to think we're all being manipulated

[newbluesofa]

I'm going to get flamed by reform voters here, and I think it'll come off as thinking I'm smarter than everyone but I genuinely don't, which is why I'm so confused by this.

To me, it is incredibly obvious that we are being completely manipulated by politicians and the media. They want us to blame immigrants and people who claim benefits for their failing to run the country properly. And it's worked.

I don't think we should have unregulated immigration, there are issues that need to be addressed. But there's a difference between sensibly discussing immigration from an economic point, and the nasty hate and vitriol that's everywhere now. It is what they WANT. As long as we're fighting amongst ourselves, no one is looking up at the people with the real power and money.

One example, newspapers describing immigrants as 'fighting age men'. 'Fighting' is not an age. Young men could also be fit, healthy, and able to work and contribute. They say 'fighting age' to scaremonger and promote anti immigrant rhetoric, and it works as people parrot the line.

It's always been the way that the ruling class look for ways to keep the masses infighting. Honestly I lose respect at anyone that falls for it. I don't get how it isn't so obvious to others, how can you not see you're being played?

Taxes aren’t low now.

They are also not low for higher earners. If you want similar to higher tax countries you’ll have to raise taxes on low to mid earners. Good luck selling it in.

I think this picture paints a thousand words

People are always commenting about this! Neither tax nor NIC has been raised for workers.

Yes our tax is much lower on average at 31.3% of average wage than say France at 46.8% or Germany at 47.9%. 2023 figures.

I have enjoyed reading this thread.
Reform is being promoted by the BBC and others because it is the preferred next government of the establishment. Forget immigration, Nigel is a big toady of Trump who has stated that he wants the NHS. Reform will completely dismantle the NHS and there will be no free healthcare any more. Bad news especially for the poor and people with long term health issues, just like in the States.
Reform will also cut taxes for the rich, the exact opposite of what is required to turn this country around.
Immigration (and promotion by the BBC) is the vehicle they will use to get into power.
The division between left and right is no longer relevant. It is neo liberalism and its ideology which has driven this country down, promoting globalism, privatisation of national assets, mass immigration and growth of the super rich. Interesting how the ex-bank of England gov Carney swept into power in Canada once Blair intervened. I will watch what happens there. Blair, Brown, Starmer and the all the tory pms since Thatcher are neoliberals which is why things are shit whoever is in charge. I note that the leader of the greens is anti neoliberalism. Not sure who else.

France isn’t going too well rn economically but what is the top tax rate across those? Usually our high tax rate is comparable but it’s lower to middle who are lower here. You’d be hard pressed selling in lifting it for those groups.

It literally says in the op that she doesn't believe in unregulated immigration.

Did you open the link? What you are talking about is separate to the news story I am referring to.

ETA: Any racial abuse is of course vile too and unfortunately POC NHS staff getting racially abused by angry patients in the course of their jobs is no new thing, but this is a completely different case involving a nurse called Apple who was targeted while out and about.

“Apple Moorhouse, who has worked in the NHS for over a decade and is originally from the Philippines, was attacked when walking through Manor Heath Park, Halifax, with a child last month. A video, which has been circulating online, seemingly shows a man and woman making racial comments towards a woman and a child in the park.”

Wait.. @BundleBoogie I’ve just reread your comment, are you suggesting because NMC don’t properly investigate or report on some instances of racism this means they may have falsely reported this actual instance of racism ?!

If so I completely disagree - if there is systemic racism in an organisation which leads to them not addressing a lot of racial abuse it doesn’t mean when they do actually report on it this means it’s fabricated or exaggerated.

In this specific instance if you read the article you will see they have named the nurse who has spoke up about it - so it’s come from her.

Not only that - but as the article states - it’s literally on video! We can all see these racists abusing her. Whatever the NMCs motivation for reporting this is irrelevant to my point - it still happened!

I actually watched the video on Instagram initially then googled the victims name mentioned from the caption to find news articles on it.

This is why so many POC say they’re glad for the prevalence of cameras now because years ago without video evidence, they would be gaslighted and told maybe it didn’t happen that way or you’re making it up blah blah

I’m saying that they are clearly politically motivated and obviously have an interest in publicising or ignoring certain issues as suits their bias.

Do you have any other sources for that story? I’m not saying it didn’t happen but I can’t trust the NMC to report it accurately.

So what’s the answer? It’s all very well writing a shopping list of misery but where is the solution?

That’s a matter for another discussion perhaps but it’s irrelevant here as it still happened irrespective of their motivation for reporting.

So the article clearly states there is a video widely circulated showing the incident involving the racists and I personally watched said video.

Feel free to google other news articles or the video itself using all the details I’ve shared if you like.

I’m not googling for random videos online - feel free to link to it. If you’ve seen it, is the NMC report accurate?

As an aside I find it very interesting that they claim to be utterly opposed to racism and racist attacks on nurses.

It is very odd that they are happy to turn a blind eye to some violent racial attacks though. If it is convenient to them. Sadly they have lost credibility.

100% agree .
The scales fell from my eyes when I played a very small part in pushing for the parliamentary enquiry into the Westminster & other elite paedophile rings back in 2016 .
It was quite an education watching how the different parts of the establishment essentially worked together to kick that into the long grass . Upended everything I’d believed in about how politics,, the BBC , MSM , police etc operate …

In the words of George Carlin ‘ it’s a big club and you ain’t in it ‘ .
Reckon all the best an ‘ordinary’ individual can do is the best for their own community.

As I said that’s up to you but I’m certainly doing that work for you of providing alternative sources.

I provided the name in my posts so you could Google an alternative article too if you had wanted.

My initial comments I wrote on this was actually based on what I had seen on the video. Not on what NMC said (although their article was accurate.) I only added that link afterwards, as I wanted to share a link to an article as it’s sometimes easier than linking to an IG video .

I don’t know much about the NMC but I could be here all day talking about systemic racism in various institutions so I’m not surprised if the NMC doesn’t take all racist incidents seriously or whatever.

However this isn’t about the NMC,
this is about another display of vile racism and the flagrant disregard for the safety of yet another minority woman and child which is part of a wider pattern of an uptick in this kind of ouvert racism.

Wow.
It does seem like Labour are doing everything they can to push voters to reform as well.

I agree - Labour are doing a sterling job themselves. They don’t need any help from anywhere. Reform seem to be sitting back and watching the Labour party go up in flames, as even Starmer’s allies are saying he isn’t a leader - can not lead, has no vision or direction. Who needs the media when you have friends like that 🤷‍♀️

I’m not even sure that’s where the manipulation is. If something seems confusing and unfathomable the best first policy is to follow the money. We are being manipulated by the tech companies first and foremost through algorithms. The articles with the most conflict hit the top and while people battle it out they make their money through clicks.

Newspapers are the same. The more click bait stories they can run, the more money they make. Hot potato subjects like migration are stories that people click on to drive themselves even more mad. More clicks, more money.

Politicians manipulate by silencing people. A subject like immigration is easy as you just claim racism and people stay quiet. It’s particularly handy for immigration as that is something that is very complex and not easy solved. If you can just call people racists you don’t have to deal with it and you can focus on other stuff.