BS: WAV's BBC-Recorded Slam: Cut Capitalism

Subject: BS: WAV's BBC-Recorded Slam: Cut Capitalism
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 06 Nov 10 - 06:46 PM

This was my Theory Slam, as part of the B.B.C. Radio 3 Free Thinking Festival, at the Sage Gateshead today...

CUT CAPITALISM

After introducing myself, David Franks, plus mentioning David Cameron's approach:

We can fix the budget deficit, and level our Goliath-like inequality, with one sling stone - taxation of the rich. And there'd be no brain-drain from our nation if and when the United Nations finally respects native land rights, and makes all economic immigration (which is synonymous with capitalist immigration) illegal from now on.

And, as for capitalism itself, what some get for their hours work compared with others is ridiculous and inhumane, so, if we like fair competition, we don't like the free market. The better way is to accept that we humans are competitive, and have strong regulations to make that competition as fair as possible; and the best way to regulate large facilities is to nationalise them.

Or, if your prefer it in verse from my collection WalkaboutsVerse - "Global Regulationism."
Or, if you prefer it from Shakespeare in Measure for Measure - "Liberty as surfeit is the father of much fast."
Or, if you prefer it from Steinbeck in Grapes of Wrath - "Business is glorified theft."

Thus, the Statue of Liberty, in Paris and New York, should be renamed the "Statue of Regulationism," and the newly-formed Tea Party should be dissolved.

And speaking of tea, the People's Republic of China now needs a socialist revolution to get rid of what seems to be the "Chinese Capitalist Party," and the revolting inequality its producing - to the point where Chinese are now buying into our free-market club football, which should, rather be regulated back to how it was: mostly locals in MEANINGFUL competition.

To sum up, then, in our "pursuit of happiness" (the theme of the festival), we should cut capitalism, because fair-competition requires strong regulations NOT freedom; and, unlike Castro at the U.N.!, we only have 3 minutes, so thanks for listening.

(It should be broadcast on Radio 3's The Verb, early next year.)

Subject: RE: BS: WAV's BBC-Recorded Slam: Cut Capitalism
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 07 Nov 10 - 05:14 PM

Sorry: it's due to be broadcast on Night Waves NOT The Verb, along with a few others who participated in this Cafe Culture event.

And I forgot to type my mention of visiting China in 1988, when it was a very different nation.

Subject: RE: BS: WAV's BBC-Recorded Slam: Cut Capitalism
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 07 Nov 10 - 05:30 PM

Early for the first cuckoo, isn't it?

Subject: RE: BS: WAV's BBC-Recorded Slam: Cut Capitalism
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 08 Nov 10 - 08:13 AM

Dear Richard: after (because of B.B.C. rules on competitions) the recorded segment, the audience were asked to applaud each participant separately and, in your language, very early cuckoos must be gaining some popularity.

Subject: RE: BS: WAV's BBC-Recorded Slam: Cut Capitalism
From: s&r
Date: 08 Nov 10 - 10:23 AM

This is somewhat redolent of Carroll Levis (?) or perhaps Hughie Green and the old Clapometer.

Applause is the spur of noble minds, the end and aim of weak ones.
Edmund Burke

So there you have it

Stu

Subject: RE: BS: WAV's BBC-Recorded Slam: Cut Capitalism
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 08 Nov 10 - 10:26 AM

The "clapometer" was very nearly not so named in case it reminded anyone of a social disease. Hughie Green himself told me this.

Subject: RE: BS: WAV's BBC-Recorded Slam: Cut Capitalism
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 09 Nov 10 - 04:30 AM

Cameron's away, by the way - flown to the People's Republic of China...cucoup?!

Subject: RE: BS: WAV's BBC-Recorded Slam: Cut Capitalism
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 09 Nov 10 - 05:39 AM

More sour, than sweet.

Subject: RE: BS: WAV's BBC-Recorded Slam: Cut Capitalism
From: GUEST,Suibhne Astray
Date: 09 Nov 10 - 06:26 AM

Hughie Green himself told me this.

In what circs?

