R.D. Hale's Blog, page 5
July 14, 2015
Sky City: The Wrath of Arturo - Bloodshed and Mystery
With rifle on his back, Otess mounts his horse and I climb onto Titas who has waited outside the village without eating anyone. It is good to see his obedience genes are having the intended influence. The entire Otessa tribe have emerged from their mud-huts to bid us farewell. Children nervously stroke Titas' ankles and run off, giggling, before they get trampled. Tribal dancing and chanting provides a send-off as painted ladies mimic the movements of animals.'Praise the demon lord!' they yell until we are out of sight, following a trail which runs between pastureland and palms. Local wildlife continues the show with a hornbill singing out-of-tune as a spider wrestles with a frog, and an orangutan carries her baby towards pindo fruit. We approach a hillside of wildflowers and rocks which should take us high enough to reveal the next twenty miles of terrain. Soon we reach the peak from which we can see the Panthalassic ocean in one direction, sub-tropical wilderness in all others. There does not appear to be any human activity in the area.'Arturo, tell me, how did you develop such power?' Otess bellows from his lowly steed which is cantering to match Titas' walking speed.'I was killed, and rebuilt by the rebellion against my will. They used experimental technology on me, I'm only part-human now.''You were killed? It is as the prophecy foretold. Death cannot stop the demon warrior!' Otess raises his fist above his head. 'It is many moons since Lord Akaragashi's spirit last imbued a boy with such power, that boy was called Lapetus. Bravery got him killed at just seventeen, but he was resurrected three days later, and came back stronger, faster, like you. He led Otessa tribe to many great victories. On his deathbed he told us the spirit of Lord Akaragashi would one day return, riding a great beast, and we would know it was him for although he would possess a new body, his power would be clear to see. And it was... You will bring about our liberation, Arturo, lead us to greatness once again.''Demon warrior, eh? I like the sound of that!' I chuckle.'Arturo, it is important you succeed. Our daughters have been raped, my daughter. It is to my shame that I could not defend her. Our women dare not venture from village.''Otess, I'll get those bastards, I promise. Your prophecy is right, speed is not my only trick. There are few people alive as powerful as me. And those that are, are on my side.'My internal clock makes it one hour and forty seven minutes of riding through grassland and palm forest when Otess dismounts from his horse near a pond. A flock of parrots are startled by our arrival and fly away from their drinking hole. Titas satiates his thirst, seemingly determined to drain the pond, and I too dismount as a large pitcher plant catches my eye. I dip my hand into its sterile juice and use it to rinse my clammy face. The paint from the ritual runs off.'Phew, I needed a rest. Who knew doing noting could be so tiring?' I dip my hand back into the pitcher plant and give my face another rinse.'Arturo, you should have left paint on for luck. This area is where we see STG, there are roads nearby. If there is camp, it should be close. I can come no further, but I eagerly await your return, great demon warrior!'I shake Otess' sweaty hand, mount my dydongo, and head for the nearest road as our guide turns back towards his village. My eyes scan through ghost trees, and ears filter animal heartbeats, but I fail to detect any sign of human presence. We come to a junction and I can smell a vehicle trail heading in an easterly direction - I must have an internal compass.'Okay, big guy, follow this road.' I tap Titas' right shoulder and point. 'I can sense something at last, get ready to fight. Remember, if we see Mila, stop on my say so.'A short walk reveals muddy tracks leading off-road. We venture through trees until large tents and parked vehicles emerge into view. A San Terian Guard is standing beside one of the armoured vehicles, oblivious to his coming fate. A snort from Titas prompts him to turn and he recoils upon the sight of us, unable to locate his holster in his panic. 'Melt him!' Titas' fiery breath leaves a pile of bones and goo as paintwork drips from the vehicle door.'Okay, big guy. I'm gonna check out the tents. Any men emerge, melt them. You see a girl, you stop, let me take care of it, okay?'X-ray sight reveals humans within each of the four tents so I pat Titas' shoulder and sneak across to the nearest tent. The first of three guards flops onto a sleeping bag as I twist his head three hundred and sixty degrees. His phaser fits snugly into my hand, and the other men are nullified by plasma streams as they yell: 'Intrud-'I hear an engine revving and exit the tent to see Titas' head batter a vehicle which crashes onto its side. Horns smash the windscreen and white phosphorous melts the guard inside. Emerging guards shoot from behind in futility and Titas lashes the first with his tail. The victim flies forty seven feet, crashing into palm leaves, then tumbling down with coconuts; his body broken. I swerve through energy beams and clothesline two guards, shattering their mandibles. A pair of guards emerge from another tent, straight into dydongo breath. The tent canvass catches fire as human flesh melts, and I scan the smoke-filled tent interior. It is empty now.I swoop towards the last inhabited tent where a solitary guard is shivering with phaser in hand. The youngster cannot even bring himself to shoot as I stare at his rapidly beating heart. Tears pour as I gently remove the phaser from his fingers like a parent removing a dangerous toy from a child. He makes no attempt to resist or flee.'I'm looking for a girl, Mila Morgen, you people refer to her and I as terrorists. If you want to avoid dydongo breath, I suggest you start talking.''There was a girl here, she was taken. It was strange. They told us to uncuff her, they were nice to her, said we must stop calling her terrorist. She seemed happy to go with them.''Who are they?' I shake him by the collar and his stubble-free face gawps.'That's the thing, we've no idea. We received radio orders to hand her over and then they arrived in a scram jet. I've never seen their uniforms before. They seemed important, announced themselves as the KGA or something. None of us had a clue who they were, but they were well-armed.''Where did they take her?''How am I supposed to know? I can tell you they flew in that direction, that's all.''Better than nothing, I suppose.' I shove the guard flat on his back. 'I'm going now, if anyone comes after me, I'll blame you. You've seen our capabilities, don't make that mistake.'
Rapidly encroaching footsteps are accompanied by snarling and I turn back to see Otess sprinting into the tent. So much for not helping. The tribesman knocks me sideways as he dives onto the teary guard, screaming 'Rapist!' He thrusts a dagger into the guard's neck, and blood soaks into the sleeping bag as life drains out of his youthful face. I was going to spare him, but maybe his kind deserve death. This is war, after all.
Rapidly encroaching footsteps are accompanied by snarling and I turn back to see Otess sprinting into the tent. So much for not helping. The tribesman knocks me sideways as he dives onto the teary guard, screaming 'Rapist!' He thrusts a dagger into the guard's neck, and blood soaks into the sleeping bag as life drains out of his youthful face. I was going to spare him, but maybe his kind deserve death. This is war, after all.
Sky City: The Wrath of Arturo - Rise of the Demon Lord!
Otess leads me through candle-lit tunnels of dry clay, and into a small, windowless chamber with a small table. Even with Mila on my mind, all I want to do is rest now, and the animal skins on the floor make an appealing bed. My new capabilities are energy intensive and will be useless if I lack the strength to put them into action.'We never used to sleep below ground, then one day village damaged by angry dydongo, about ten years ago. Lucky most aren't hostile!' Otess chuckles from the doorway then frowns in shame. 'Still we take no chance, safer underground. You rest now, I bring food soon.''Thank you, Otess, I don't wanna be rude but I need plenty of food, haven't eaten in days.' I sit on the wonderfully soft animal skin bed. 'The more you can bring, the better. I'll make it up to you when I rid this place of STG scum.''You rest now, Arturo, we prepare feast, and then see if you good as you say you are.' Otess points with a lingering grin. 'It was prophecised a special one would come, man who possess great speed and prowess.''Oh, you've no idea, Otess! I've fought the STG many times. Won more battles than I've lost. You see an explosion in the sky the other night?''Exploding star, yes, it was sign from demon lord!''I am sorry to say that was my work. I was partially responsible for blowing up a space station. We killed many of the STG but innocents will have died if they did not evacuate in time. Mila and I returned to the surface in an escape pod. They tracked us pretty quickly. I woke and Mila was gone. I can only assume she went to seek help.''Sometimes innocents must die for the greater good. You will find your friend, Arturo, I have no doubt.''Greater good? I'm not sure I believe in such a thing any more...'Otess leaves and I wrap myself in the thick fur of what I assume belonged to a buffalo. It is gentle against my healing torso, and I drift away within seconds... Some time later, the smell of roast chicken arouses my nostrils, bringing a sleepy smile to my face. I wake to see an enormous dinner has been left on the table with a whole chicken, vegetables, and a glass of water. I devour the food without using the cutlery, leaving not even a bone as I lick fingers clean and gulp water.Belly satisfied, I head through empty tunnels, calling 'Hello' to no response. Humming guides me up a stairway to see the tribe sitting hand-in-hand around a small bonfire, deep in meditation. Painted faces shimmer in the heatwave as a sweet-smelling resin vapour circulates. Otess opens his eyes, but the others remain in meditation as he speaks:'Arturo, you've rested, eaten, recuperated. You have a battle ahead of you, must prepare. The demon lord will decide your fate.' Two young ladies step forth, dip fingers into pots and smear a substance across my cheeks then my chest. War paint. 'Arturo, kneel before fire, embrace this moment.'The circle parts and the two ladies, who are draped in bone necklaces and bracelets, take my hands. We kneel in the circle and close our eyes as the pitch of humming rises and falls in a regular rhythm. Vibrations travel from hand to hand, heart to heart as I transcend into a heightened state and my mind surrenders to tribal superstition. Otess speaks:'Demon lord Akaragashi, the chosen one has at last arrived to liberate us. Infuse him with your spirit and let the demon warrior live. Our people must rise again. Let Arturo return victorious.'The circle breaks and Otess approaches, placing one hand on my shoulder which rises in tandem with my deep breathing. Hope burns in the tribe leader's eyes as he speaks: 'Arturo, we've waited a long time for this, for vengeance. Please do not let us down. There's an energy within you, I can sense it. Come, I will guide you to the location and then you are on your own. We shall have a celebration prepared for your return.'
