Westminstenders: The Imperial March

[RedToothBrush]

There are many ways to enforce power indirectly using privilege. Jacob Rees Mogg knows every trick in the book and dresses it up as respectability rather than a subtle form or intimidation and deliberate exclusion.

It's not the stuff 'of the people'.

Meanwhile the newly crowned PM, is making rather a bug deal of how he is the man 'of the people', here to serve them and to deliver their will.

There's a big theme here about presenting as 'of the people' whilst simultaneously serving the interests of the elite and reestablishing its power over the people.

It's a theme that is set to run for some time, and is entrenched in Trumpism too.

This shift in power is particularly harmful to women it must be noted.

'Strong and stable' was 'weak and wobbly' and we should be mindful that in the era of reversed spin, what 'of the people' signifies.

We've long known about the authoritarianism at the heart of leaving thinking. It's only now that it's finally going to start stomping it's feet all over our freedoms and power.

The road back will be a long and hard one because we failed to spot the threat and the dangers of it.

"that was the centrists fault too"

If you want to keep the centrist vote, then adopt policies the centre wants

The "real" left is too small a % of voters to win a GE

If you want to keep losing GEs, as in the 1980s, then carry on pissing off centrist voters

Labour only got those votes back again and won GEs - by landslides - when their policies moved more to the centre

www.futurelearn.com/courses/mindfulness-wellbeing-performance

If anyone is thinking about mindfulness there is a very good free course on Future Learn.
It’s free, available for 6 weeks after joining and no pressure at all. Do as little or as much as you want, drop out if you don’t like it and that won’t affect you joining other courses, it’s only 3 hours study a week for 4 weeks.
There’s also a follow on course.
I found it very helpful.

I'm taking this whole thing really personally. We have plans to move to an EU country. Couldn't go before now as had to get DH self employed work to a stage where it was feasible. We were obviously concerned but the WA would have given us till the end of 2020.
No idea what the hell to do now tbh. I can't stop crying. I am beyond devastated.

That's really shit.
I'm sorry max

So sorry, Max 💐

Fuck the Tories for hurting so many with their fanatical Brexit religion
and fuck Labour for going along with it - I'll never forgive them either

Thank you buffy.

Bigchoc me neither. I was raging the last few days, incandescent. Now the sadness has hit.

'Thank goodness for Boris': Hedge fund managers see Brexit chaos as a 'free lunch' for traders

In contrast to ordinary families like Max's these are the guys who will make loadsamoney from No Deal ...

https://www.businessinsider.com/boris-johnson-hedge-funds-currency-traders-no-deal-brexit-2019-7?r=US&IR=T

"I'm pretty sure that a lot of big foreign exchange and hedge fund type people are...
probably looking at what's being said coming out the UK as almost close to a free lunch,"
O'Neill said.

"The world I was in a lot of them are saying thank goodness for Boris, he's giving us a chance to make some money."

The Scotland option sounds great Grinchly but it’s about jobs for younger family members. If there are job losses then those affected will have no choice but to look for jobs, probably overseas.
A lot of the family has worked in developing countries and all have skills that could be used there. It would be low pay but probably better than not being to pay mortgages here.
But then there’s grandkids exams to think about.
It’s all such a mess. I’m burying my head in the sand a bit. Getting all my info from this group. Certain newspapers and TV channels make me rage so I avoid them.

max I've gone through the whole gamut of emotions in the last year 3 years...

It is almost like the stages of bereavement...denial, anger, bargaining...etc

I think I'm just at acceptance now.

We are leaving the EU on 31/10/19 with or without a deal.

I don't really know what else to say x

www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/boris-johnson-visits-ni-prime-minister-met-with-protests-at-stormont-38362267.html

A perfect storm of disaffection in NI, creating very unlikely bedfellows.

Arlene Foster & Co will have to pull something significant out of their asses, and soon, if this is going to be controlled.

I do voluntary work.

I was hoping to get back into paid work this year at some point (hahaha)

Dh's work is pretty niche and his company's market is mostly non EU.