Subject: RE: BS: WAV's BBC-Recorded Slam: Cut Capitalism
From: GUEST,Steamin' Willie
Date: 09 Nov 10 - 06:30 AM

The Jess Yates Cuckolding Circle. Bring a set of car keys and a Mrs Yates.

Subject: RE: BS: WAV's BBC-Recorded Slam: Cut Capitalism
From: catspaw49
Date: 09 Nov 10 - 06:41 AM

In other words, you still have no job and continue to place the blame on your misguided belief that the fault is with the rest of the world and not your own lack of skills, experience, and ambition.

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: WAV's BBC-Recorded Slam: Cut Capitalism
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 09 Nov 10 - 07:03 AM

...I went for a manufacturing interview last week; and, because they follow me on twitter, I just sent a PM to the BBC's Sunday Morning Live re. the possibility of a gig on the show.

Subject: RE: BS: WAV's BBC-Recorded Slam: Cut Capitalism
From: s&r
Date: 09 Nov 10 - 11:44 AM

WAV your breathtaking self-delusion beggars belief

Stu

Subject: RE: BS: WAV's BBC-Recorded Slam: Cut Capitalism
From: Stu
Date: 09 Nov 10 - 12:11 PM

Here we go . . .

Subject: RE: BS: WAV's BBC-Recorded Slam: Cut Capitalism
From: mandotim
Date: 09 Nov 10 - 12:32 PM

Stu, that's soooo unfair! I'm sure BBC producers follow WAV's twitterings just as avidly as the rest of us, and will doubtless be rushing to offer WAV a contract as we speak! After all, WAV has so much material that the nation is panting to hear! (Hang on...do I mean WAV has so much pants material...)

Subject: RE: BS: WAV's BBC-Recorded Slam: Cut Capitalism
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 09 Nov 10 - 12:41 PM

Everybody who posts on Twitter has an ego problem

Subject: RE: BS: WAV's BBC-Recorded Slam: Cut Capitalism
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Nov 10 - 01:54 PM

For what it's worth, I use the American businesses Twitter, Facebook, and Myspace to promote my work and to check that of others, plus participate in some interactive T.V., such as the show mentioned above, where a few of my comments have appeared on-screen. Like most of you I suppose, I much prefer to discuss matters here on Mudcat - even though I sometimes get accused of both lack on "ambition" and "breathtaking self-delusion" within the space of a few posts by my fellow Catters!

Subject: RE: BS: WAV's BBC-Recorded Slam: Cut Capitalism
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 09 Nov 10 - 01:57 PM

That was me, sorry.

Subject: RE: BS: WAV's BBC-Recorded Slam: Cut Capitalism
From: mandotim
Date: 09 Nov 10 - 02:36 PM

WAV, I'm sure that from your point of view the possibility of a gig on the BBC is in no way self-delusional.

Subject: RE: BS: WAV's BBC-Recorded Slam: Cut Capitalism
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 09 Nov 10 - 02:53 PM

Sorry if I've used the term "gig" a tad loosly - for those who haven't/can't watch S.M.L., it's a discussion programme, with about 3 guests, plus the public using various other media to add their views. And, Tim, it can't be that far from a BBC Radio recorded Theory Slam to a live discussion on the box, can it?...surely no harm in asking, with my 4 technical certificates, degree in humanities, travel through about 40 countries on a shoestring, etc!

Subject: RE: BS: WAV's BBC-Recorded Slam: Cut Capitalism
From: mandotim
Date: 09 Nov 10 - 04:12 PM

I'm sure the BBC will take your technical certificates into consideration when deciding whether or not to broadcast your views. I guess they'll probably check out your website as well. Any idea where they might find a link? They'll probably be very interested in your travels; after all, BBC staff don't get abroad much, do they?

Subject: RE: BS: WAV's BBC-Recorded Slam: Cut Capitalism
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 09 Nov 10 - 05:12 PM

...if they wanted to send me off with a camera crew on re-Walkabouts, Tim, I certainly wouldn't say no - Ubud, Bath, Beijing, Kuranda, Corfu...

