Wednesday, January 27, 2010

It's official - progressive liberalism has failed where conservatism worked

The official government report into inequality - commissioned by Harridan Harman herself - has concluded that the gap between rich and poor has actually widened since Labour came to power and is now greater than at any time since the end of the Second World War.

So it's now official - fifty years of progressive liberalism has created a more unequal society and decreased the possibility of social mobility.

Progressive liberalism has failed miserably. In comparison to conservatism it doesn't even rate as a contender - but are the liberals likely to admit defeat and give up on this grand and destructive experiment.

No - they never do. They'll just pour more of our money into the pit and dream up more and more harebrained, micro-managed schemes for more and more victim-groups of ever decreasing scope and numbers.

Why do we continue to vote for these losers? Are we a bunch of masochists or something?

35 comments:

Larry Newman said...

As annoying as Matthew Wright's face is, I was watching his programme with great interest this morning. The panel were commenting on newspaper stories of the day, and every single story was negative and a product of progressive liberalism, e.g. a 13 yr old boy committing rape and only getting 3 yrs in "jail" for it because he said sorry, and an employee in a job centre who put up an advert for a vacancy which requested reliable people only, only to be told that she was being discriminatory towards unreliable people.

Have you also noticed, Stan, how programmes such as The Wright Stuff continually mock The Daily Mail and question the validity of its stories? Why is this? In my opinion, the only papers willing to speak the truth are the Daily Mail and the Daily Express. I'd like to know the readership figures of the Daily Mail compared to The Guardian's.

Socrates said...

Still waiting for your reply to my comment on Sickos!

"Socrates said...
Are you saying that a twelve year old boy with schizophrenia and Autism should be hanged?"

Stan said...

I don't watch "The Wright Stuff" I'm afraid, Larry. I have noticed that a lot of "right on" bloggers as well as certain comedians love to mock Daily Mail readers, but I don't know if they do the same to the paper itself.

I didn't see you question on "Sickos!" Socrates - I'm not in the habit of checking back on old posts for comments so if the comment wasn't left within a week or so of the posting I wouldn't know it was there.

In answer to your question - the age of criminal responsibility in England is 10, I believe. I do not believe that mental illness is a defence for mindless murder even though it all too often is used to excuse criminal behaviour.

Should he be hanged? Well, he should face an appropriate punishment for his crime and I believe that slicing up a young baby would justify hanging someone. But I wouldn't hang him at twelve - wait till he's 18 then string him up.

As we're in a question and answer mode. Are you suggesting that vile, murdering scum should be released out amongst the public even though they are extremely likely to commit more vicious and possibly murderous crime? Or perhaps you are suggesting that we should allow a 12 year old who isn't fit to be released from prison to see out the rest of his natural life in jail? What do you think is worse - putting the little sod out of his misery at the earliest opportunity or condemning him to a living hell for the next 60 years or so?

Socrates said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Socrates said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Socrates said...

[Reposted (twice!):corrected spelling mistakes]

I'm not suggesting anything Stan.

I'm a tabloid journalist setting you up.

You are to play a minor role in an article I'm writing.

Do you have a photo you would like me to use?

You can mail it to me here the.new.republic.blog@gmail.com

I'm looking forward to introducing you to my many, many readers.

Larry said...

Do not feed the troll, Stan. Socrates, piss off.

Socrates said...

It's too late Larry - I'm stuffed to the gills.

My last epistle for a guy just like you and Stan

Jim said...

Socrates,

Your blog makes no sense whatsoever. By the way, autism's a racket.

Socrates said...

Please share your wisdom with This Family.

I presume you are old? And thus you will die soon.

Good.

Jim said...

A homemade youtube video with emotive imagery and music proves little, other than the fact that lefties are experts at tugging on people's heartstrings.

Autism is a fraud, as is ADHD. Now fuck off.

Socrates said...

Even "Lefites" like me, more usually denounced thus "A right wing nut job"?
btw and ot: are you voting BNP?

Socrates said...

And I invite you to dance a merry slanderous gig around this family's tragedy:


By Annie Davidson | Evening Star 24

A UNIVERSITY student killed himself by walking in front of a train just months after being diagnosed with a form of autism, an inquest heard.

Richard Blackwood had been bullied since the age of six and found it hard to socialise but was only diagnosed with high functioning Asperger’s Syndrome when he was 20.

He had been to two universities but decided to take a year out and return to his family home in Fisher Way, Braintree, shortly before his death.

Yesterday, his mother said she hoped if a lesson could be learnt from her son’s death it would be to identify autism early and give sufferers the right support.

