RINF<\/a>) – May 7 general elections approach. Britain is like America. It’s all over before polls open. Monied interests win every time.<\/p>\nOrdinary people lose out more than ever in modern memory. It shows in opinion polls.<\/p>\n
Only 16% of voters trust politicians. Why anyone besides well-off Brits do they’ll have to explain.<\/p>\n
It doesn’t matter who wins on Thursday. Torries and New Labour are even in polls. They’re like Republicans and Democrats in America – two sides of the same coin, not a dime’s worth of difference between them.<\/p>\n
Neither major party is expected to win a majority. Expect coalition government with smaller parties to follow. They largely support the same regressive policies.<\/p>\n
All politicians lie. Nothing they say can be believed. New Labour leader Ed Miliband maintained the standard saying Britain’s “clear choice on Thursday (is) between a Labour government that will put working people first or a Tory government that will only ever work for the privileged few.”<\/p>\n
Britain’s “clear choice” is none at all. Monied interests run things. Bankers top the pecking order.<\/p>\n
Politicians come and go. One major party or the other wins. Things stay the same.<\/p>\n
Neoliberal harshness, financialization, weak unions, offshoring manufacturing, privatizing state enterprises, deregulation, and disappearing social justice characterize Britain’s economy.<\/p>\n
London’s Guardian warned of a “hit list of (more) welfare cuts” coming.<\/p>\n
Voltaire once explained British society saying its people “are like their own beer; froth on top, dregs at bottom, the middle excellent.”<\/p>\n
Today’s froth never had it better. Poor Brits are enduring their hardest times since post-WW II recovery.<\/p>\n
Middle class society is fast disappearing – like in America. Britain’s weekly Spectator magazine says it’s “shrinking and sinking.”<\/p>\n
“The lifestyle that the average earner had half a century ago – reasonably sized house, dependable healthcare, a decent education for the children and a reliable pension – is becoming the preserve of the rich.”<\/p>\n
“Middle-class pensioners look on amazed at how their children, now into adulthood, seem to have a far harder time.”<\/p>\n
Rich elites run things more than ever. They doubled their wealth since 2009. The average worker earns less when adjusted for inflation and wage cuts.<\/p>\n
Former Bank of England governor Mervyn King said middle class society is enduring the longest squeeze in living memory. Rich folks never had it better.<\/p>\n
London is unaffordable to live in. House prices average over $750,000. The average wage is less than $50,000.<\/p>\n
In January, thousands participated in a March for Homes rally. They demanded solutions to unaffordable housing prices – worsening as they escalate.<\/p>\n
They carried banners saying “People before profit.” Build council homes (reasonably priced ones for working class people).” “Take the wealth of the 1%.”<\/p>\n
Rents surged an average 13% annually since 2010. So have repossessions and evictions. Britain increasingly is unfit to live in – just like America.<\/p>\n
New Labour claiming “Britain can be better” rings hollow for millions enduring increasing hardships.<\/p>\n
They’re “all the same,” growing numbers of voters say about a system increasingly ignoring their needs.<\/p>\n
They promise one thing. They do another. Serving monied interests and allying with Washington’s war machine matter most.<\/p>\n
Respect Party Bradford West MP George Galloway is running for reelection. He calls himself “your traditional, much-loved black cab.”<\/p>\n
“You don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone. There are not a lot of us black cabs around any more.”<\/p>\n
His constituency is one of Britain’s poorest. It’s struggling to reinvent itself. Despite his best best efforts, he’s up against a corrupted, uncaring system.<\/p>\n
He’s one of 650 House of Commons members. “Recovery, what recovery,” he asks?<\/p>\n
“We keep hearing that the economic recovery is better in Britain than in any other European country.”<\/p>\n
“Well it may be in London and the Home Counties, but it certainly isn’t here” and most other places in Britain.<\/p>\n
Millions are suffering. Food banks are proliferating, Galloway explained. “Can you imagine what the country will look like by 2020 if these barbarians are returned” to power, he stressed.<\/p>\n
“We need investment in jobs and infrastructure\u2026But it won’t come under the Tories or this miserable local Labour administration.” Or New Labour if it bests the Torries nationwide.<\/p>\n
Social justice is fast disappearing. Force-fed austerity is official UK policy.<\/p>\n
So is growing wealth inequality. It’s risen four times faster since 2008 compared to the seven preceding years.<\/p>\n
It bears repeating. Britain is like America – governed of, by and for its privileged elites alone.<\/p>\n
It’s corrupt, fundamentally unfair and ruthlessly anti-democratic. Young people have no futures.<\/p>\n
An entire generation is lost. Social welfare cuts hits Britain’s most disadvantaged hardest.<\/p>\n
Inequality is booming. Politicians able to make a difference don’t care. Increasing amounts of public wealth in private hands is a slippery slope to third world status.<\/p>\n
Margaret Thatcher escalated inequality. She oversaw one of the greatest ever transfers of wealth to British society’s most well-off.<\/p>\n
David Cameron is worse. New Labour’s Ed Miliband is no better. Robbing poor Peter to pay rich Paul is official bipartisan policy.<\/p>\n
It’s endorsed by Liberal Democrats, Britain’s third ranked party. It’s neither liberal nor democratic. It’s hard right like the rest.<\/p>\n
On Thursday, voting options are death by hanging or firing squad. Ballot choices exclude government serving everyone equitably.<\/p>\n
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.<\/p>\n
His new book as editor and contributor is titled “Flashpoint in Ukraine: US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III.”<\/p>\n
http:\/\/www.claritypress.com\/LendmanIII.html<\/p>\n
Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com.<\/p>\n
Listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network.<\/p>\n
It airs three times weekly: live on Sundays at 1PM Central time plus two prerecorded archived programs.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
UK Elections: Business as Usual Triumphs<\/b><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
by Stephen Lendman<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
May 7 general elections approach. Britain is like America. It’s all over before polls open. Monied interests win every time.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Ordinary people lose out more than ever in modern memory. It shows in opinion polls. <\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Only 16% of voters trust politicians. Why anyone besides well-off Brits do they’ll have to explain. <\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
It doesn’t matter who wins on Thursday. Torries and New Labour are even in polls. They’re like Republicans and Democrats in America – two sides of the same coin, not a dime’s worth of difference between them.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Neither major party is expected to win a majority. Expect coalition government with smaller parties to follow. They largely support the same regressive policies.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