Subject: RE: BS: WAV's BBC-Recorded Slam: Cut Capitalism
From: s&r
Date: 09 Nov 10 - 05:37 PM

WAV you don't actually discuss anything anywhere. You show no sign of understanding what a discussion is. You sir are a hectoring evangelist for a church with a single member

Stu

Subject: RE: BS: WAV's BBC-Recorded Slam: Cut Capitalism
From: mandotim
Date: 09 Nov 10 - 05:48 PM

Sending you off with a camera crew...interesting idea! Would you be gone long?

Subject: RE: BS: WAV's BBC-Recorded Slam: Cut Capitalism
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 10 Nov 10 - 06:32 AM

...the team and I could, along the way, look at, e.g., some of the more difficult issues facing the U.N., such as Kashmir where there was in 1988, and sadly still is, violent conflict (I got distinctions for my essays on "Ethnic Identity and Ethnic Conflict" at uni) or the case of Fiji, which, contrary to Stu's words, I recently started a thread on here; plus many other such cases could be given a wider audience...

Subject: RE: BS: WAV's BBC-Recorded Slam: Cut Capitalism
From: mandotim
Date: 10 Nov 10 - 07:07 AM

Fantastic! Perhaps you and 'the team' could stay in Kashmir and Fiji for a while, to help the locals practice their own good culture? I'm sure they would be enraptured to hear from an authority on Ethnic Identity and Ethnic Conflict, especially at Undergraduate level! I'm sure they will be impressed by your technical certificates as well. When will you be leaving, do you think?

Subject: RE: BS: WAV's BBC-Recorded Slam: Cut Capitalism
From: catspaw49
Date: 10 Nov 10 - 08:59 AM

Not only that, he can school them in forklift work as well..........yeah, they will surely be impressed!!!!!


Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: WAV's BBC-Recorded Slam: Cut Capitalism
From: Tom - Swords & Songs
Date: 10 Nov 10 - 10:53 AM

I think the nail on the head here seems to be that 4 technical certificates and an undergraduate degree in humanitites basically does not qualify you for anything at all and makes you an expert on nothing as these sort of qualifications are so widely held.
More important than the paper is what you have done with your hard earned qualifications...
The reason for people poking fun is that it seems absurd that you consider yourself applicable to be held up as a shining example of social anthropology by the BBC (especially given some of the views you have posted on here and elsewhere).
Tom

Subject: RE: BS: WAV's BBC-Recorded Slam: Cut Capitalism
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 10 Nov 10 - 12:00 PM

"especially given some of the views you have posted on here and elsewhere" (Tom)...if you keep up-to-date on political affairs, you'll know that at least some of those views are becoming more mainstream - e.g., world leaders ARE questioning the multicultural state more-and-more.

Subject: RE: BS: WAV's BBC-Recorded Slam: Cut Capitalism
From: mandotim
Date: 10 Nov 10 - 01:43 PM

Yes Tom, don't criticise WAV; after all, he's a self-published author, semi-gifted academic, unique musical talent and now nearly a broadcaster! His political views are widely heard (if not widely listened to), and his proposals for cultural separation clearly resonate with a lot of people (mostly those with shaved heads and lots of tattoos, it has to be said). His creativity knows no bounds, especially in the world of punctuation, and one must admire his modesty; surely someone with all these gifts and talents must be tempted to brag a little, occasionally?

Subject: RE: BS: WAV's BBC-Recorded Slam: Cut Capitalism
From: s&r
Date: 10 Nov 10 - 04:03 PM

Come on WAV - starting a thread is a poor apology for having a discussion. Discuss.

Stu

Subject: RE: BS: WAV's BBC-Recorded Slam: Cut Capitalism
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 10 Nov 10 - 04:29 PM

Well, Stu, after my Slam I (along with the others) was asked a couple of questions from the audience:

Who would be the main regulator in your Global Regulationism? A: a stronger more-democratic United Nations - apart from some local government, all any citizen of our world needs is their own nation and the United Nations (no E.U., U.K., Commonwealth, G20, etc., whose dissolution would in itself strengthen the U.N.).