Sky City: The Wrath of Arturo - 'Savages'
Moustachioed men emerge from the village as though alerted by a silent alarm, yelling as women and children are ushered into buildings that a dydongo could trample underfoot. The men hunch, backtracking and pointing flimsy-looking rifles that would not put a dent in beast or rider, and their reluctance to shoot suggests they understand this. I climb down from my steed with hands raised for their benefit rather than mine.'We mean you no harm,' I yell, approaching slowly. 'My name is Arturo. Do any of you speak Anatolian?''Yes, I speak... You, what you want?' A skinny man in ragged clothing asks.'I need help. I landed nearby in an escape capsule. My friend was with me, but she's vanished. Her name's Mila Morgen, I need to find her.''What you doing with dydongo?''That's a long story. We were trapped together; thankfully he's pretty tame. He saved me from the STG! I can assure you he won't hurt anyone.''You enemy of STG?' The skinny man relaxes his aim.'Isn't everyone? Bastards tried to kill me. Titas here turned them into bones and goo!' 'Tell your beast to stay. No eating. You come inside.'Approaching Titas, I pat his cheek and whisper into what I think is his ear. 'Hey big guy, I might be in there a while. Are you gonna wait for me?' Titas snorts twice and I take that as a 'Yes'. The villagers lead me into a mud-hut which is so impressively constructed that 'mud-hut' fails to do it justice. It is a multi-chambered construction with a thatched roof, intricate wall carvings, white tiles framing glassless windows, and a near-flawless symmetry in its design. Not bad for 'savages'.Within the candle-lit interior, I am invited to sit at a large table with a fruit bowl at the centre. I tread over the worn fibres of a handwoven carpet and take a wobbly seat. The rifles are now strapped to the men's backs, but they stare suspiciously apart from the skinny man who first greeted me.'Please forgive the welcome. It's not everyday dydongo rider come here. You hungry? Please eat.' The skinny man gestures at the bowl, and I devour an apple then a banana in seconds; hungry for more but nervous of seeming impolite as I stare at the core and skin.'You really kill STG? That makes you friend! I'm Otess.' The skinny man grins as he peers over the tower of fresh fruit.'Yeah, like I said, just bones and goo now!' The men at the table reveal bad teeth as they roar with laughter. 'So, my friend, I think she may have been captured. I need to know, is there an STG base in the area?''No base we know of, but they come sometimes. See more of them recently, they harass, take food. Our girls have been raped, there's little we can do.''Maybe we can help you there. I'm a trained soldier, the STG is no match for Titas and me! If you can give me any clue as to where they may be, I can stop them and save Mila. It's a win-win.''You can't beat STG, not even with dydongo. Their rockets too dangerous.' A frown emerges from behind Otess' short beard.'I'm quicker than a rocket, Otess! Watch this.'Taking a shiny red apple from the bowl, I twice throw it up a couple of inches, and walk to the darkest side of the candle-lit room. The men squint as I raise my arm and fling the apple over their heads, causing them to duck needlessly. A gust ruffles their hair as I zoom around the long table and catch the apple inches from the far wall, then take a bite to the sound of gasps. 'Not bad, eh? Got state of the art augmenations to thank for that. Like I said, the STG are no match for Titas and me!'Bearded men gawp at one another, murmuring: 'Could it be? The prophecy speak of beast rider, man of great speed who come to fight.''You are impressive, Arturo.' Otess interrupts the speculation. 'We've seen STG vehicles near, we can show you soon. You look tired, hungry. You rest. We cook food, say prayers and then show, if demon lord allows. Please understand we cannot help fight, STG could wipe us out in instant.'
May 17, 2015
Payment-Optional Download of Sky City: The Rise of an Orphan
If you wish to purchase the Watty award-winning biopunk novel, Sky City: The Rise of an Orphan, please click on the PayPal Icon at the top right of the page, and choose the amount you wish to pay. (If you do not have a PayPal account, you will be given the option to pay by card.)
Every payment received helps to fund future instalments of Sky City. (I am currently working on a prequel, sequel, and a spin-off!)
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If you enjoy the book, please leave a quick review at Amazon when you have finished! Thank you so much for your support.
Every payment received helps to fund future instalments of Sky City. (I am currently working on a prequel, sequel, and a spin-off!)
For the time being, payment is entirely optional, meaning you can download for free. Please click on one of the following three links:
< Download Sky City: The Rise of an Orphan PDF >
< Read Sky City: The Rise of an Orphan for free on Wattpad >
< Purchase for $0.99 at Amazon (free to Kindle Unlimited users) >
If you enjoy the book, please leave a quick review at Amazon when you have finished! Thank you so much for your support.
April 22, 2015
Considering voting for Conservatives or UKIP? Please read / fact check
I have just sent off my postal vote for the Labour party, an admittedly imperfect choice, with an uncharismatic leader , Ed Miliband, who sometimes talks of radical left wing reform, and other times risks adopting the populist, victim-blaming rhetoric of the right wing. In my mind it was ultimately a choice between Labour and the Liberal Democrats, and I opted for the party more likely to effect real change. For anyone thinking of voting for Tories/UKIP, let me help you understand whether either party is really for you:
If you believe the 6thrichest nation on earth cannot afford a reasonable standard of public services, that billionaires should be running everything and given tax breaks, that the public should be willing to work without contracted hours or pay, that all of our problems stem not from those with the power to effect change (the wealthy) but from those without power (refugees and the unemployed), that human rights are just ‘red tape’ that must be cut, that Britain would do better to isolate itself from the world stage; then by all means vote against the interests of the majority. But prepare for a downward spiral for everyone bar the privileged few.
Fascism and conservatism fall on the right wing of the political spectrum - the politics of fear. The fascist goal is to divide the public and unite their followers against a common enemy, whether real or imagined, and maintain their grip via the merger of state and corporate power. Anyone who does not fall in line becomes a non-citizen, a criminal, or worse.
In this instance, the common enemies are immigrants and benefits claimants. Right wingers do not tell you that tax evasion cost us ten times as much as benefit fraud. Nor do they tell you that 90% of the benefits bill goes towards pensioners – you know those war heroes they claim to support? Don’t believe a word of it. They resent every penny they have to pay towards those in need, whether that be 7% of benefits claimants who are disabled and forced to return to work when they cannot; or 3% unemployed who are forced to work for NOTHING if they have been out of work for 6 months; and if they are fortunate enough to find paid work, are not guaranteed a full working week, thanks to zero hours contracts.
No wonder the suicide rate is so high. No wonder there have been so many avoidable deaths from those with severe physical and mental disabilities. As far as the Tories are concerned, every one of those deaths is one less scrounger to feed.
Every leading economist agrees that immigration gives us a net profit, and the right wingers do not mention that we take on half as many refugees as the average European nation – so much for the UK being a soft touch on immigration. Right wingers talk tough, but are unable to reduce the number of illegal immigrants, because, quite simply, they do not know where most of them are. Their solution is to kick out economically viable migrants doing jobs the British public won’t do (so businesses suffer), as well as declining Visa applications for the spouses of British citizens. Imagine being told your (non-EU) husband/wife was not allowed to live in this country because you, a British citizen, do not earn above the average wage. Imagine the impact this would have on your kids. This is what the Tories have been doing to real families. UKIP would be even crueller.
