Who's been a naughty boy then?

Blair's bills woe revealed

Details of prominent MPs' expenses have been made public after a three-year legal battle - and they revealed Tony Blair failed to pay his household bills on time.

Reminders for the former Prime Minister to pay water and gas bills and warning bailiffs could be sent in was among around 450 documents released under freedom of information laws.

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Free lodgings, and not paying his bills on time, well well, who'd have imagined that? Tony, a chancer?

Well yes, quite easily when you think about it, wouldn't you say?

Teenager faces prosecution for calling Scientology a 'cult'?

This article was first published on Tuesday May 20

The Church of Scientology Centre in Queen Victoria Street, London. Photograph: Sarah Lee

A teenager is facing prosecution for using the word "cult" to describe the Church of Scientology.

The unnamed 15-year-old was served the summons by City of London police when he took part in a peaceful demonstration opposite the London headquarters of the controversial religion.

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Is this not the latest bit of craziness, prosecuting a teenager for describing Scientology as a cult?

Below is the Dictionary definition of a cult, and from what I know about the Church of Scientology it seems to me to be just about right.

Noun : cult

1. Adherents of an exclusive system of religious beliefs and practices.

2. An interest followed with exaggerated zeal.

3. A system of religious beliefs and rituals.

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There may have been grounds for a prosecution if the word cult had been spelt with an 'n' instead of the 'l', but then that's another story, and depending on one's point of view, then either spelling might be acceptable.

Just a thought, but could this be the thin end of the wedge, for the coming Police State, or is it here already?

This is Capitalism, and making astonishing profits is the name of the Game, isn't it?

The scandal of PFI: invest just £100 ... and make £89m profit from the taxpayer

By Rob Edwards

THE ASTONISHING profits forecast for institutions and individuals who invest in the UK government private finance initiative (PFI) projects are revealed today in a Sunday Herald investigation.

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Par for the course, rather than astonishing, if you ask me?

After all the "PFI projects" are the result of Thatchers privatization frenzy, the sale, [at knock down prices] of the public utilities, the railways, plus the sale of Council houses etc, and what couldn't be privatized, then she did a deal with private contractors to build schools, and hospitals, and other public works, and practically guaranteed the private companies their profit.

And of course, Tory Blair, and now Brown is carrying on where Thatcher left off.

So what's astonishing about that, it's not as if it is something new, it's part of Thatcher's, Blair's and now Brown's legacy?

Bourgeois Politicians...I wouldn't piss on any of them, even if they were on fire!

More Fundamentalist Religious Chloroform!

The best of both worlds Yesodey Hatorah's head was criticised when it accepted state funding as an Orthodox secondary school but, says Riazat Butt, it is the pupils who benefit -o-O-o- Well the pupils might benefit, but I can't see how? What sort of education is it when their orthodox children have no access to TV, and are barred from the Internet, and even the Radio, and their future prospects is set out for them by a religious dogma. Jobs, but no careers for the Girls, they will work in offices or shops, and the Boys will more than likely, remain in education learning the Torah, for anything up to 50 years. When? I ask myself, is Humanity going to realize that these arcane ideas are an impediment to the future well being of us all?

Israel. The Middle Easts Little Europe, and America?

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown on Monday congratulated Israel on its 60th anniversary of independence, calling the state's creation of of the "greatest achievements" of the 20th Century.

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Mr. Brown is full of congratulations for Israel on its 60th anniversary, which no doubt will please the Israelis, but what does that say to the Palestinians who were, displaced, or if you want, ethnically cleansed to make room for what was tantamount to an invasion by European Jews, and suffice it to say, the Israeli state has been at war with the Palestinians, and the Arabs ever since?

And for him to say that the creation of Israel was one of the "greatest achievements" of the 20th. Century, beggars belief?

But from someone who was party to the Weapons of Mass Destruction invasion of Iraq, then I suppose he would think that the creation of a belligerent state like Israel would be a "great achievement"?

I don't know about anyone else, but when I read and hear statements like that, I wonder how much longer we are going to put up with the gray men in suits laying down the conditions of our existence?

So Fellow Workers it's not too long I hope, because let's face it, time is running out for us?

Rich List entries share their good fortune, and it seems with no sense of irony about their so-called philanthropy?

Philanthropy is growing rapidly as the wealthy look to make a lasting impact on an international scale

Quite how far the spirit of philanthropy has extended in the past year became apparent last month when Simon Cowell, television’s “Mr Nasty”, showed his softer side on American primetime television. During an appearance on the Oprah Winfrey Show, he wrote a cheque to clear the £80,000 mortgage of a couple whose three-year-old daughter has cancer.

