legacy as you are. Geology and Geography dictated the growth of heavy industry where it occurred. Initially by water, later to sources of raw materials(classically Ironbridge) Power generation was by water, wood and coal with coal becoming paramount. Post WW2 the landscape started to change rapidly and the changing economic climate hastened the decline of heavy industry. Many mistakes were made and investment squandered (TSR2 and Blue streak) The world class aircraft industry immediately post war should have been rationalised far sooner. The same with the car industry. Beeching rationalised the railways.
Huge structural adjustments were made over several decades.It can be argued if it was by design or purposeful neglect by government.Any industry that cannot compete must either die or be subsidised. It is debateable if additional investment would have enabled the survival of certain industries or merely postponed their inevitable closure. No one denies the impact it had on communities through the loss of employment and lack of apprenticeships. Where successive governments failed was in the fact that pathetic attempts were made to retrain workers and little effort made to create alternative viable employment opportunities. From the time north sea oil and gas came on stream there was a source of funding that could have changed the landscape in the north, Clydeside and S. Wales. It was a wasted opportunity by successive governments and Thatcher was just the last in a line of politicians that abandoned entire communities.
Could more have been done? Certainly.
    However forward planning by a government can only stretch as far as the next election and the long term problems are kicked into touch for the next 4 year cycle. The sad thing is that right on the horizon is potentially the biggest structural change in industrial history.
Robots have already automated many assembly processes. Numbers employed in banking are shrinking daily as most banking transactions can be done online.
    Much of the run of the mill white collar employment can be replaced by computerisation as soon as the software is created.
How many solicitors do you need when a comprehensive data base can be interrogated. One can do the work of ten. I would argue that teaching, accountancy and many other professions will face a dramatic shrinkage of payroll in the near future as computers take on the mundane tasks far more efficiently.
    Does Government ever talk about this, or even plan for it, or be looking at creating alternative business models and employment opportunities?
      The only thing I see that suggests the government see a problem over the horizon is the increasingly paramilitary appearance and behaviour of the police and the politicisation of the Head of the Metropolitan Police. This has gone on since the days of Robert Mark back in the early 70's
      If employment is the glue that holds modern society together the future road would seem rather rough and rocky and it certainly wont end in Dublin.

Subject: RE: BS: Power corrupts, absolutely !
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 15 Dec 16 - 04:24 AM

???
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: BS: Power corrupts, absolutely !
From: Mr Red
Date: 15 Dec 16 - 04:16 AM

Permit me (as if you could do otherwise!) An observation.

But there is a certain power in forums (like we enjoy in this parish) that allows us to say what we want via the internet. And we are not corrected immediately. Indeed we could troll. Not return to the thread. If that was in a pub, the threat of a glass of beer in our faces (let alone a glass) would temper our delivery somewhat.

throws hat in ring and retires swiftly................

Now, correct me if I am wrong, but we do see a lot of that freedom being expressed hereabouts, and not necessarily uncorruptedly either.

Subject: RE: BS: Power corrupts, absolutely !
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 15 Dec 16 - 02:59 AM

"Let us hope that the first wobble "
Think you missed the point Ians
It was the first wobble that brought down the system of Empire - that's done and dusted.
As far as British/Irish relations - trouble will threaten as long as the border remains -
Old law of history - draw a line across a country and you create two potentially warring sides.
The line was beginning to disapear - Brexit came along and reminded people it was still there, hence the politicians running round like blue-arsed flies trying to repair the damage.
Brexit was the most divisive thing to happen within Britain, certainly since Thatcher's creating the North/South divide in England - which has got worse rather than better.
****** Brexit - I was at a Ballad conference in Limerick shortly afterward with a group of people from different countries - all asking "Why/"
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: BS: Power corrupts, absolutely !
From: Teribus
Date: 15 Dec 16 - 02:17 AM

Actually Shaw if you look back through the posts, you will discover that you have the cart before the horse. It was Iains who described your view as that of a person (and I paraphrase) with a view seen through the rose tinted glasses of a sandal wearing teacher, etc, etc. I rather liked it as it seemed very appropriate and accurate representation of YOU specifically NOT teachers in general.