Take a look around the world and I guarantee that nearly every progressive law made in favour of equality or workers’ rights has come courtesy of a left wing government, and that once a right wing government is elected, they will often try to repeal these rights. All of the perks we take for granted – weekends, paid holidays, minimum wage, safety standards – these are all socialist ideals, the kind conservatives like to call ‘red tape’ until they can no longer dupe us, and then they claim to have been in favour of these things all along.
Think all of this is an exaggeration? That it is unfair to conflate conservatism and fascism? Pay a visit to any right wing publication, even a ‘respectable’ one like the Daily Mail. Read the comments sections on any political argument - you will see a cesspit of every kind of bigotry from those who claim to advocate moral purity. Visit an equivalent left wing publication like the Guardian, and you will see thousands of comments from people who actually give a damn, whose priority is not demonisation but understanding, not indifference but compassion. Ask yourself which mentality you really want to align yourself with.
UKIP ally themselves with the lunatic Tea Party branch of the Republican party who believe you should be able to carry machine guns in public places, gay people should be second class citizens, and benefits should be scrapped because they are funding the 'extravagant' lifestyles of scroungers and criminals. It seems every week UKIP have to expel another member for a racist outburst.
Right wing parties are as fascist as the public will allow them to become, but in a liberal society will abandon their Thatchers for their Camerons - this is just a moderate facade. The most dangerous people are those gullible enough to swallow their divide-and-conquer rhetoric because they prop these parties up. The further we lurch towards the right wing, the less equal we become, the lower the standard of living for the working and middle classes, and the less trusting and compassionate our society becomes.
David Cameron is pretty much in a minority of one within his party with his moderate stance. May, Osborne, McVey, and Smith are far from moderate, and these are the ones whom the Tories allow to have a public face. Ever wondered why so many Tories are hidden from public view? It’s because the right wing stereotype for the main-part holds true. You’d be hard-pressed to tell a Conservative, UKIP, or BNP member apart if you did not know better.
They would have you believe only conservatives are reliable custodians of the economy, that the left cannot be trusted, fiscally-speaking. However, reality tells a different picture – since 1979 every Conservative government has spent a higher percentage of GDP than Labour, and yet standards of public services have fallen under their leadership (remember how patients used to die in hospital corridors in the 1990s because there were not enough beds?)
At every opportunity, the Conservatives have allowed our public services to be privatised, absolving the state of responsibility and putting profit before people – just look at how the energy and rail companies rip us off.
Under Osborne's stewardship, standards of living are worse now than at the start of the recession, unemployment has risen if you discount forced labour and zero hour contracts (no sensible person would consider these people employed so much as at the beckon call of capitalists). Osborne likes to claim the deficit has fallen, but many economists dispute this. More tellingly, government borrowing has increased 50% in five years, yet there has been little investment in our infrastructure so we are unlikely to see a return. The evidence suggests things will get worse before they get better, and that's by the Tories' own admission!
The Tories seem to want a recovery for free, but reality does not work like that. After our nation's biggest economic catastrophe, World War 2, we recovered not by cutting public spending, but by increasing it dramatically. Clement Attlee understood that only investment could rebuild our nation so his government gave us the NHS, social housing, the welfare state, and workers' rights. He was probably the greatest Prime Minister we've ever had - an anti-Thatcher if you will. Guess which of those two we gave a state funeral to - clue, it wasn't Attlee.
Far poorer countries than the UK, such as South Korea, are providing drastically superior public services to ours at a fraction of the cost. Year on year, the nations that top the UN Index of Human Development in nearly every category are arguably the five most socialist nations on earth – Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and The Netherlands.
The reason socialism works, if properly implemented, is this – the working class must have spending power in order for an economy to properly function. If you take away that spending power, money is hoarded by the wealthy and unemployment is an inevitable consequence. The Conservative solution is always to work longer hours for less money. The ultimate capitalist system was the slavery system, and if they thought they could get away with it, that’s exactly what they would implement again. Evidence? Look at the third world in which the poor work in sweat shops for pennies, seven days a week. How do you protect them from this? That dirty socialist word – regulation.
What you must understand is, left wing parties almost always have admirable ideals: fight for the underdog, protect the vulnerable, say no to war, tackle poverty, save the environment. And whether they are competent enough to achieve their goals or not, they are usually sincere in those beliefs. Sometimes, the right wing will adopt similar language because they know it will resonate with the public, but they are almost always insincere. Their main goal is to support the wealthy and strip the masses of their rights. Whichever way you choose to vote, you risk voting for incompetence, but as a starting point, at least narrow your options down to those who actually give a damn.
The right wingers would have you believe that socialism and communism are synonyms for fascism, and they all fall on the left wing of the political spectrum. The fact of the matter is communism and fascism are polar opposites - one evil - one unrealistic. Liberalism and libertarianism are unhappy compromises between these two ultimately unachievable goals. Ask yourself which ideology your beliefs are closest to, before accepting propaganda.
Communism Fascism Far left ideology Far right ideology Extreme form of socialism Extreme form of conservatism Abolition of state and corporate power Merger of state and corporate power Lack of currency Rigid nationalism Lack of borders Hostility to outsiders Work for the common good Absolute authority driven by fear Take only what you need from society Little or no social mobility Management of resources Consumption of resources Unsustainable due to human materialism Unsustainable due to working class unrest
Some fascist leaders adopted the communist label because they could never admit to being dictators serving only self-interest, and instead masqueraded as men of the people. This played into the hands of capitalists. There has never been, and, by definition, can never be a communist state. How can you have a state without borders or currency?
Nearly every dystopian society ever imagined has been a fascist state where capitalism has grown too powerful (think Bladerunner). Nearly every utopian society imagined has been of a communist system in which capitalism has been abandoned (think Star Trek). We instinctively know capitalism is unfair by its nature, and, if left untamed, will result in fascism. Socialism is the process by which we tame capitalism in order to achieve a fairer society. Conservatives tend to be on the wrong side of human rights arguments until they lose…
If you believe the 6thrichest nation on earth cannot afford a reasonable standard of public services, that billionaires should be running everything and given tax breaks, that the public should be willing to work without contracted hours or pay, that all of our problems stem not from those with the power to effect change (the wealthy) but from those without power (refugees and the unemployed), that human rights are just ‘red tape’ that must be cut, that Britain would do better to isolate itself from the world stage; then by all means vote against the interests of the majority. But prepare for a downward spiral for everyone bar the privileged few.
Fascism and conservatism fall on the right wing of the political spectrum - the politics of fear. The fascist goal is to divide the public and unite their followers against a common enemy, whether real or imagined, and maintain their grip via the merger of state and corporate power. Anyone who does not fall in line becomes a non-citizen, a criminal, or worse.
In this instance, the common enemies are immigrants and benefits claimants. Right wingers do not tell you that tax evasion cost us ten times as much as benefit fraud. Nor do they tell you that 90% of the benefits bill goes towards pensioners – you know those war heroes they claim to support? Don’t believe a word of it. They resent every penny they have to pay towards those in need, whether that be 7% of benefits claimants who are disabled and forced to return to work when they cannot; or 3% unemployed who are forced to work for NOTHING if they have been out of work for 6 months; and if they are fortunate enough to find paid work, are not guaranteed a full working week, thanks to zero hours contracts.
No wonder the suicide rate is so high. No wonder there have been so many avoidable deaths from those with severe physical and mental disabilities. As far as the Tories are concerned, every one of those deaths is one less scrounger to feed.
Every leading economist agrees that immigration gives us a net profit, and the right wingers do not mention that we take on half as many refugees as the average European nation – so much for the UK being a soft touch on immigration. Right wingers talk tough, but are unable to reduce the number of illegal immigrants, because, quite simply, they do not know where most of them are. Their solution is to kick out economically viable migrants doing jobs the British public won’t do (so businesses suffer), as well as declining Visa applications for the spouses of British citizens. Imagine being told your (non-EU) husband/wife was not allowed to live in this country because you, a British citizen, do not earn above the average wage. Imagine the impact this would have on your kids. This is what the Tories have been doing to real families. UKIP would be even crueller.