Cowell, the television and music entrepreneur, whose fortune has increased to £112m this year, said after the programme: “I never knew that doing good could feel so good.” He also made a frank admission to Winfrey: “It has taken me 48 years. I credit you with this.”

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So, Simon Cowell never knew that doing good could feel so good, but £80,000 out of a £112 million fortune, is just a drop in the ocean, but if it makes Simon feel good, then that's OK?

Now I ask myself, are we lesser mortals who earn a lot less per annum, than Simon's £80,000, meant to be impressed by Simon's largesse?

And what about the other Super rich charity givers, what do we say about them?

Well for a start, they're hypocrites!

They made their piles exploiting the very people that their charities are supposed to be helping. Or to put it another way, robbing Peter to help Peter?

But for the real reason for their charitable foundations, see the paragraphs below, they explain it in a nutshell.

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That feelgood factor, coupled with the entrepreneurial confidence that allows our self-made philanthropists to spend charitably in the belief that the sums can easily be earned again, bodes well for the future of giving among the super-rich.

With many having transferred shares and other assets into foundations and charitable investment vehicles in the past few weeks to beat rule changes on capital-gains tax, the prospects for another bumper year are good.

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So, their so-called charitable foundations turn out to be Tax Dodges!! So much for the milk of human kindness then, it's their own interests, that they are looking after!!

Greedy bastards, is another way of putting it!!

Meanwhile, we, the poor of the world can take little comfort from the alleged charity givers, because the world poverty problem is such, that a lasting solution is beyond the capabilities of all the charitable foundations put together, in fact their effort, is just like someone pissing into the ocean.

So, fellow workers, since Capitalism, [where 7% of the world population own 84% of the wealth] is the cause of our poverty, then, so long as the world continues to be organised on the basis of the Capitalist mode of production, the poverty of the millions, even billions, will never be solved.

A grim prospect, wouldn't you say?

Bush's valediction to his successors, never ending Wars for Corporate USA's Profit?

In Sadr City, Basic Services Are Faltering

Joao Silva for The New York Times

American soldiers patrolling in the Sadr City area of Baghdad, past piles of burning garbage. The lack of services like trash collection has become an opportunity for militias vying for support.

American officials say that while it might be simpler for the United States to pay for and organize the work on broken sewage pipes or downed power lines, American policy is to shift such reconstruction responsibilities to the Iraqi authorities.

“We are trying to show some patience here,” said Capt. Alex Carter, the civil affairs officer for the First Squadron, Second Stryker Cavalry Regiment, which is attached to the Third Brigade Combat Team of the Fourth Infantry Division.

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After five years of razing Iraq to the ground, the Yanks expect the Iraqis to clean up and repair, I was going to say the damage, but I think destruction would be a more apt description, and Capt. Alex Carter, without it seems, a sense of irony, "is trying to show a little patience here."

What about Bush's promise of reconstruction and democracy?

From what I read in the various newspapers, and see on the various TV news broadcasts, there doesn't seem to be much sign of either?

And it seems to me that it is the long suffering Iraqis who are showing, not a little, but a huge amount of patience?

Ineos, can settle the dispute immediately, just leave the worker's pension scheme alone, after all oil refining is a very, very profitable Industry?

War of words in refinery dispute

A war of words has broken out between union leaders and the owners of one of the country's biggest oil refineries ahead of a strike which threatens to disrupt fuel supplies across the UK.

Ineos, which runs the giant Grangemouth site in Scotland, accused Unite of refusing to attend peace talks at the conciliation service, Acas, in a bid to break a deadlocked row over pensions.

Up to 1,200 workers at Grangemouth are due to strike on April 27 and 28 in protest at plans to end the company's final salary pension scheme for new workers and to make other pension changes.

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Well why wouldn't the workers strike in support of their pensions?

I'm sure that the Ineos directors, and their shareholders are all secure with their pensions to look forward to when they retire, and in fact some Directors get a handsome pay-off, and pension, even when they get the sack, I think firms calls such Pay-offs, more or less consolation payments, or Prizes?

There's no such payments for the workers, if they get the sack, is there?

The short answer is, no!

And by the way, the worker's pensions are chicken-feed, compared with the Directors pensions!

So, fellow workers, stick with it!!

Capitalism at work, shafting the workers, as usual!!

