Lefties 9: This will succeed through its success

[taffetacat]

Is everyone on Twitter now?

I think we are very much caught in a capitalist trap - in order for the system to work the population must be convinced that they want, need and deserve 'things'.

totally agree...consumerism run riot is responsible for an awful lot of shit...but the capitalists would argue that it is also reaponsible for lifting whole nations out of poverty too.

No, I can't agree that the pursuit of happiness is a dead end. It's how you pursue it that matters - Toast's point re the happiest people being the people who "make a difference" is nice to hear.

And I don't think I agree that it's true that people really want or expect the Jade Goody "famous for nothing really" success/wealth. I think that's the work of the media - they tell us that people want/expect this, but does anyone actually know anyone who does? Certainly my older DCs, both early twenties so the Big Brother generation, don't - they're painfully aware that they need vocational qualifications and a decent job. Their friends are all working their socks off.

the frustrating thing is that the scandies have little populations and big GDPs and excellent education as a result.

so are those societies replicable?

happiness isn't an end in itself!

happiness can result from creativity, productivity (I really really buy Marx's alienation from means of production argument, always have: carpenter looks on at chest of drawers he has made has far more chance of side effect happiness then call centre worker, wage irrelevant).

it can result from a sense of real connection with another person. but connecting (as an example) with another person in order to be happy is a hiding to nothing imo.

jade goody was a lazy example, but i have seen and experienced myself 'shortcut' culture at first hand oftentimes: sense of real embittered betrayal at not getting the whole package yesterday rather than any sense of working towards a modest aim.

oooo newsnight...anyone watching?

david laws 'decisions made against accounting officers adivce'

oh shit, gordon, you didn't did you?

PLUS both major parties (and no libs) ignoring black economy and illegal immigrant working underclass.

I know, but the point I was making is that a choice of one thing isn't so great. And having a choice between two things requires more public policy changes than the British are prepared to accept.

In the Czech Republic (where I'm a strain because I don't go home for my healthcare!) you can choose which hospital you go, which doctor you go to etc. and surveys suggest people appreciate it, rather than finding it hopelessly confusing.

Night lefties.

I'm off to bed in my clean warm house with my well fed and happy children to count my blessings frankly.

sorry, that was to Hassled.

sophable, is this about the defence contracts etc. that were signed? Will watch it tomorrow online.

blimey cruddas' guardian piece was depressing...i can't help but smell a distinct hint of washing his hands of most of the labour higher echelons in that. they need a total turning upside down rather than a minor shake up.

now watching jezza and david laws...paxman is tall isn't he?

vesela about to find out.

david laws interview now on.

yes ok. but it's depressing that he won't run isn't it? and that the media friendly types that he disparagingly refers to are...

Laws is size of a jockey.

I'm sure Newsnight used to have a "watch live online option".

oh shit.

i haven't seen david speak before (in a declaiming way)...he is blair incarnate! even down the hand gestures! please god noooooo