Take a look around the world and I guarantee that nearly every progressive law made in favour of equality or workers’ rights has come courtesy of a left wing government, and that once a right wing government is elected, they will often try to repeal these rights. All of the perks we take for granted – weekends, paid holidays, minimum wage, safety standards – these are all socialist ideals, the kind conservatives like to call ‘red tape’ until they can no longer dupe us, and then they claim to have been in favour of these things all along.
Think all of this is an exaggeration? That it is unfair to conflate conservatism and fascism? Pay a visit to any right wing publication, even a ‘respectable’ one like the Daily Mail. Read the comments sections on any political argument - you will see a cesspit of every kind of bigotry from those who claim to advocate moral purity. Visit an equivalent left wing publication like the Guardian, and you will see thousands of comments from people who actually give a damn, whose priority is not demonisation but understanding, not indifference but compassion. Ask yourself which mentality you really want to align yourself with.
UKIP ally themselves with the lunatic Tea Party branch of the Republican party who believe you should be able to carry machine guns in public places, gay people should be second class citizens, and benefits should be scrapped because they are funding the 'extravagant' lifestyles of scroungers and criminals. It seems every week UKIP have to expel another member for a racist outburst.
Right wing parties are as fascist as the public will allow them to become, but in a liberal society will abandon their Thatchers for their Camerons - this is just a moderate facade. The most dangerous people are those gullible enough to swallow their divide-and-conquer rhetoric because they prop these parties up. The further we lurch towards the right wing, the less equal we become, the lower the standard of living for the working and middle classes, and the less trusting and compassionate our society becomes.
David Cameron is pretty much in a minority of one within his party with his moderate stance. May, Osborne, McVey, and Smith are far from moderate, and these are the ones whom the Tories allow to have a public face. Ever wondered why so many Tories are hidden from public view? It’s because the right wing stereotype for the main-part holds true. You’d be hard-pressed to tell a Conservative, UKIP, or BNP member apart if you did not know better.
They would have you believe only conservatives are reliable custodians of the economy, that the left cannot be trusted, fiscally-speaking. However, reality tells a different picture – since 1979 every Conservative government has spent a higher percentage of GDP than Labour, and yet standards of public services have fallen under their leadership (remember how patients used to die in hospital corridors in the 1990s because there were not enough beds?)
At every opportunity, the Conservatives have allowed our public services to be privatised, absolving the state of responsibility and putting profit before people – just look at how the energy and rail companies rip us off.
Under Osborne's stewardship, standards of living are worse now than at the start of the recession, unemployment has risen if you discount forced labour and zero hour contracts (no sensible person would consider these people employed so much as at the beckon call of capitalists). Osborne likes to claim the deficit has fallen, but many economists dispute this. More tellingly, government borrowing has increased 50% in five years, yet there has been little investment in our infrastructure so we are unlikely to see a return. The evidence suggests things will get worse before they get better, and that's by the Tories' own admission!
The Tories seem to want a recovery for free, but reality does not work like that. After our nation's biggest economic catastrophe, World War 2, we recovered not by cutting public spending, but by increasing it dramatically. Clement Attlee understood that only investment could rebuild our nation so his government gave us the NHS, social housing, the welfare state, and workers' rights. He was probably the greatest Prime Minister we've ever had - an anti-Thatcher if you will. Guess which of those two we gave a state funeral to - clue, it wasn't Attlee.
Far poorer countries than the UK, such as South Korea, are providing drastically superior public services to ours at a fraction of the cost. Year on year, the nations that top the UN Index of Human Development in nearly every category are arguably the five most socialist nations on earth – Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and The Netherlands.
The reason socialism works, if properly implemented, is this – the working class must have spending power in order for an economy to properly function. If you take away that spending power, money is hoarded by the wealthy and unemployment is an inevitable consequence. The Conservative solution is always to work longer hours for less money. The ultimate capitalist system was the slavery system, and if they thought they could get away with it, that’s exactly what they would implement again. Evidence? Look at the third world in which the poor work in sweat shops for pennies, seven days a week. How do you protect them from this? That dirty socialist word – regulation.
What you must understand is, left wing parties almost always have admirable ideals: fight for the underdog, protect the vulnerable, say no to war, tackle poverty, save the environment. And whether they are competent enough to achieve their goals or not, they are usually sincere in those beliefs. Sometimes, the right wing will adopt similar language because they know it will resonate with the public, but they are almost always insincere. Their main goal is to support the wealthy and strip the masses of their rights. Whichever way you choose to vote, you risk voting for incompetence, but as a starting point, at least narrow your options down to those who actually give a damn.
The right wingers would have you believe that socialism and communism are synonyms for fascism, and they all fall on the left wing of the political spectrum. The fact of the matter is communism and fascism are polar opposites - one evil - one unrealistic. Liberalism and libertarianism are unhappy compromises between these two ultimately unachievable goals. Ask yourself which ideology your beliefs are closest to, before accepting propaganda.
Communism Fascism Far left ideology Far right ideology Extreme form of socialism Extreme form of conservatism Abolition of state and corporate power Merger of state and corporate power Lack of currency Rigid nationalism Lack of borders Hostility to outsiders Work for the common good Absolute authority driven by fear Take only what you need from society Little or no social mobility Management of resources Consumption of resources Unsustainable due to human materialism Unsustainable due to working class unrest
Some fascist leaders adopted the communist label because they could never admit to being dictators serving only self-interest, and instead masqueraded as men of the people. This played into the hands of capitalists. There has never been, and, by definition, can never be a communist state. How can you have a state without borders or currency?
Nearly every dystopian society ever imagined has been a fascist state where capitalism has grown too powerful (think Bladerunner). Nearly every utopian society imagined has been of a communist system in which capitalism has been abandoned (think Star Trek). We instinctively know capitalism is unfair by its nature, and, if left untamed, will result in fascism. Socialism is the process by which we tame capitalism in order to achieve a fairer society. Conservatives tend to be on the wrong side of human rights arguments until they lose…
February 6, 2015
Vote Registration Time
It’s time to register to vote and we keep being told how it’s our duty to do this, but where is the party that represents the majority? Where is the party that is worthy of my vote?
I am sick of living in a country where the poorest half of society are exploited and forced to claim working tax credits, or visit food banks to survive, while CEOs earn, in some cases, 3000 times more than them. That excess salary is subsidised by surplus labour and tax-payers’ money. When we pay benefits to working people and allow corporations to pay wages they cannot survive on, we are subsidising the super-rich, whilst simultaneously labelling the poor as scroungers. This is obscene.
My main motivation to vote will be to seek out a party willing to crack down on this nonsense; to increase the minimum wage to at least a living wage; to pursue and prosecute tax avoiders; to increase taxes for the grotesquely rich (mostly thieves); to build affordable houses; to reduce dependency on exploitative energy companies by investing in renewables (how about solar panels on every roof?); to safeguard the NHS; to abolish free schools and tuition fees and ensure equality in educational standards; to ensure the neediest in society are given the support they need (a country that drives disabled people to suicide is not a country I want to be a part of).
And before anyone starts bleating on about how we will afford all of this, the answer is quite simple: it will pay for itself. The more equal a society is, the better its economy functions. When you have a huge rich-poor divide, money that would be spent by ordinary people supporting local businesses ends up in offshore tax havens. Unemployment increases as businesses suffer, and the victims of such behaviour receive the blame for our economic woes. The only people to benefit from a recession are the so-called 'elite'.
Given the above, the tories and UKIP are non-starters as far as my vote is concerned, so what about the left?
The labour party are too desperate to steal the conservative vote, too eager to appear tough on immigration and economically sound. They are ignoring logic in search of the popular vote and are at risk of developing into a centre-right party. They have no real leader, no voice, and they’ve lost their identity. They may be preferable to what we’ve got, but not by much.
The Lib Dems have been tainted by the coalition and they too have lost their identity. They will occasionally murmur something to distance themselves from the Tories, but appear incapable of coming up with a sensible strategy for turning the country around. Are we to vote for a party who have shown eagerness to abandon their principles in search of power, and who, prior to this, have not shown anything other than an ability to protest against the big two parties with empty words? They could argue they have been a moderate influence on the coalition, but that just begs the question of how destructive a Conservative majority would have been.
The Greens have as many insane ideas as fantastic ones. Listening to them talk about their progressive, socialist ideals is a breath of fresh air, but I can’t vote for a party who believe we should allow our citizens to join groups like ISIS! And as much as I am in favour of protecting the environment, the Greens consistently take this out of proportion; they seem directly opposed to any sort of progress and are lacking in credibility.