RBS to ask its shareholders for cash

RBS appeals to shareholders to help in balance sheet repair."

In London, bank shares had suffered in early trading after reports that NatWest parent Royal Bank of Scotland RBS was planning to tap shareholders in a multi-billion pound rights issue to strengthen its balance sheet.

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But wait, a better idea, rather than burden the shareholders, why don't we just?

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The world's largest bank has announced plans to cut 9,000 jobs but relief over its lower than expected losses from the credit crunch gave a boost to the wider banking sector

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Is this not a better idea, why not just sack the dispensable workers, after all, they can take pot luck on the dole?
They are not the shareholders responsibility, are they?

There you are, problem sorted.

Well no, not for the 9,000 sacked workers cut off from their wages and salaries, their problems are only beginning, unfortunately!

Could this be a message for Bush? Well maybe aye, or maybe no, we'll just have to wait and see. Anyway, time will tell?

Iraqi Unit Flees Post, Despite American’s Plea

Joao Silva for The New York Times

Iraqi soldiers on Tuesday after abandoning their posts on a joint mission with American troops in the Sadr City area of Baghdad. More Photos

By MICHAEL R. GORDON

Published: April 16, 2008

BAGHDAD — A company of Iraqi soldiers abandoned their positions on Tuesday night in Sadr City, defying American soldiers who implored them to hold the line against Shiite militias.

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Oh Oh, a division in the ranks, or is it just that the Iraqis are showing a bit of common sense?

After all, it's Bush's war they are involved in, and not of their own choice, so they might have a point, mightn't they?

Anyway it's just a thought, from someone old, and far away, hoping that this carnage will soon be over?

Cluster bombs, why stop there? Surely the aim should be to ban the system, Capitalism that is the cause of war in the first place?

The Foreign Office said banning all varieties of the weapons would leave the armed forces with an "unacceptable capability gap".

A spokesman added: "This would have a direct impact on their ability to conduct combat missions in conflict zones.

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Cluster bombs that turn human flesh into Mince, and of course the Foreign Office spokesman, trots out the usual excuses.

To which one might say, "bollocks"!

By the way, human flesh is fairly susceptable to all kinds of bombs, bullets, and shells.

But of course, you already knew that, didn't you?

Two more for the Parade Ground in the Sky?

Two RAF men killed by Afghanistan bomb

Two British servicemen were killed by a roadside bomb as they patrolled close to Nato's main airbase in southern Afghanistan yesterday, the Ministry of Defence said today.

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Sacrifice, or suicide?

Sacrifice, yes, sacrificed on the altar of Corporate UK, and US profits, and an element of suicide to be in Afghanistan, in the first place?

We are told that Al Capone was a notorious Gangster, but, compared to this sort of gangsterism, he was a veritable Pussy Cat!!

Tories join Brown in bid to block fraud investigations

Conservatives back PM in seeking power to halt BAE-style corruption inquiries

Gordon Brown yesterday won Conservative backing for a move that would allow the government to block future criminal investigations such as the corruption case against the arms company BAE Systems.

Despite scathing criticism in the high court on Thursday, the Tories have chosen to support Downing Street in facing down critics who are keen for the BAE investigation to be reopened.

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Millionaires, bribing other Millionaires with Millions of £s, $ or even €s, to keep secrets about the manufacture and distribution of Death and Destruction, and to Instruct the "Authorities" to stop the Investigation into the affair, when they seem to be getting too close to home?

My, what a lot of happy campers?

In regard to the above, what do you think of we lesser mortals' chances of getting away with a wee bit of shoplifting in Marks and Spencer, or Tesco?

Nae chance, you say, aye you are probably right, but you have to admit it's a bit galling, that the poor are pilloried for a bit of shoplifting, when Millionaires, and Billionaires, can get away with multi million £s bribery and corruption, of not only multi national corporations, but supposedly democratically elected Prime Ministers, and Governments?

Who says that Capitalism is the great "benefactor" of society?

Bill is smiling, he must be happy with his work, stealing "welfare" from the Poor?

From Welfare Shift in ’96, a Reminder for Clinton

Paul Hosefros/The New York Times

President Bill Clinton signed legislation in 1996 overhauling the welfare system.

Published: April 11, 2008

In the summer of 1996, President Bill Clinton delivered on his pledge to “end welfare as we know it.” Despite howls of protest from some liberals, he signed into law a bill forcing recipients to work and imposing a five-year limit on cash assistance.

