Post by AlanGPost by Steve WalkerPost by AlanGIt's about as communist as E Gemany in 1974
Share the sentiment, but really there's no comparison.
- Grey, bleak joyless GDR, shoddy goods and no imports, restricted
international travel for 99% of public. Private enterprise suppressed
except for private, secret benefit of powerful elite.
Grey bleak joyless UK in most towns and cities. Cheap shoddy goods for
the masses. Quality lifestyle for the masters. Creeping restrictions
on overseas travel. Control over association except in private. State
security officials permitted to hand out punishments. Voluntary and
self help groups now require state permission. Two classes of citizen.
Mostly hyperbole. Let's take it point by point :
- Grey bleak joyless UK in most towns and cities -
Have you *been* in a town centre recently Alan? There's more gaudy
advertising, flashing neon and loud music than ever. You walk down row
after row of open, inviting chain restaurants & retailers, all selling goods
stacked high for relatively low prices. Horrible, banal crap, but not like
GDR in any way.
- Cheap shoddy goods for the masses -
Nonsense. Every chav wears Nikes and has a nice new polyphonic mobile.
The masses shop at Tesco, and buy thousands of iPods and iPhones every day.
Everyone can afford a healthy diet, the biggest problem is persuading them
to take it instead of gorging on junk food and lager. There are no cheap
rusty, rubbish cars (Moskvich, old Skoda, old BL), even the cheapest Kia is
a solid, reliable little runner. Basic-level electrical goods and
appliances are cheaper and better than even a decade ago.
- Quality lifestyle for the masters -
Agreed. But that's not a signifier of communism, just of wealth &
hierarchy.
- Creeping restrictions on overseas travel -
Not for the great majority, who can take £20 Ryanair flights to Riga
hen-nights any time they want. Certain minorities are being watched, and
we're all being surveilled more, but as long as you keep the party going and
show no sign of activism or rebellion they'll ignore you completely.
- State security officials permitted to hand out punishments -
Now you're completely off-piste. In GDR the Stazi could take your home, you
family or your work away with the wave of a hand, imprison and torture you,
with complete freedom. In UK today we have numerous little-hitlers giving
out their little tickets but that's nothing new, and it's always
challengeable in a court. To suggest a comparison is to demean the real
suffering of GDR people under the old regime.
- Voluntary and self help groups now require state permission -
Not true. There is a constant busybodying interference, but that's just
the English way (always has been, we must love it on some deep level or we
wouldn't allow it to continue).
- Two classes of citizen -
Actually more, but that's no different to any other nation in the world.
I agree with a lot of what you write Alan, but to suggest we are reduced to
GDR is Wolfie Smith naivety.