Who then am I supposed to vote for? Which party is going to protect the minority from the elite? Which party is going to create a fairer society, because I can’t see one? Right now, I am thinking Russell Brand has a point...
I am sick of living in a country where the poorest half of society are exploited and forced to claim working tax credits, or visit food banks to survive, while CEOs earn, in some cases, 3000 times more than them. That excess salary is subsidised by surplus labour and tax-payers’ money. When we pay benefits to working people and allow corporations to pay wages they cannot survive on, we are subsidising the super-rich, whilst simultaneously labelling the poor as scroungers. This is obscene.
My main motivation to vote will be to seek out a party willing to crack down on this nonsense; to increase the minimum wage to at least a living wage; to pursue and prosecute tax avoiders; to increase taxes for the grotesquely rich (mostly thieves); to build affordable houses; to reduce dependency on exploitative energy companies by investing in renewables (how about solar panels on every roof?); to safeguard the NHS; to abolish free schools and tuition fees and ensure equality in educational standards; to ensure the neediest in society are given the support they need (a country that drives disabled people to suicide is not a country I want to be a part of).
And before anyone starts bleating on about how we will afford all of this, the answer is quite simple: it will pay for itself. The more equal a society is, the better its economy functions. When you have a huge rich-poor divide, money that would be spent by ordinary people supporting local businesses ends up in offshore tax havens. Unemployment increases as businesses suffer, and the victims of such behaviour receive the blame for our economic woes. The only people to benefit from a recession are the so-called 'elite'.
Given the above, the tories and UKIP are non-starters as far as my vote is concerned, so what about the left?
The labour party are too desperate to steal the conservative vote, too eager to appear tough on immigration and economically sound. They are ignoring logic in search of the popular vote and are at risk of developing into a centre-right party. They have no real leader, no voice, and they’ve lost their identity. They may be preferable to what we’ve got, but not by much.
The Lib Dems have been tainted by the coalition and they too have lost their identity. They will occasionally murmur something to distance themselves from the Tories, but appear incapable of coming up with a sensible strategy for turning the country around. Are we to vote for a party who have shown eagerness to abandon their principles in search of power, and who, prior to this, have not shown anything other than an ability to protest against the big two parties with empty words? They could argue they have been a moderate influence on the coalition, but that just begs the question of how destructive a Conservative majority would have been.
The Greens have as many insane ideas as fantastic ones. Listening to them talk about their progressive, socialist ideals is a breath of fresh air, but I can’t vote for a party who believe we should allow our citizens to join groups like ISIS! And as much as I am in favour of protecting the environment, the Greens consistently take this out of proportion; they seem directly opposed to any sort of progress and are lacking in credibility.
Who then am I supposed to vote for? Which party is going to protect the minority from the elite? Which party is going to create a fairer society, because I can’t see one? Right now, I am thinking Russell Brand has a point...
January 30, 2015
Won an Award!
Sky City: The Rise of an Orphan has won its first award and it's a big one! It has been awarded the Watty 2014: People's Choice Award for Science Fiction. You can check out the full list of winners here: http://www.wattpad.com/list/168574672
January 23, 2015
Capitalism
Like many, I am somewhat dismayed to hear that within a year or two, the world’s richest 1% will own more wealth than everyone else combined. I am also frustrated by many of the purported solutions to our economic problems such as austerity and the destruction of the welfare state. Every time I use social media or check the comments sections of news sites, I see people bandying around terms like Capitalism, Socialism, Fascism, and Communism, often using them as insults with little understanding of what these words mean. Before beginning my critique of Capitalism, I have added a few definitions for reference. If you are confident enough in your understanding of these terms you may wish to skip over these definitions. However, as there are varying interpretations of these terms it may help to skim through them to establish my understanding. (Please feel free to comment with your own interpretations, if different from mine.)
Capitalism – a right wing system in which industry is privately controlled with the goal of accumulating wealth. Competitive markets and paid labour are common components. Proponents often suggest that Capitalism provides for society’s needs by responding to the demands of the market, and is meritocratic by default as each worker will be paid in accordance with their value to their employer. Opponents point out that if society’s needs are not deemed profitable they will not be met, and that unskilled workers will be exploited with low wages and surplus labour.
Communism – a far-left wing system in which property is owned by the community, and individuals contribute in accordance with their ability and receive in accordance with their needs. Communists are opposed to the generation of profit on the basis a consumerist society is unsustainable. They assert the interests of capitalists and the workforce are incompatible, and the workforce is exploited by performing labour surplus to what one receives in return; the voluntary nature of their work being illusory. There are many distortions of Communism, such as Stalin’s Marxist-Leninist ideology, which have tarnished the philosophy and led to an abandonment of the term by its proponents. When not making misguided comparisons to Fascism, critics point out that Communism is not an economically viable system.
Socialism – a left wing system in which industry is regulated by the government in order to protect the needs of the many against the decadence of the few, which is often perceived as a transitional state between Capitalism and Communism. Socialism has an Each According to his Ability philosophy of recompense, rather than the Each According to his Need philosophy of Communism, and is therefore intended to be a Meritocratic system. Critics claim that Socialism encourages state dependency, consumes wealth, and increases national debt, placing an unreasonable burden on the workforce.
Fascism - an authoritarian and nationalistic right-wing system in which inequality is seen as unavoidable, and even desirable. It arises when nationalist militants with a sense of victimhood ally themselves with the elite of government and industry, seeking purification of society, abandoning civil liberties and legal restraints to eradicate perceived inferiors and expand their borders. Fascism is often considered to be synonymous with racism, xenophobia, and other prejudices. Veneration of the state and devotion to a strong dictator are key elements.
Now the boring stuff is out of the way, let’s get back to Capitalism.
Capitalism is the accumulation of wealth and ultimately has one of two goals: Communism – the liberation of, and rule by, the working class; and: Fascism – the merger of state and corporate power. A rejection of either philosophy would leave a society in a suspended transition which we see the world over. There has never been a truly Communist state despite what the right wing would have you believe, but there have been many Fascist states. If Fascism is the worst possible political system, Communism is the most idealistic, Socialism the more achievable, and Conservatism and Liberalism both offer unhappy compromises.
States labelled as Socialist or Communist are usually single-party Fascist states and represent the polar opposite of Communism. So why are many regimes keen to use the Communist label? The answer is quite simple: They must distant themselves from their western rivals and brand themselves as governments of the people. It stands to reason they would borrow from ideologies such as Marxism in their rhetoric, if not in their implementation. (It is worth pointing out that ‘Communist’ states, such as the former USSR and China, themselves acknowledged they were not truly Communist states and merely borrowed some elements of Marxist ideology whilst rejecting others.)
Throughout human history we have witnessed Capitalism in action. Capitalism is Darwinism, survival of the fittest, and usually comes with a Me-first attitude. It is inevitable that it leads to extremes of income inequality. If you want to know why your CEO is earning 3000 times what you do, Capitalism is the answer. As soon as a government intervenes to reduce income inequality, that is Socialism. Regulation is not a great evil coming to take everyone’s money; in a democracy it protects you from exploitation, making the system fairer. Problems arise when deciding when and where to intervene. Bad regulations cause red tape, leading to unnecessary expense, and they provide Conservatives with the propaganda they need. Socialists are often their own worst enemies.
As a leftist, I can see no reason why wealthier nations are borrowing money, when surely they should be lending to others. I often wonder why we cannot have the best of both worlds: A progressive government that seeks to protect rights, provides quality public services, reduces inequality, spends efficiently, and only interferes when it is beneficial to do so. (I must point out there are nations who are close to achieving these goals, such as the Scandinavian countries, Switzerland and Canada.)
Healthcare in the USA is a prime example of capitalism at its worst, with drugs manufacturers and insurance companies inflating prices to exploit the public. In the UK, the government has huge negotiating power and can drive drugs prices down to reasonable levels. As a result, some drugs in the UK cost 10% of what they do in the USA. It is exasperating to think the biggest proponents of private healthcare are Conservative Christians. I cannot imagine Jesus refusing to heal the poor!
The US spends far more on health than the UK ($7,520 per head as opposed to $3,010 per head) yet only provides healthcare to 70% of its population as opposed to 100%, and is generally considered to have a mediocre healthcare system by western standards. In a recent study conducted by the respected Commonwealth fund, a Washington-based foundation, the NHS ranked top of their performance list, the US was bottom of 11, dispelling the myth that universal health coverage leads to a poorer service. There are many nations that provide universal public health coverage; it is both affordable and impossible to argue against either morally or economically. The US is unique in the western world in its opposition. It would appear that small-state ideologues have become the tools of insurance and drugs companies.