As first lady, Hillary Rodham Clinton supported her husband’s decision, drawing the wrath of old friends from her days as an advocate for poor children. Some accused the Clintons of throwing vulnerable families to the winds in pursuit of centrist votes as Mr. Clinton headed into the final stages of his re-election campaign.

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If I had to vote for someone with Hillary Rodham Clinton's track record, I would be very wary.

Indeed, very wary of all the candidates?

Of course, none of the candidates, are worker friendly anyway!

The workers interests are a very, very low, on their list of priorities, hence Hillary's support of hubby Bill's act of thievery, in signing the legislation overhauling the welfare system.

More money for the Rich, and none for the Poor, and if I was an American, the poor would include me!

Adolf Hitler and the Olympic Torch. Well, now there's a thing, you learn something new everyday?

Aryan ideals, not ancient Greece, were the inspiration behind flame tradition

Getty Images

The Olympic flame is lit in Berlin in 1936

There is a two-word answer to those who think the Olympic torch is a symbol of harmony between nations that should be kept apart from politics – Adolf Hitler.

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Who would have thought that such an ancient custom had been invented for Hitler's 1936 Olympic Games?

Now in keeping with Hitler's tradition, should the Torch Bearers not be wearing an armband with a Swastika on it?

Just a thought, by the way!

What Price the Badgers?

A badger cull pilot zone will be set up in a bovine TB hotspot to help combat the spread of the disease in Wales.

The Welsh Assembly government said it had not made a final decision about where the cull will be carried out or what method will be used.

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Once again nature is allegedly, in the way of profit making, therefore, the answer is to eliminate the local wildlife, in this case the poor old Badgers.

I would have thought that it was not beyond the capabilities of modern science to come up with a vaccine for bovine TB, but of course that would cost money, [probably a lot of money] and in our profit driven society to mention money, well, and when the "poor" farmers weigh up the potential cost of a vaccine, against that of a few drums of poison?

Well there's your answer?

The Badgers have to go, and their only crime, if it is a crime, is that their habitat is too close to a farm that raises cattle?

You see, anything that allegedly interferes with profit making, whether animals, or even us humans has to be destroyed or moved, no matter what cost to the environment!

Who, would be a Badger?

Robert Mugabe is behaving true to form. Who can honestly say that they expected anything different?

Zimbabwe fear returns as Mugabe thugs vow to fight

Fears growing that Zimbabwe's President is planning a violent and protracted fight to the end as his 'war veterans' march

Robert Mugabe unleashed his most feared thugs on the streets of the Zimbabwean capital yesterday in a very public show of force as his party’s leadership united in a last-ditch bid for him to stay in power.

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I said [to myself] at the time that I thought the Zimbabweans started celebrating far too early, especially before the election results were fully known, far too cocky, and of course the media also went overboard with their coverage, as usual, fanning the flames, so to speak; when they ought to have known better, and urged some caution.

Now, here is the reaction, Mugabe; is having none of it, and he is going to hang on to the Presidency come what may, and all of Brown and co's pleading will be like water off a duck's back, but one thing is certain, it will be the "ordinary people" that will suffer, as usual.

I may be wrong of course, but we shall see whether I have to eat humble pie or not?

In the meantime I reserve my defence.

Was Bush, and Blair's Oil worth your lives?

Tribute paid to blast death marines

Lieutenant John Thornton, 22, and Marine David Marsh, 23, both of 40 Commando, were conducting a patrol near Kajaki, in Helmand Province, when their vehicle was caught in a blast.

The families and colleagues of two "larger than life" Royal Marines killed in an explosion in southern Afghanistan have paid emotional tributes to their fallen heroes.

Lt Thornton's parents Linda and Peter, and his brothers Ian and Graham, said he "died a hero, following his dream".

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His family said he died a "hero, following his dream", but then they would say that, wouldn't they. They have to rationalise the loss of their son, and brother one way or the other.

Thornton and his mate were killed, participating in an imperialist war at the behest of Corporate UK, and US oil interests in Afghanistan, and Iraq.

Following a dream indeed?

Not their dream, I would suggest, more like the megalomaniacs Bush and Blair's dream, and a nightmare for the rest of us.

But it's not only a nightmare for the Afghan, and Iraqi civilians, for them it's an every day experience, after all it is they, who feel the wrath of the invaders when any of the invading forces are attacked by the local resistance fighters.

It is the ordinary people who at the least suspicion get their homes broken into, their doors kicked in by a squad of raging soldiers, terrifying the inhabitants, who include, women and children, and the men who are arrested, hooded, and taken off to prison, who knows where?