Mr Blackwood, a keen Ipswich Town fan, died of multiple injuries after he stepped in front of a high-speed commuter train at Marks Tey railway station on May 21, 2008.

An inquest jury heard at County Hall in Chelmsford yesterday that train driver David Oxley was driving the London Liverpool Street to Ipswich service and was doing 80 or 90mph.

“I was approximately halfway along the platform when this person jumped off the platform edge from the other side of the platform (to the train),” he told the hearing.

“He proceeded across to the track right in my path and crouched between the rails.”

The jury heard he had undergone counselling at the University of Gloucestershire between April and November 2007 and April 2008 but no further details were given. They recorded a verdict that Mr Blackwood had killed himself.

After the hearing, Denise and Brian Blackwood said their much-loved youngest son had prompted his own diagnosis after listening to a lecture during his psychology course.

He recognised the symptoms of Asperger’s Syndrome and spoke to the professor afterwards, telling him “I think you’ve just described me.” An assessment confirmed the condition in December 2007.

Mr Blackwood was a student at Honywood secondary school in Coggeshall and the Colchester Sixth Form College, later going to Hull University and the University of Gloucestershire.

Mrs Blackwood said: “He had dreadful bullying problems from the age of six and socialising problems.

“He was a perfectionist and always wanted to do better.”

Mr Blackwood had come home from university the day before he died and did not “seem himself” but his death came as a complete shock.

Mrs Blackwood, 53, said: “He had done his exams and didn’t feel happy about it.

“He had been doing group studies and had difficulties working within a group.

“With him at home we were going to talk it through and go to the doctor the next day.”

She added: “If this says anything, it is for identifying autism earlier for people to be able to get the right help.”

Amanda Batten, spokeswoman for the National Autistic Society, said last night: “Following the inquest into the death of Richard Blackwood, a young man with Asperger syndrome, the thoughts and sympathies of everyone at the National Autistic Society go out to his family.

“It is sadly all too common for many people with autism not to receive a formal diagnosis until adulthood, and like Richard, to face years of bullying and misunderstanding, before the right support is put in place.

“If help is not forthcoming then this can have profound, or as in Richard’s case, tragic consequences.

“It is vital that efforts are made to ensure that adults with autism are given the support they need, before they reach crisis point.”

Carl S said...

I have difficulty socialising too, but I don't have awwwwwwwtism, I just find that most people are morons and thus repugnant to me. If I'm a conservative living in an upside down, liberal world, and thus very unhappy, does that make me a frustrated and angry conservative, or am I awwwwwwtistic.

Socrates, what are you going to do next, go on a quest for fire? Moron. Sorry, awwwwwtistic.

Socrates said...

No, I'm just saving it up to replenish my cuttings file.

Please continue, I'm getting good material.

Jim said...

Who do you think you are, the internet police? Is it a crime to have an opinion about "autism" that doesn't please YOU? I'm no law expert but I'm guessing it's not. If it was, Stan and I would have probably been in jail by now for disbelieving in global warming. You need to seek help, not for awwwtism but for retardation of some sort.

Socrates said...

Do you have an opinion about broken legs?

Do they exist or cease to exist or have never existed at your whim?

What part of "Autistic Disturbances of Affective Contact" do you take issue with?

Or is it "Autistic Psychopathy in Childhood" that gets your goat?

It's not the ole 84.n that's getting you riled, is it?

What's your take of the differential diagnosis of Autistic Spectrum Conditions?

Do you admit Right Hemisphere Sydrome?

Is the negative symptomatology of schizophrenia in your canon?

And what's your take on Schizotypal PD? Just bad parenting tractable to a good thrashing?

You'll be suitable outraged at the shenanigans happening in the DSM V's PDD committee.

This is your chance to inform their debates. They're open to public submissions. Do you want the contact details to forward your ideas?

Jim said...

So you believe in the medicalisation of normality, eh?

Pharmaceutical companies love useful idiots like you.

Socrates said...

This typifies my attitude to Pharmaceutical companies.

Is this a medicalisation of normal?

Seriously, leave a comment for his mother and tell her she needs to know.

bernard said...

...I just wanted to make the comments a nice round even 20.

It's been a glacially-slow news week, hence the bored 'blog-drifters' hailing by.

Socrates said...

Creed: Avowedly Christian

And you visit here?

Stan said...

Socrates said .....

"[Reposted (twice!):corrected spelling mistakes]

I'm not suggesting anything Stan.

I'm a tabloid journalist setting you up."

Obviously not a very good one if you couldn't write these short lines without spelling mistakes. It's also pretty dumb to admit that you are involved in a "set up".