Isn't capitalism, with it's incentives to build wealth, the best option we have? A: I disagree with the far-Left who say no inequality - there should be the incentive of an economic ladder to climb, BUT the inequality/gaps between the rungs that the free-market produces is, as I say, ridiculous and inhumane, and thus we need regulationism.

Subject: RE: BS: WAV's BBC-Recorded Slam: Cut Capitalism
From: s&r
Date: 10 Nov 10 - 06:41 PM

You see WAV in your last sentence you sum up your problem. Try replacing 'as I say'with 'I believe'

Stu

Subject: RE: BS: WAV's BBC-Recorded Slam: Cut Capitalism
From: mandotim
Date: 11 Nov 10 - 02:33 AM

Gosh WAV! I think you should reconsider your plans to be an international globetrotting troubleshooter, broadcaster and cultural educator; a role clearly beckons as supreme head of a newly constituted UN, within your policy framework of 'regulationism'. I guess you'll be sending off for an appliccation form? Don't forget to include a copy of your impressive CV. The UN has needed someone with technical certificates for years. (I looked for academic references on 'global regulationism', by the way, and all I found was your stuff; how nice to be a pioneer in the field!).

Subject: RE: BS: WAV's BBC-Recorded Slam: Cut Capitalism
From: mandotim
Date: 11 Nov 10 - 02:42 AM

That should be 'application', sorry WAV. I know how picky you are about spelling and grammar.

Subject: RE: BS: WAV's BBC-Recorded Slam: Cut Capitalism
From: Amergin
Date: 11 Nov 10 - 03:00 AM

I hope you realise that by the slight exaggeration of his use of the word "gig", he means he will be showing up in the audience of the Graham Norton Show.....

Subject: RE: BS: WAV's BBC-Recorded Slam: Cut Capitalism
From: GUEST,Suibhne Astray
Date: 11 Nov 10 - 06:37 AM

Maybe now you'll take the time to go into details as to exactly what it is that you mean by the worryingly euphemistic regulationism - and for that matter what form your stronger more-democratic United Nations will take...

Subject: RE: BS: WAV's BBC-Recorded Slam: Cut Capitalism
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 11 Nov 10 - 06:42 AM

"(I looked for academic references on 'global regulationism', by the way, and all I found was your stuff; how nice to be a pioneer in the field!)." (Tim)...During the last recession/banking crisis, I heard political media on both sides of the pond use the very same term. And, Stu, so much for "having a discussion."

Subject: RE: BS: WAV's BBC-Recorded Slam: Cut Capitalism
From: mandotim
Date: 11 Nov 10 - 11:31 AM

WAV; I'm sure you did hear political media talking about regulationism. Do you hear any other voices? Will your new United Nations have an army to keep things how they should be? Generalissimo Walkaboutsverse has a nice ring to it!

Subject: RE: BS: WAV's BBC-Recorded Slam: Cut Capitalism
From: olddude
Date: 11 Nov 10 - 12:04 PM

come on guys, why are you ganging up on WAV, he made a point, if you don't agree don't agree ... no bullying ok, not right.   He made a point as he believed ... right or wrong it is his point to make .. too much pounding on anyone ... starts to get me nuts. You are all too good a people to gang up. Let it go please

Subject: RE: BS: WAV's BBC-Recorded Slam: Cut Capitalism
From: mandotim
Date: 11 Nov 10 - 12:34 PM

I agree olddude, no bullying. Pisstaking, on the other hand...

Subject: RE: BS: WAV's BBC-Recorded Slam: Cut Capitalism
From: Big Mick
Date: 11 Nov 10 - 12:43 PM

While I certainly don't agree with WAV's view of the world, I find the obsessive way certain of my Mudcat friends go after him to say far more about them than him. At times you have all come very close to having your posts deleted. Strong, even heated, discussion of the content is fine, in fact in my opinion, it is desired. When you cross the line to personal attack, I am going to be watching very closely. I don't care how long you have been here, whether you are one of the "elders" or a newbie, stick to the debate, attack the ideas, and stay away from the attacking of the person.

