What are we protesting for?

Europe may be on the brink... of something. Given all these protesrs, strikes and demonstrations, we have to ask ourselves, 'what are we protesting against, and what are we protesting for'. Are we happy to allow the governments to give some concessions to appease us?  Or is the system entirely fixed, therefore worth overthrowing?

If the latter, what is our plan, or ideology for replacing it?  If we do replace the current system in Europe, it would have to be radical and entirely disconnected from the current one, that is; capitalism.

No baby shoes

During my way back from dropping berni to get the Dublin-limerick train, I noticed a toddler in a buggy without shoes. Given the weather (to be minus 4 tonight) I found it unbelievable.

It's incredible how infuriating seeing a child left like that can make me. The woman, who I assume was his mother, was sitting in the seat beside the buggy.  Incredible as it was, I could only give benefit if doubt - that the child may had been too warm on the bus... But that's unlikely given the weather and the fact that it would have been simpler to pull his covers down.  There was also something about the "mother" which didn't inspire confidence.  A large unkempt woman to say the least.

Although on the sunny side of the streets most of the ice had melted, I had to do my best not to slip in several places on my way home...

There's the real you and the you in my dreams. The real you is better.

Democratic free media

There are two general forms of mass media. State funded or controlled, or so called independent or corporate media. Neither is entirely free nor independent. For the first time, a third is possible. An entirely democratic & free media - made possible by internet technology. This however, is only possible under democratic socialism.

This Is A Farce

TD Luke Ming Flanagan's children were bullied at school as a result of comments made to the media about how he dresses in Dáil Eireann.  He attempted to raise a point-of-order in the Dáil in response to this, and you can see the outrage that ensued. 

This Government is a disgrace.  Fine Gael show that they are capable of the same kind of bullying that goes ignored in Irish schools; you would think that they have matured beyond it.  They show no respect for this elected member of Dáil Eireann or the people he represents. 

It's an example that this country is represented by elite bully politicians in Government, bully capitalists, bully corporations and bully banks, with absolutely no empathy shown for the less privileged majority.   They're laughing and sneering at this mans pleas to protect his children from this kind of ridiculous, needless coverage.  Luke Ming is absolutely right - this is a farce.

Blueshirts & traitors

In the taxi on the way to finglas village, finally I engage in a more flowing conversation. 'Whatever about Fine Gael, you'd expect it from them. You have to remember, they were almost fascist'. - 'and Labour were almost communist', I replied.  I'm informed 'traitors' was graffiti'd on the door of Joe Costelloe's office, in response to their roll in the recent budget announcement.

The doctor's is closed - shit. I wander around looking for a damn newsagents - could really do with a cigarette. Finglas village, given its size, seems to lack a newsagents; that, or they've hidden them away, tucked in some unknown corner I'm unfamiliar with.

Alas, it's true. They're keeping me from buying cigarettes in this unfashionable place. Time to go home again; maybe I'll have better luck of a purchase there.

'Have you any pepperoni?' 'I've just gotten rid of it. It wasn't selling - it's always the way, isn't it?' At the till, '...and 20 Marlboro lights please'.

Finally, a cigarette. 'Peter do you want one'. 'Yeah, I'm out actually'. 'No problem, I'll give you one'.

'Oh Peter! Cancer!' John cries, at the keywords he's heard me mention to his brother, which act as a stimulus for his urgent remark - as if the cigarette would act with immediate effect on this issue.

'Oh, yeah... I quit... Just now actually', is his response to the vulgar remark.

The basic editing feature on the new Blogger mobile app is going to give me such interesting ways to fill those previously unused times when travelling or sitting in waiting rooms.

It was once suggested to me that you just sit down and write - about anything - and eventually you'll start writing something that really matters. That's pretty much what I'm doing here. If anything interesting appears on this blog, it will more or less be accidental.

I say this as I sit freezing in my conservatory at 6.50 in the morning, smoking a cigarette between sentences. But I'm going to get an hour and a half of sleep now. Perhaps I'll write something interesting tomorrow.