We should all want to live in a nation that provides free education and healthcare to everyone, has safe and efficient transport systems and great public services, helps the poor, protects the environment, protects people at home rather than fighting abroad, and understands only the military and police should be armed. These are not socialist ideals, they are human ones. And they’re all affordable, if we a) Achieve close to full employment; and b) Pay people a living wage.
The GDP of a nation is a direct result of the efforts of the workforce. In a truly meritocratic system, everyone would be given fair reward for their efforts. In a capitalist system those at the front of the queue take by far the biggest share. We see this pattern in every nation, but in some the disparity is greater than others.
Think of GDP as a piece of pie that everyone has a hand in making. Everyone should take a slice of that pie in accordance with their contribution to it. But in reality, the richest 1% take a whopping 48% of the world’s wealth, the richest 10% take 87%, and the poorest 50% take just 1%. That’s right, 1%.
To look at it another way, if 100 people made that metaphorical pie:
The guy first in line takes about ½ of the pie for himself! (The so-called Elite)The next 9 people take about ¾ of the remaining half of the pie. (The upper class)The next 40 people take the left overs. (The middle class)The last 50 people are left with crumbs. (The working class and under class)
Are we really to believe Mr Elite contributes as much as the entire upper class, middle class, working class and under class combined? All 99 of them? Do the poorest 50 really deserve to share one person’s portion?
From country to country the above figures may vary, but you will be surprised by how low this variation is. That great bastion of fairness and equality, the USA, is one of the worst culprits in the western world with their elite owning about 37% of their wealth.
The fact of the matter is: Wealth is generated by the workforce and stolen by the people who control the workforce. A truly profit-oriented employer will pay an employee the lowest amount they can in order to maximise profit, and will therefore pay nothing at all if allowable/viable. (The slave trade provides all the proof we need on that.)
All around the world we see crime and conflict as a result of class inequality. It is, as Marx predicted, an inevitability that arises as the proletariat (working man or woman) opens their eyes to the indulgences of the bourgeoisie.
In times of austerity, the economy contracts and the rich get ever richer. Basically, those that cause economic problems benefit, whilst everyone else suffers from their misdeeds. Austerity is not the answer. When faced with bankruptcy, nations that invest in their infrastructures recover. For example: After World War 2, Europe spent its way out of trouble and recovered remarkably quickly given the continent was in ruins.
Low wages stifle economies and yet whenever someone advocates addressing the issue, such as implementing or increasing a minimum wage, they are met with hostility from the right wing. No worker in any nation should be paid less than the living wage, and no worker should perform surplus labour (work beyond what they are given in return). This must be enshrined in the UN Charter of Human Rights.
Unliveable wages lead to benefits, poverty, or both. When we pay benefits to those in employment we are subsiding their employer. Why should the hard-working individual suffer the humiliation of begging from the government if they have a wealthy employer? (I’m looking at you McDonald's.) If an employer cannot afford to pay a living wage, would it not be fairer to ask the employer to claim government subsidies rather than their employees? We could then means test the employer, and dramatically cut the benefits bill, rather than demonise the neediest members of society.
I could go more in-depth about the welfare state but that is another issue. What I will say is the unemployed cost the world far less than tax evaders (about 10%), and yet they are often used as a scapegoat by the elite for the evils of their respective societies. Unemployment is a direct result of economy mismanagement, rather than laziness. If you believe otherwise you are both prejudiced and misguided. I have faced the misery of unemployment and believe me, it is not a desirable lifestyle choice. Not that the 9 to 5 grind is much better.
Marx asserted that workers would become alienated and estranged from their humanity as a result of exploitation, as their employers expropriate the surplus they created. Take a look at your colleagues and unless you are one of the lucky ones, that statement probably rings true.
A common argument is that there is no alternative to Capitalism, however, there does not need to be. We merely need to control Capitalism by regulation, and ensure it works for everyone, not just the elite. In the 1950’s, the US implemented an upper tax rate of around 90% with some success. Employers did not pay themselves so much because the excess went to the taxman. As a result, the working class and middle class earned more, and the economy benefited from their additional spending power. As the upper rate of tax was lowered, income inequality increased.
As well as a minimum wage, we should have a mandatory wage structure. Let's say the highest paid employee of any company cannot be paid more than 100 times that of the lowest paid employee. The equality gap would still be huge, but it would be nowhere near as bad as the current situation. There should also be an additional tax band for the elite of at least 75%, yet most nations seem reluctant to consider this.
Personally, I struggle to see why we should tolerate those who drain our resources to such extremes, and I can only assume it is because politicians are in the pocket of corporations. Every nation must address the issues of corporate cronyism and media control, to minimise unhealthy influence on Government. Donations must be limited to ensure governments represent public interest rather than corporate interest. (If elected representatives wore the logos of their sponsors like racing drivers, the problem would become clearer.) Journalists should have a legal obligation to impartiality, and before you bleat on about freedom of speech, try watching news in the UK and then in the US. Britain gets reality, the US gets political agenda and outright fiction.
We keep hearing about worldwide economic problems, but few point out that global wealth has increased from $117 trillion in 2000 to $263 trillion in 2014. This is a rise of 150% with the average wealth standing at $75,000 per person, and yet 1.3 billion people survive on less than $1.25 a day. We keep hearing from capitalists how the free market will liberate people and bring prosperity to all. It is somewhat ironic that the goal of those who trumpet Free Market Capitalism as the ultimate form of Meritocracy is not dissimilar to that of Communism!
One final thought: If the world’s richest 85 people used their $1 trillion to help the poor, imagine the impact they could have on poverty…
Your thoughts are welcome in the comments section below, especially if your ideas are contradictory to mine. I maintain the most useful person in the room is the one who disagrees with me! (Any rude/abusive comments will be deleted.)
Capitalism – a right wing system in which industry is privately controlled with the goal of accumulating wealth. Competitive markets and paid labour are common components. Proponents often suggest that Capitalism provides for society’s needs by responding to the demands of the market, and is meritocratic by default as each worker will be paid in accordance with their value to their employer. Opponents point out that if society’s needs are not deemed profitable they will not be met, and that unskilled workers will be exploited with low wages and surplus labour.
Communism – a far-left wing system in which property is owned by the community, and individuals contribute in accordance with their ability and receive in accordance with their needs. Communists are opposed to the generation of profit on the basis a consumerist society is unsustainable. They assert the interests of capitalists and the workforce are incompatible, and the workforce is exploited by performing labour surplus to what one receives in return; the voluntary nature of their work being illusory. There are many distortions of Communism, such as Stalin’s Marxist-Leninist ideology, which have tarnished the philosophy and led to an abandonment of the term by its proponents. When not making misguided comparisons to Fascism, critics point out that Communism is not an economically viable system.
Socialism – a left wing system in which industry is regulated by the government in order to protect the needs of the many against the decadence of the few, which is often perceived as a transitional state between Capitalism and Communism. Socialism has an Each According to his Ability philosophy of recompense, rather than the Each According to his Need philosophy of Communism, and is therefore intended to be a Meritocratic system. Critics claim that Socialism encourages state dependency, consumes wealth, and increases national debt, placing an unreasonable burden on the workforce.
Fascism - an authoritarian and nationalistic right-wing system in which inequality is seen as unavoidable, and even desirable. It arises when nationalist militants with a sense of victimhood ally themselves with the elite of government and industry, seeking purification of society, abandoning civil liberties and legal restraints to eradicate perceived inferiors and expand their borders. Fascism is often considered to be synonymous with racism, xenophobia, and other prejudices. Veneration of the state and devotion to a strong dictator are key elements.
Now the boring stuff is out of the way, let’s get back to Capitalism.
Capitalism is the accumulation of wealth and ultimately has one of two goals: Communism – the liberation of, and rule by, the working class; and: Fascism – the merger of state and corporate power. A rejection of either philosophy would leave a society in a suspended transition which we see the world over. There has never been a truly Communist state despite what the right wing would have you believe, but there have been many Fascist states. If Fascism is the worst possible political system, Communism is the most idealistic, Socialism the more achievable, and Conservatism and Liberalism both offer unhappy compromises.