"You are to play a minor role in an article I'm writing."

How very kind. Excuse me if I don't get too excited, though - the evidence suggests that your "article" won't get a lot of coverage. A minor role in an insignificant article is hardly going to make me famous (or infamous).

It will make you look like a nasty, vindictive and spiteful idiot, though. Oh, I forgot - you're a "tabloid journalist" so you're quite used to looking like a nasty, vindictive and spiteful idiot.

"Do you have a photo you would like me to use?"

Sure - check me out on Facebook.

"You can mail it to me here the.new.republic.blog@gmail.com"

I won't if you don't mind. It's nothing personal - just that I'm not in the habit of responding to unsolicited email requests.

"I'm looking forward to introducing you to my many, many readers."

Any of them with a reading age beyond 10?

As a "tabloid journalist", I'm sure you are aware that there are laws against defamation, Socrates. What are you planning to accuse me of - suggesting that murderers should hang for their crimes?

Interesting choice of moniker too - what was it Socrates said about death .... something along the lines of "death is the greatest of all human blessings"?

Grow up, man.

Socrates said...

I have a kind of Learning Disability that makes me prone to errors like confusing there/their/they're and so on. My love and respect for the English language doesn't allow me to let them go uncorrected.

It doesn't really matter how wide the coverage is, as long as the Right People read it. As I'm sure you're aware, power resides in the few, not the many.

As for how you look, I'm afraid you are very much the Captain of your own ship.

Most tabloid journalists are highly educated - often Oxbridge graduates and frequently flit between Broadsheet and Tabloid gigs. The Sun and the Times are an excellent example.

Only the Mail's writers live permanently in the sewer.

I'll pass on the photo - I said minor role and I'm sticking to it.

My readers of late have included an Oxbridge Neuroscientist, a junior member of Obama's cabinet, and you.

Libel Laws are the bane of my life. Calling the notoriously litigious Andrew Wakefield a child abusing quack is not without its risks. Unfortunately.

I'm not planning on accusing you of anything. I'm just going to present your views along with mine and some others on the Darren Harkin issue.

I'm going to say that you said to me that you think that a 12 year old boy with Autism and Schizophrenia should be hanged.

"Grow up, man."

Can you be more specific? I am truly lost as to the meaning of your injunction.

Stan said...

"I have a kind of Learning Disability that makes me prone to errors like confusing there/their/they're and so on."

Oh right. I think I've come across that before - it's called "sloppiness". I get it myself sometimes.

"My love and respect for the English language doesn't allow me to let them go uncorrected."

Interesting that you had to correct the first two responses, but since then have been word perfect. This condition of yours is selective by the sounds of things.

"As for how you look, I'm afraid you are very much the Captain of your own ship."

Of course - tabloid journalists never go out of their way to paint people whose views they disagree with in a bad light, do they? What's the weather like in fairyland, btw?

"Most tabloid journalists are highly educated - often Oxbridge graduates and frequently flit between Broadsheet and Tabloid gigs. The Sun and the Times are an excellent example."

Many traitors, murderers, liars, adulterers and cheats are highly educated too - that doesn't mean they aren't scum. Interestingly, the vast majority of decent, ordinary law-abiding folk aren't highly educated Oxbridge graduates.

"My readers of late have included an Oxbridge Neuroscientist, a junior member of Obama's cabinet, and you."

My readers of late have consisted of senior British politicians (including a member of the cabinet), highly respected climatologists, a newsreader, and officials from the United Nations. So what?

"I'm going to say that you said to me that you think that a 12 year old boy with Autism and Schizophrenia should be hanged."

Good luck with that. I'd offer my congratulations, but you seem to be quite capable of doing that yourself. Just be certain that I said what you think I said.

Incidentally, autism and schizophrenia should not be capitalised. They are illnesses - not Greek gods. So much for that Oxbridge education - is it too late for you to get your money back?

Socrates said...

Yep, like the sloppiness of the blind tripping over.

Redbrick I'm afraid. And up North, too.

I'll mangle my Beloved Language in any which way I choose. You obviously don't spend much time reading 18th century books, or you would Understand where I'm coming from.

Do you realise that the word "International" (capitalised or otherwise) was an invention of a man with similar language issues as myself? And at the time could've quite reasonably have been denounced as an error?

"My readers of late have consisted of senior British politicians (including a member of the cabinet), highly respected climatologists, a newsreader, and officials from the United Nations. So what?"

Now you're just bullshitting and I will conclude my visit to Ranting Stans.

Thank you for your hospitality.

Stan said...