We are both the wrong side of 40 to start over.

Queen 5 is a very good age to start.
prettybird I used to read my parent’s Nevil Shute books when I had nothing else to read. It was either them, Pear’s Cyclopedia, or Cornflake packets.
One was set in Australia in some unspecified future. They had a Queen though so must have been Queen Elizabeth.
They had a system of earning votes. Everybody got one but could earn up to 3 more for things like being in the services, education, job done, raising a family. The 5th and final vote was very rare and was bestowed by the queen.
I am in no way saying I approve of this. I think Shute was a man of his time. He made some interesting predictions/deductions but was certainly racist and saw nothing wrong in looking down on those perceived to be from a lower class or less well educated than he was.
It just came to mind when I read your post.

DGR I think you need to check out the works of Vampire Weekend

I would love to move back to Scotland, but it would be awkward for DHs work. Also as I only moved there as a small child and wasn't born there I probably won't be eligible for a Scottish passport in the future. And (assumming similar rules to Ireland are used) the DCs won't be either. Which is a bit of an arse.

I’m so sorry Max

You’re doing better than me buffy I think I’m still stuck in angry mode, spent years in denial.

BJs in no.10.

Writing's on the wall, my friends.

Sorry to read of your struggles max

Apathy and problem solving whirling are my go to.

Oh @MaxNormal that's shit. Really knocks the wind out of your sails when plans get messed up by factors outside your control. I hope you can work something out.

NoCryinginEnglineering - depending on how long you lived in Scotland, you might still be ok for citizenship....

....from "Scotland's Future" - the section on citizenship (Page 273 of the pdf)....

Those who have a demonstrable connection to Scotland and have spent at least ten years living here at some stage, whether as a child or an adult, will also have the opportunity to apply for citizenship

But you do need to be of good character according to the table that outlines the different categories

Torygraph reporting The Saj has announced an extra £2.1bn to prep for no deal (basically doubling the no deal prep funding).

Border and customs operations
Support for nationals abroad
Passport processing to avoid delays
Infrastructure around the ports
Stuff to do with medical products getting through

I've been on no deal being the outcome since Feb. It's definitely happening on 31/10 and I'm sure it will be no deal.

If it is a no deal exit, then the UK can kiss any trade deal with the US goodbye. It would threaten the GFA to which US is a guarantor. Congress adamant about this. Irish American lobby is strong. Would they love to stick it to the UK ( the English) ? Would they heck!

Why, why does there need to be money spent in preparation for No Deal? I thought there would be no problems? I thought it's just lying remoaners spreading project fear? Why, why is no one (seemingly) asking that? 🤬

I'm taking this whole thing really personally...I am beyond devastated.

Me too :( As I said on another Brexit thread, I have been living in an EU country (three years, even had a baby there), but recently had to come back to the UK (worst timing ever). I want to go back in the future, but all this talk of having to show return tickets and proof of sufficient funds and whatnot when staying in the EU is such a pain. I still have a residency card but have no idea if it will help me :/ Not happy about being British right now. I don't understand why any sensible person would look at no deal and what it would do to the country and think, 'yeah, I like the sound of that!'

@MaxNormal so very sorry it is utterly shit

Going back a little bit:

Personally I believe there is a link between trans issues and Brexit. They are both a manifestation of a reaction by the elite to their power being challenged and constrained. Brexit is a great way to disappear workers rights, and trans issues are pitch perfect at confusing the notion of equality until it become meaningless

I totally agree with this.

@Iambuffy I also see where you are coming from re voting. If we are leaving the EU come hell or high water on 31st October, what is the point of voting on the basis of a foregone conclusion. There is no point voting for a remain party if the whole thing is all over.

As to who to vote for.....I too am totally disenfranchised for the first time ever. My MP is great, but she supports Corbyn. And all the others are just dreadful.

What the hell has the UK done to itself? Or, more accurately, what on Earth have England and Wales done to Scotland and NI?

I am so ashamed to be English now

No one should be ashamed to be English, there have been, are and will be great English people.
I'm married to one and he isn't the only one I know.