Steve Monaghan musings

 The working class, the poor, even the middle class will never rule the capitalist system. The capitalist system is the system of the ruling class, the rich, the wealthy. Capturing the state with nice capitalism, state communism, socialism All Cul de Sacs. They will not relinquish their system without a fight. Why is Starmer criminalizing protestors. Why did Kneecap and Bob Vylan get banned/investigated because they said what many think but won't say, now you won't.  It's not violent rhetoric for the sake of it. It's the Truth. Within the oppressed of history are those who feel the hate of our rulers, know from history their use of armed forces to quell dissent and deduce it is a Class War. Anything else is wasteful with no concrete evidence. Gandhi and Luther King are modern leaders of peaceful movements. Their belief led to people joining them and claims of justice and rights. However, a State that has anti-discrimination laws does not have to practice them. The step ...

 As our government assists the Israeli government in unnecessary deaths of Palestinians it seems irony is lost on many of them. Some of you will think this is 'bad taste'. What should leave a bad taste is our government's actions. If this is what democracy brings then that's a reason not to vote. I do not accept that not voting is tantamount to voting Tory or worse. I have consciously not voted for 44 years. We have invaded Iraq, Afghanistan and The Falklands. We have assisted many government war machines to 'defend' their 'disputed' territory. The senseless human acquisition and protection of land, property and other assets is not natural it is a conscious decision to kill other human beings and not for survival. Although if you were a Palestinian right now you would be killing for survival whereas Israeli forces are not. This is not anti-Israeli (semitic). It is anti- killing for an unjust reason which any of us could choose to do. As did the UK in Ira...

 Well having managed to do 7 laps in 6 hours at Hardwick Hobble and my second slow marathon of the year I thought why not build on that. So since week after marathon I set a programme of 9 weeks of 60k per week. Then three week taper to BYU. In the middle of week four I have adapted to accommodate home life, general health and energy levels. Whilst testing endurance consecutive days long run/shorter run, including race days, using Parkrun with pre-run and just 10k every day, one rest day. Walking nearly every day continues as does taichi and strength and stretch work. Not forgetting plenty rest in my retired, life of Riley according to some style. #milestogether blog continues to provide insight to the byu/ultra world. Still using format, soon to simulate overnight, napping and different food stuffs as the race gets closer. Last Sunday I marshalled at Rasselbock Running Marathon Day at Sherwood Pines. Great to see a big marathon set up for a relatively new company. Great to see so ...

 The restoration of chateaus in France, by some of the British, is a slight on the French revolutionaries. The fact that a TV programme highlights and praises their efforts is ironic. Their reinstating of 'business as usual'   by becoming the Lord or Lady of their manor is a real smack in the gob for the history of the French Revolution. I know many of you will say I am jealous, moaning and other more derogatory languages but imagine French people restoring castles in the UK. Well maybe not because unfortunately the British revolution failed to dismantle the prevailing order. They still own the 'chateaus' Stately Homes, charge us to visit them and their grandeur. You see history does help explain our current state. We are still slaves, living under the illusion of democracy and expecting them to solve the problems they created. I am well aware this is a view not supported by many whereas voting is supported by 70%. Thus democracy's maths deems me wrong but only nume...

  How does a government respond, in a democracy, to regular posts on social media suggesting they are wrong? a) ignore them b) ignore them, we won an election c) ignore them and arrest people saying similar things on the street d) criminalize those they arrest thus putting fear into others that they will have the same fate But this is not Russia China somewhere in the Southern hemisphere it's in Europe the bastion of democracy, post WW2 and Cold War, many years of 'peace'. So what is this really about? A deal with the USA and Israel? A clampdown on protest because there is worse to come? A Labour Party that believes its necessary for a future election win? A leader who believes showing strength will stop others doing so? What it says to me is democracy has never been about siding with the poor, vulnerable, weak, it's always been about a siding with a system set up by those in power to maintain and improve their lives. But selling it  as necessary for our ...