States labelled as Socialist or Communist are usually single-party Fascist states and represent the polar opposite of Communism. So why are many regimes keen to use the Communist label? The answer is quite simple: They must distant themselves from their western rivals and brand themselves as governments of the people. It stands to reason they would borrow from ideologies such as Marxism in their rhetoric, if not in their implementation. (It is worth pointing out that ‘Communist’ states, such as the former USSR and China, themselves acknowledged they were not truly Communist states and merely borrowed some elements of Marxist ideology whilst rejecting others.)
Throughout human history we have witnessed Capitalism in action. Capitalism is Darwinism, survival of the fittest, and usually comes with a Me-first attitude. It is inevitable that it leads to extremes of income inequality. If you want to know why your CEO is earning 3000 times what you do, Capitalism is the answer. As soon as a government intervenes to reduce income inequality, that is Socialism. Regulation is not a great evil coming to take everyone’s money; in a democracy it protects you from exploitation, making the system fairer. Problems arise when deciding when and where to intervene. Bad regulations cause red tape, leading to unnecessary expense, and they provide Conservatives with the propaganda they need. Socialists are often their own worst enemies.
As a leftist, I can see no reason why wealthier nations are borrowing money, when surely they should be lending to others. I often wonder why we cannot have the best of both worlds: A progressive government that seeks to protect rights, provides quality public services, reduces inequality, spends efficiently, and only interferes when it is beneficial to do so. (I must point out there are nations who are close to achieving these goals, such as the Scandinavian countries, Switzerland and Canada.)
Healthcare in the USA is a prime example of capitalism at its worst, with drugs manufacturers and insurance companies inflating prices to exploit the public. In the UK, the government has huge negotiating power and can drive drugs prices down to reasonable levels. As a result, some drugs in the UK cost 10% of what they do in the USA. It is exasperating to think the biggest proponents of private healthcare are Conservative Christians. I cannot imagine Jesus refusing to heal the poor!
The US spends far more on health than the UK ($7,520 per head as opposed to $3,010 per head) yet only provides healthcare to 70% of its population as opposed to 100%, and is generally considered to have a mediocre healthcare system by western standards. In a recent study conducted by the respected Commonwealth fund, a Washington-based foundation, the NHS ranked top of their performance list, the US was bottom of 11, dispelling the myth that universal health coverage leads to a poorer service. There are many nations that provide universal public health coverage; it is both affordable and impossible to argue against either morally or economically. The US is unique in the western world in its opposition. It would appear that small-state ideologues have become the tools of insurance and drugs companies.
We should all want to live in a nation that provides free education and healthcare to everyone, has safe and efficient transport systems and great public services, helps the poor, protects the environment, protects people at home rather than fighting abroad, and understands only the military and police should be armed. These are not socialist ideals, they are human ones. And they’re all affordable, if we a) Achieve close to full employment; and b) Pay people a living wage.
The GDP of a nation is a direct result of the efforts of the workforce. In a truly meritocratic system, everyone would be given fair reward for their efforts. In a capitalist system those at the front of the queue take by far the biggest share. We see this pattern in every nation, but in some the disparity is greater than others.
Think of GDP as a piece of pie that everyone has a hand in making. Everyone should take a slice of that pie in accordance with their contribution to it. But in reality, the richest 1% take a whopping 48% of the world’s wealth, the richest 10% take 87%, and the poorest 50% take just 1%. That’s right, 1%.
To look at it another way, if 100 people made that metaphorical pie:
The guy first in line takes about ½ of the pie for himself! (The so-called Elite)The next 9 people take about ¾ of the remaining half of the pie. (The upper class)The next 40 people take the left overs. (The middle class)The last 50 people are left with crumbs. (The working class and under class)
Are we really to believe Mr Elite contributes as much as the entire upper class, middle class, working class and under class combined? All 99 of them? Do the poorest 50 really deserve to share one person’s portion?
From country to country the above figures may vary, but you will be surprised by how low this variation is. That great bastion of fairness and equality, the USA, is one of the worst culprits in the western world with their elite owning about 37% of their wealth.
The fact of the matter is: Wealth is generated by the workforce and stolen by the people who control the workforce. A truly profit-oriented employer will pay an employee the lowest amount they can in order to maximise profit, and will therefore pay nothing at all if allowable/viable. (The slave trade provides all the proof we need on that.)
All around the world we see crime and conflict as a result of class inequality. It is, as Marx predicted, an inevitability that arises as the proletariat (working man or woman) opens their eyes to the indulgences of the bourgeoisie.
In times of austerity, the economy contracts and the rich get ever richer. Basically, those that cause economic problems benefit, whilst everyone else suffers from their misdeeds. Austerity is not the answer. When faced with bankruptcy, nations that invest in their infrastructures recover. For example: After World War 2, Europe spent its way out of trouble and recovered remarkably quickly given the continent was in ruins.
Low wages stifle economies and yet whenever someone advocates addressing the issue, such as implementing or increasing a minimum wage, they are met with hostility from the right wing. No worker in any nation should be paid less than the living wage, and no worker should perform surplus labour (work beyond what they are given in return). This must be enshrined in the UN Charter of Human Rights.
Unliveable wages lead to benefits, poverty, or both. When we pay benefits to those in employment we are subsiding their employer. Why should the hard-working individual suffer the humiliation of begging from the government if they have a wealthy employer? (I’m looking at you McDonald's.) If an employer cannot afford to pay a living wage, would it not be fairer to ask the employer to claim government subsidies rather than their employees? We could then means test the employer, and dramatically cut the benefits bill, rather than demonise the neediest members of society.
I could go more in-depth about the welfare state but that is another issue. What I will say is the unemployed cost the world far less than tax evaders (about 10%), and yet they are often used as a scapegoat by the elite for the evils of their respective societies. Unemployment is a direct result of economy mismanagement, rather than laziness. If you believe otherwise you are both prejudiced and misguided. I have faced the misery of unemployment and believe me, it is not a desirable lifestyle choice. Not that the 9 to 5 grind is much better.
Marx asserted that workers would become alienated and estranged from their humanity as a result of exploitation, as their employers expropriate the surplus they created. Take a look at your colleagues and unless you are one of the lucky ones, that statement probably rings true.
A common argument is that there is no alternative to Capitalism, however, there does not need to be. We merely need to control Capitalism by regulation, and ensure it works for everyone, not just the elite. In the 1950’s, the US implemented an upper tax rate of around 90% with some success. Employers did not pay themselves so much because the excess went to the taxman. As a result, the working class and middle class earned more, and the economy benefited from their additional spending power. As the upper rate of tax was lowered, income inequality increased.
As well as a minimum wage, we should have a mandatory wage structure. Let's say the highest paid employee of any company cannot be paid more than 100 times that of the lowest paid employee. The equality gap would still be huge, but it would be nowhere near as bad as the current situation. There should also be an additional tax band for the elite of at least 75%, yet most nations seem reluctant to consider this.
Personally, I struggle to see why we should tolerate those who drain our resources to such extremes, and I can only assume it is because politicians are in the pocket of corporations. Every nation must address the issues of corporate cronyism and media control, to minimise unhealthy influence on Government. Donations must be limited to ensure governments represent public interest rather than corporate interest. (If elected representatives wore the logos of their sponsors like racing drivers, the problem would become clearer.) Journalists should have a legal obligation to impartiality, and before you bleat on about freedom of speech, try watching news in the UK and then in the US. Britain gets reality, the US gets political agenda and outright fiction.
We keep hearing about worldwide economic problems, but few point out that global wealth has increased from $117 trillion in 2000 to $263 trillion in 2014. This is a rise of 150% with the average wealth standing at $75,000 per person, and yet 1.3 billion people survive on less than $1.25 a day. We keep hearing from capitalists how the free market will liberate people and bring prosperity to all. It is somewhat ironic that the goal of those who trumpet Free Market Capitalism as the ultimate form of Meritocracy is not dissimilar to that of Communism!
One final thought: If the world’s richest 85 people used their $1 trillion to help the poor, imagine the impact they could have on poverty…
Your thoughts are welcome in the comments section below, especially if your ideas are contradictory to mine. I maintain the most useful person in the room is the one who disagrees with me! (Any rude/abusive comments will be deleted.)