All politicians lie. Nothing they say can be believed. New Labour leader Ed Miliband maintained the standard saying Britain’s “clear choice on Thursday (is) between a Labour government that will put working people first or a Tory government that will only ever work for the privileged few.”<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Britain’s “clear choice” is none at all. Monied interests run things. Bankers top the pecking order.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Politicians come and go. One major party or the other wins. Things stay the same.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Neoliberal harshness, financialization, weak unions, offshoring manufacturing, privatizing state enterprises, deregulation, and disappearing social justice characterize Britain’s economy.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
London’s Guardian warned of a “hit list of (more) welfare cuts” coming.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Voltaire once explained British society saying its people “are like their own beer; froth on top, dregs at bottom, the middle excellent.”<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Today’s froth never had it better. Poor Brits are enduring their hardest times since post-WW II recovery.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Middle class society is fast disappearing – like in America. Britain’s weekly Spectator magazine says it’s “shrinking and sinking.”<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
“The lifestyle that the average earner had half a century ago – reasonably sized house, dependable healthcare, a decent education for the children and a reliable pension – is becoming the preserve of the rich.” <\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
“Middle-class pensioners look on amazed at how their children, now into adulthood, seem to have a far harder time.”<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Rich elites run things more than ever. They doubled their wealth since 2009. The average worker earns less when adjusted for inflation and wage cuts.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Former Bank of England governor Mervyn King said middle class society is enduring the longest squeeze in living memory. Rich folks never had it better.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
London is unaffordable to live in. House prices average over $750,000. The average wage is less than $50,000.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
In January, thousands participated in a March for Homes rally. They demanded solutions to unaffordable housing prices – worsening as they escalate.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
They carried banners saying “People before profit.” Build council homes (reasonably priced ones for working class people).” “Take the wealth of the 1%.”<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Rents surged an average 13% annually since 2010. So have repossessions and evictions. Britain increasingly is unfit to live in – just like America.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
New Labour claiming “Britain can be better” rings hollow for millions enduring increasing hardships.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
They’re “all the same,” growing numbers of voters say about a system increasingly ignoring their needs.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
They promise one thing. They do another. Serving monied interests and allying with Washington’s war machine matter most.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Respect Party Bradford West MP George Galloway is running for reelection. He calls himself “your traditional, much-loved black cab.”<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
“You don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone. There are not a lot of us black cabs around any more.”<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
His constituency is one of Britain’s poorest. It’s struggling to reinvent itself. Despite his best best efforts, he’s up against a corrupted, uncaring system.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
He’s one of 650 House of Commons members. “Recovery, what recovery,” he asks?<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
“We keep hearing that the economic recovery is better in Britain than in any other European country.”<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
“Well it may be in London and the Home Counties, but it certainly isn’t here” and most other places in Britain.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Millions are suffering. Food banks are proliferating, Galloway explained. “Can you imagine what the country will look like by 2020 if these barbarians are returned” to power, he stressed.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
“We need investment in jobs and infrastructure…But it won’t come under the Tories or this miserable local Labour administration.” Or New Labour if it bests the Torries nationwide.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Social justice is fast disappearing. Force-fed austerity is official UK policy. <\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
So is growing wealth inequality. It’s risen four times faster since 2008 compared to the seven preceding years.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
It bears repeating. Britain is like America – governed of, by and for its privileged elites alone.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
It’s corrupt, fundamentally unfair and ruthlessly anti-democratic. Young people have no futures.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
An entire generation is lost. Social welfare cuts hits Britain’s most disadvantaged hardest.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Inequality is booming. Politicians able to make a difference don’t care. Increasing amounts of public wealth in private hands is a slippery slope to third world status.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Margaret Thatcher escalated inequality. She oversaw one of the greatest ever transfers of wealth to British society’s most well-off.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
David Cameron is worse. New Labour’s Ed Miliband is no better. Robbing poor Peter to pay rich Paul is official bipartisan policy.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
It’s endorsed by Liberal Democrats, Britain’s third ranked party. It’s neither liberal nor democratic. It’s hard right like the rest.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
On Thursday, voting options are death by hanging or firing squad. Ballot choices exclude government serving everyone equitably.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net. <\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
His new book as editor and contributor is titled “Flashpoint in Ukraine: US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III.”<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
http:\/\/www.claritypress.com\/LendmanIII.html<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com. <\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
It airs three times weekly: live on Sundays at 1PM Central time plus two prerecorded archived programs. <\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":1217,"featured_media":67033,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[461],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-149075","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-editorials"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/149075","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1217"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=149075"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/149075\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/67033"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=149075"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=149075"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=149075"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}