Subject: RE: BS: Power corrupts, absolutely !
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 14 Dec 16 - 07:09 PM

You're frustrated, Iains. Bite your lip and try not to show it. Yours sincerely, sandal-wearing*, Guardian-reading, soft pinko liberal couldn't-do-so-had-to-teach-instead abject retired teacher.

Nice to see your Damascene conversion! Do 'ave a word in Teribus's shell-like...

*without socks. Call me anything you like but do NOT accuse me of wearing socks with sandals. Unless you want 100 lines and half an hour's detention, that is.

Subject: RE: BS: Power corrupts, absolutely !
From: Iains
Date: 14 Dec 16 - 06:50 PM

Well Steve among your other failings would appear to be both the ability to read and comprehend. It must be time for you to have your hot chocolate and go bed.

Subject: RE: BS: Power corrupts, absolutely !
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 14 Dec 16 - 06:33 PM

Good stuff, Penny. A doughty yet very honest assessment of the profession. And I see that enough of us have now leapt to the defence of teachers to get Iains to backtrack on his earlier rather inane parroting of Teribus's misplaced sarcasm. I won't dwell. I wore sandals in Truro today.

Subject: RE: BS: Power corrupts, absolutely !
From: Iains
Date: 14 Dec 16 - 06:24 PM

Penny S
I think you hit the nail on the head with mentioning the ability to communicate. This surely is the key to good teaching.
Despite my tongue in cheek jibes at teachers I was lucky that I had teachers that for the most part were good and a couple that were excellent.
Your last statement about the microscope I can relate to. I initially had great problems with optical mineralogy for similar reasons. Now with inbuilt cameras the view can be displayed on a screen and properties can be clearly seen and annotated. It is also very handy when out in the boonies. With a satellite link you can upload images to anywhere and it saves a whole bunch of scribbling and cuts straight to the chase.

Subject: RE: BS: Power corrupts, absolutely !
From: Penny S.
Date: 14 Dec 16 - 05:06 PM

I think the teacher problem stems from different experiences at school. Everyone of us had at least one abomination of a teacher who was useless at teaching us, and possibly took against us personally for some undefinable reason. Only some of us had an inspiring teacher who overcame that negative image.
If I had only come across the ones who did me down (one even had me creating sick days because I couldn't stand her - and I didn't realise it was because I was sensing what she felt about me), and not the ones who supported me, I too would have had a negative attitude. And I wouldn't have joined the profession, and wouldn't come across the occasional ex-pupil or parent who remembers me with kindness. (I am worried about the lad who claims that I am the reason he joined the profession himself, though.)
It is very sad that there are so many who did only come across the bad apples. and more so that they see fit to slag off all of us as their inferiors.

And, by the way, it can help not to be able to do certain things in order to teach them. You have to analyse what the problems are and thus are able to communicate to the children how to overcome them. I had maths teachers who were brilliant at their subject but absolutely useless and dealing with people with a blind spot. And I still don't know how to distinguish different minerals by their reflectance when seen down the microscope, because the tutor could only explain that things just were what they were. He could tell at a glance, but could not put into words what he was seeing.

And those who can't teach teachers, inspect.

Subject: RE: BS: Power corrupts, absolutely !
From: Iains
Date: 14 Dec 16 - 01:38 PM

Let us hope that the first wobble over here remains just that. Brexit could potentially open old wounds and create mayhem.

Subject: RE: BS: Power corrupts, absolutely !
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 14 Dec 16 - 11:31 AM

"Maybe it is me but I found your previous post a little cryptic."
Sorry - I thought you were around when we discussed this last time - one of my favourite periods of history.
These subjects need to be examined in full context of what was happening elsewhere when "A spectre was haunting Europe — the spectre of communism." as Marx put it and the Empires had reached the point where there was no more places to conquer.
Ireland has been commemorating the first wobble of the domino this year - a fascinating time to be here.
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: BS: Power corrupts, absolutely !
From: Iains
Date: 14 Dec 16 - 10:35 AM

Jim, thanks for that clarification. Maybe it is me but I found your previous post a little cryptic.