December 26, 2014
Basic Marketing Tips for Struggling Authors
Gaining visibility for your e-book can be near-impossible in today's saturated market, but even if you have a limited budget, there are things you can do to get noticed. Unfortunately, there are no major shortcuts, unless your book goes viral or gets snapped up by a publisher, but that would be like winning the lottery. However, you can gradually improve your sales by focusing on these key areas:
Search Engine Optimisation – Take full advantage of all sections on your Amazon author page – Book Description, Back Cover, From the Author, etc. Ensure you include popular search terms in each of these sections. If you’re a science fiction writer use: sci-fi, space opera, aliens, or whatever terms you think people may search on. This will increase the likelihood of your book appearing in Amazon search results. SEO is by far the most important tool for an independent author. I recommend reading every article you can find, but resist buying books on the subject or paying someone to do the work for you. There is nothing someone else can do in terms of SEO that you can't do yourself, and all info is widely available for free.
Ads – My advice is to avoid paid advertisement on Twitter, Facebook and Goodreads as this does not seem to be profitable. Simply sharing your links with your followers from time to time works better. It is good practice to politely ask a new follower to check out your work. There is a good chance they will be a reader and many will agree. List your book on every promo website that you can afford to - many are free. Search engines (including Amazon) continuously trawl the web and archive links. The more your book link appears on the web, the more it will be archived. The search engine will then track the number of clicks it receives and your search engine ranking will be boosted each time.
Conversion Rate - It is important to note that your conversion rate is key to a high search engine ranking. If someone checks out your book and does not purchase, this will impact your conversion rate. The best way to remedy this is to ensure you have an enticing book opening, striking cover and great book reviews. If you are enrolled in Amazon's KDP Select, you will be able to take advantage of their promo periods to boost sales and subsequently your search engine ranking.
Reviews – Do not trade reviews as there is a good chance Amazon will identify and delete them. Instead, whenever you receive a message via social media or an email from someone who enjoyed your book, send them the link and politely ask for a quick review. Also, ensure there is a Thank You to the reader at the end of your book, along with a message asking for a review. This can be surprisingly effective.If you receive a well-written critical review, don't get mad, simply address the shortcomings then comment on the review, thanking the reviewer and stating that you've addressed the issues they'd highlighted. If anyone reads the review in future, they will see the criticisms are no longer valid and the damage will be limited.
Summary - Do not expect miracles and do not expect to get rich. If you do, then you're in the wrong industry! By far the best reward for an author is that moment when you hear someone has read and loved your book. That should be your motivation. Remind every fan to share the story with a friend and you may just develop a fan base desperate for the sequel. And who knows, you may just ending up with that winning lottery ticket!
Note: I run a promo website called E-book Planet and although I cannot promise miracles, we are fairly successful in boosting an author's sales. Realistically, we are talking 5 to 10 extra sales a month, or 60 to 120 for each annual listing. We offer book listings, reviews, Twitter promotion, newsletters and promo tips. As we grow, we anticipate having more of an impact on our members' sales figures, and we are always looking at new ways to innovate. If you are interested in joining us, you can find us at the following link: http://www.ebookplanet2014.com
Thanks for reading and have a great new year!
Ricky
Search Engine Optimisation – Take full advantage of all sections on your Amazon author page – Book Description, Back Cover, From the Author, etc. Ensure you include popular search terms in each of these sections. If you’re a science fiction writer use: sci-fi, space opera, aliens, or whatever terms you think people may search on. This will increase the likelihood of your book appearing in Amazon search results. SEO is by far the most important tool for an independent author. I recommend reading every article you can find, but resist buying books on the subject or paying someone to do the work for you. There is nothing someone else can do in terms of SEO that you can't do yourself, and all info is widely available for free.
Ads – My advice is to avoid paid advertisement on Twitter, Facebook and Goodreads as this does not seem to be profitable. Simply sharing your links with your followers from time to time works better. It is good practice to politely ask a new follower to check out your work. There is a good chance they will be a reader and many will agree. List your book on every promo website that you can afford to - many are free. Search engines (including Amazon) continuously trawl the web and archive links. The more your book link appears on the web, the more it will be archived. The search engine will then track the number of clicks it receives and your search engine ranking will be boosted each time.
Conversion Rate - It is important to note that your conversion rate is key to a high search engine ranking. If someone checks out your book and does not purchase, this will impact your conversion rate. The best way to remedy this is to ensure you have an enticing book opening, striking cover and great book reviews. If you are enrolled in Amazon's KDP Select, you will be able to take advantage of their promo periods to boost sales and subsequently your search engine ranking.
Reviews – Do not trade reviews as there is a good chance Amazon will identify and delete them. Instead, whenever you receive a message via social media or an email from someone who enjoyed your book, send them the link and politely ask for a quick review. Also, ensure there is a Thank You to the reader at the end of your book, along with a message asking for a review. This can be surprisingly effective.If you receive a well-written critical review, don't get mad, simply address the shortcomings then comment on the review, thanking the reviewer and stating that you've addressed the issues they'd highlighted. If anyone reads the review in future, they will see the criticisms are no longer valid and the damage will be limited.
Summary - Do not expect miracles and do not expect to get rich. If you do, then you're in the wrong industry! By far the best reward for an author is that moment when you hear someone has read and loved your book. That should be your motivation. Remind every fan to share the story with a friend and you may just develop a fan base desperate for the sequel. And who knows, you may just ending up with that winning lottery ticket!
Note: I run a promo website called E-book Planet and although I cannot promise miracles, we are fairly successful in boosting an author's sales. Realistically, we are talking 5 to 10 extra sales a month, or 60 to 120 for each annual listing. We offer book listings, reviews, Twitter promotion, newsletters and promo tips. As we grow, we anticipate having more of an impact on our members' sales figures, and we are always looking at new ways to innovate. If you are interested in joining us, you can find us at the following link: http://www.ebookplanet2014.com
Thanks for reading and have a great new year!
Ricky
November 12, 2014
The Case of Kane Robinson
A few days ago a young British man called Kane Robinson was sentenced to 32 months in prison for hosting file-sharing website Dancing Jesus. It is claimed, rather spuriously, that he cost the music industry £240 million. It seems surreal that a young man living on the council estate where I grew up has received so much international attention. I met Kane once a few years ago, as he is a friend of a friend, and I've come across a lot of people who belong in prison but Kane does not strike me as being one of them.
Kane's point of view on this case is as follows:
Why would a man, who founded a music sharing site with 70 million hits, receive 32 months in prison in the UK whilst Pirate Bay's (the world's biggest file sharing website) founders only received 1 year in Sweden?
Can it be argued that sites like Dancing Jesus acted as promotional tools for the songs they shared? (As it must be noted that legal streaming sites like Spotify were fledgling sites whilst this particular site was active.)
What does scapegoating two men, who were still teenagers when this website was founded, benefit the music industry, the judicial system or the offenders themselves?
Should crimes like this lead to different forms of punishment? Putting a 26 year old computer specialist with no previous criminal history in a prison for 32 months will not help anyone; should these offenders receive different treatment such as community work orders?
My point of view on this case is as follows:
There are dozens of legal websites providing free access to music, yet no-one is suggesting they impact record sales. It is easier than ever to make money from music, given there are no overheads involved in the digital format.
People who download illegally are unlikely to purchase music if the file sharing option is removed. These people are normally too skint, or not sufficiently interested in a particular artist to pay for their product. True fans will always pay if they can.
Successful artists are multi-millionaires working for mega-corporations. These people have more money than could be considered reasonable, when you consider the abject poverty most citizens of the world live in. If Lars Ulrich misses out on a gold-plated shark tank I will shed no tears! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Af0wX...
Nothing material has been taken, and Kane did not profit from Dancing Jesus. He merely hosted a website where other people can share content. Leaked singles usually result in press attention – free promotion for artists. It is therefore plausible they have benefited.
Other criminals receive lesser punishments for more serious crimes. Take burglary for instance – a real form of theft in which material goods are taken, often from the poor, whose homes are violated and personal safety is threatened. Try reporting a burglary in the UK - the police don't come to investigate. In the unlikely event a burglar is arrested, they are not imprisoned, even after several hundred repeat offences! In short, it is not so bad to hurt an ordinary person, but if you go up against a mega-corporation you are looking at serious time.
We have a legal system which defends a capitalist system which so regularly treads on the little guy - the same little guy who the legal system seemingly has no interest in defending. It is no wonder the British people are disillusioned. The principle of our justice system is the punishment must fit the crime. Can anyone honestly say it does on this occasion?
In a recent newspaper poll, conducted by Metro, 87% of the public stated that we should be more lenient on music piracy.
As a writer, I can honestly say that if someone downloaded my book and read it without paying, I would be happy as long as they enjoyed it! Money isn't everything…
If you wish to support Kane's cause you can like the following Facebook page set up in his name:
https://www.facebook.com/justiceforKaneRobinson