Mick
Forum Moderator

Subject: RE: BS: WAV's BBC-Recorded Slam: Cut Capitalism
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 11 Nov 10 - 01:08 PM

Yes, Tim, instead of this..."Most of these operations are established and implemented by the United Nations itself, with troops serving under UN operational control. In these cases, peacekeepers remain members of their respective armed forces, and do not constitute an independent "UN army", as the UN does not have such a force. In cases where direct UN involvement is not considered appropriate or feasible, the Council authorizes regional organizations such as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the Economic Community of West African States, or coalitions of willing countries to undertake peacekeeping or peace-enforcement tasks." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peacekeeping)...I'd have a U.N. Army; and, similarly, when a natural disaster occurs in any given nation, all aid would come from the U.N., with each member nation being taxed according to its means.

Subject: RE: BS: WAV's BBC-Recorded Slam: Cut Capitalism
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 11 Nov 10 - 01:24 PM

...when local/national aid agencies are unable to cope without outside aid, i.e.

Subject: RE: BS: WAV's BBC-Recorded Slam: Cut Capitalism
From: Will Fly
Date: 11 Nov 10 - 01:29 PM

David, do you not think there are a number of serious paradoxes in your proposed views? Here's one, for example:

You favour a complete stoppage of immigration/emigration and you also favour a sort of separate but equal culturalism, where each country lives its own cultural and separate life, free from the influence of other cultures. (Presumably you also favour strict and well-policed border controls to enforce such cultural isolations, plus draconian internal measures in each country to ensure cultural purity).

You also favour a stronger UN - presumably a sort of international police who would regulate all the activities of the world.

But if you strictly isolate countries and cultures from each other, there will surely be less international understanding and less co-operation - co-operation which would be an absolute necessity to create a stronger UN. You only have to observe the current arguments and polarities within conglomerates of countries - the EEC (which you don't care for), the Middle East, etc., to realise that an extrapolation of that conflict would be almost inevitable. Remember the League of Nations - utterly useless in preventing World War II.

You mention economic immigration as being a Bad Thing - how would you then help those persecuted peoples in Africa who have to flee their own country to a neighbouring country to avoid being murdered en masse? Call in the UN? A UN Army?

In short, give "man's inhumanity to man" (Burns), there appears to be little possibility of such a regulated world as you envision ever existing.

Subject: RE: BS: WAV's BBC-Recorded Slam: Cut Capitalism
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 11 Nov 10 - 01:49 PM

There's some mis-information in your post, Will, as anyone can see from the posts just above. And, as for asylum seeking in Africa or anywhere else, that too should be regulated by the U.N., with genuine asylum seekers helped to their nearest safe nation.

Subject: RE: BS: WAV's BBC-Recorded Slam: Cut Capitalism
From: Will Fly
Date: 11 Nov 10 - 01:54 PM

There's some mis-information in your post, Will

Is there? I've read enough of your previous posts about culturalism, and I think not. Specifics, please.

Subject: RE: BS: WAV's BBC-Recorded Slam: Cut Capitalism
From: s&r
Date: 11 Nov 10 - 02:32 PM

Genuine asylum seekers going to their nearest safe nation would mean that none came to the UK unless some southern Irish felt it necessary to flee Eire. And New Zealand would have to accommodate asylum seekers from Australia.....

So politically unstable countries would be allowed to push dissidents over the borders to slightly less unstable countries. Would that keep all the trouble makers together?

Stu

Subject: RE: BS: WAV's BBC-Recorded Slam: Cut Capitalism
From: olddude
Date: 11 Nov 10 - 02:35 PM

ya can't cattle car people, it doesn't work ... today we are in a global everything ... we work together with other countries or we fail .. that is the way of the world.

Subject: RE: BS: WAV's BBC-Recorded Slam: Cut Capitalism
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 11 Nov 10 - 02:43 PM

"Nearest" in terms of culture as well as geography, i.e., Stu.
And above your first post, Will, I'd only mentioned "all ECONOMIC immigration".