I forgot to say that I'm not aware of ever reading anything you've published of late. Perhaps you'd care to enlighten me?

Socrates said...

Try the New Scientist.

Stan said...

"Yep, like the sloppiness of the blind tripping over"

Nice try - but why is it you had no problem after those initial two issues?

"Redbrick I'm afraid. And up North, too."

Up north or midlands? Just asking 'cos to my Yorkshire mates "up north" means something completely different to us southerners.

"I'll mangle my Beloved Language in any which way I choose."

My apologies - I had no idea that you owned the English language.

"You obviously don't spend much time reading 18th century books, or you would Understand where I'm coming from."

You're quite right, I don't spend my time reading 18th century books - but I completely understand where you're coming from.

"Do you realise that the word "International" (capitalised or otherwise) was an invention of a man with similar language issues as myself?"

Nope - nor do I care - and it is still incorrect to capitalise autism and schizophrenia. I find it particularly odd that someone who deleted two posts because they wanted to make sure that everything was right would then persist with such obvious errors.

"Now you're just bullshitting and I will conclude my visit to Ranting Stans."

Damn, you saw through it. OK, I confess - he wasn't a newsreader, just a weather reporter.

Incidentally, I've never read "The New Scientist and certainly haven't visited their web site "of late".

Who's the bullshitter?

Stan said...

One more thing before you disappear back to the smug self-satisfied world of tabloid gutter raking.

When you write your article, don't forget to mention that I'm a right wing, conservative blogger. I'd hate for anyone to think I was a drippy social liberal.

Socrates said...

It just gets better and better...

Stan, there's a logical inconstancy in your last reply that gives me such a warm glow of superiority that I have to say I Love You.

Oh, did I mention? - I'm queer.

I said minor, ffs. Chiaroscuro, Stan. You are the Oscuro. Nothing more than a feint smudge of shade to set off the Virgin's nipple.

Larry said...

Round 1, 2,3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 to Ranting stan, methinks.

Toddle off to your autistic fellowship, "Socrates".

Stan said...

"Stan, there's a logical inconstancy in your last reply that gives me such a warm glow of superiority"

Really? Who'd have guessed that a tabloid journalist who chooses the name of one of history's great thinkers as their internet moniker had feelings of superiority?

I suppose there are similarities - Socrates was a philosopher with a renowned and unquenchable capacity for thinking - and tabloid journalists are pub philosophers with a renowned and unquenchable capacity for drinking. Go back to your bottle of Talisker, sunshine - I'm sure the world looks fine through the bottom of your lead crystal whisky tumbler.

"Oh, did I mention? - I'm queer."

No - but how is that relevant?

Oh - I get it! I think that revelation sums up your attitude pretty well, Socrates.

"I said minor, ffs"

Tut, tut - no need for bad language.

"Chiaroscuro, Stan. You are the Oscuro"

Ooh - fluffing it out with a bit of Italian, eh? Wow! You must be educated! But two can play that game - arriverderci, Socrates.

"Nothing more than a feint smudge of shade to set off the Virgin's nipple."

Interesting turn of phrase there - which Freud would say reveals your not so deep rooted Oedipus complex. Not uncommon in gay men if Freud is to be believed.

I really don't care if my role in your "article" is minor or not. In fact, I'm not in the least bit interested in your writings outside of this blog. But since you chose to come here, I will enjoy taking smug, self-satisfied, hand wringing, left wingers like yourself to task.

Oh - as for "logical inconstancy", let's review shall we? You said you deleted two posts because you wanted to correct spelling mistakes - then proceed to smother my blog in inane ramblings littered with grammatical errors (but, oddly enough, no more spelling mistakes).

I think we can all see who suffers from logical inconstancy, my dear.

Socrates said...

you have really just made my day...

"smug, self-satisfied, hand wringing, left wingers..."

sits well with

"A right wing nut job"

Bloody Telegraph readers - bunch of pinkos to a man...

Anonymous said...

I've just had a good laugh at your comments Socrates.

I understand the term that describes someone like you (in terms of your activities on this blog) is 'troll'.

But up here in the real North, we call people who leave comments in the manner that you do, 'bawbags'.

~Fatbob~

Socrates said...

As opposed to bravely Anonymous from Sheffield leaving comments like this on my blog:

"You're a complete fail. You must have awwtism."

Of course making fun of disabled people is perfectly normal, north of Watford, as is the cowardice of posting repeatedly under several aliases...

Normal for North is clearly also claiming that a mother with a severely disabled son is just swinging the lead to screw the Social...

And so on and on...

Nothing to see here... Move along now.