You see war is a messy, even a grotesque business, but that's capitalism for you, economic competition between the various national capitalist groups who plunder the globe for sources and control of raw materials, and markets to sell their industrial products, and thereby realise mega-profits for that amorphous minority group, the international shareholders.

By the way the soldiers of whatever side, never see a share of these profits, all they get is their wages, and when their military service is finished, [if they survive] maybe a pension, or possibly just pot luck, and hope for the best.

War has been with us for aeons, and the history of them all, since earliest times is the same, conquering territory, enslaving people and expanding empires, and the irony of it is, it's all written down and stored in the various national archives, which nowadays can be easily accessed on the net.

When do we say enough is enough, because Capitalism has served it's purpose, and it is long past its sell by date.

Now it's time to draw the curtain on capitalism, and move on to organise for a more harmonious form of society, a truly democratic worldwide social commonwealth.

What's to stop us, we've nothing to lose but our chains, we have a world to win?

But don't take to long to think about it, time is running out?

Wherever you go, the profit hunters will get you?

It's Debenhams, Wenceslas Square, Prague, and it's a department store, and like all shops and stores, it's also a money making machine.
It's the staging post for the final destination of commodities.
The commodities in this case are clothing and household equipment, whose final destination, once purchased, is in our shopping bags.
That's when the capitalist's profit is finally realised, when our money is locked in Debenham's till.
Debenhams get their share of the profit, and you and I, we get fleeced.
Now, there's something for you to think about?

I wonder if G. Broon is trying to convince Us, or himsel' aboot passionate Wendy?

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has given his personal backing to Wendy Alexander as Labour's leader in Scotland and declared that she would be the next First Minister

The tribute came at the beginning of his speech to the Scottish Labour Party annual conference in Aviemore. Mr Brown said: "I have known Wendy for many years. She is a long-standing supporter of devolution. She has a passion for equality and social justice."

And when Labour was in power in Holyrood she had been a "brilliant" enterprise minister, said Mr Brown,

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Aye Mr. Broon, and the sun shines oot o' your backside as well!

Bribing the weans wi' sweeties, could it be an attempt to win the hearts and minds? Five years after the invasion of Iraq, I wouldn't bank on it?

A British soldier from the NATO International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) gives sweets to children

BASRA, Iraq (Reuters) - Iraqi security forces battled fighters loyal to Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr in Basra on Tuesday in a drive to win control of the southern oil city, triggering a wave of violence in Baghdad and other cities.

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It has taken them long enough to admit that the invasion of Iraq was for the control of the Oil.

Saddam was just a handy diversion to allow Bush, and Blair to make up the story about weapons of mass destruction, along with the liberation of the Iraqi people from the tyrant, Saddam Hussein, and to make Iraq safe for democracy, aye right?

If the chaos that we see every night on the TV news broadcasts, and read about in the newspapers is Bush, and Blair's democracy in action, then I despair?

Ever since Humanity evolved from being hunter-gatherers, to be able to engage in agriculture, and thereby able to produce a surplus of food etc, the evolution of a propertied class claiming ownership of that surplus appeared on the scene, and basically, ever since then, Humanity has been at war with itself over the ownership, and control of that surplus.

And the rest they say, is history.

For the US and the UK, Afghanistan and Iraq is the current conflagration, but people in practically every continent on the globe are killing people, and for what?

Money, power, and mega international corporate capitalist profits for the few, and as long as this is the case, there is no reason for this constant war-fare to cease.

So it's business as usual, and the extinction of the Human Race?

Pleasant dreams?

Benedict, be carefull you don't choke yourself, when next you put your foot in your mouth.

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Benedict called in his Easter message on Sunday for an end to injustice worldwide and expressed joy at continuing conversions to Christianity hours after he baptised a prominent Italian Muslim convert.

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He calls for an end to injustice worldwide?

And with his next breath, he expresses joy at continuing conversions to Christianity, hours after he baptised a prominent Italian Muslim convert.

Here is evidence, if evidence is needed, that in the Roman catholic dogma, the only "true" religion, is Christianity, and all else is worthless!

Why else would the Pope express joy at scoring a point against Islam?

Religion in all its varieties, since the earliest times to the present, has been, and is the bane of human existence.

I look forward to the day when any idea of religion is but a fuzzy social memory, and the fuzzier the better!

Fellow workers, you know it makes sense, to have our brains free from the fog of superstition.