(no subject)

[anotherusedpage]

FUCK fuck fuck fuck they've elected in a BNP counsellor in Barking. Fuck. Fuckit. Fuck.

Fuck. Fuck I don't want to go back. That actually makes the idea of going home more than a little scary. BNP voting neighbours. Fuckit.

(Not actually my constituency, but the boundary's about three doors down the road....)

ETA: Eleven out of thirty-nine counsellors in Barking. And a new BNP counsellor in my home constituency too, too...

knew I should have committed electoral fraud

*spits*

Comments

[knirirr.livejournal.com]

It comes down to wealth in the end, though, and wealth is usually measured in money, property and status. The problem with the left's desire to "help the disadvantaged" is that they do so by force (which is therefore immoral), and in doing so just happen to accrue wealth and status for themselves.

I therefore see the likes of the BNP as very similar to other parties. The difference is in what they consider advantages and how they intend to re-arrange them to their own benefit. They're doing basically the same thing though.

[anotherusedpage.livejournal.com]

hmmm.

There are a couple of major differences in my book.

1) Street level violence and intimidation. I dunno if you've ever lived in a NF or BNP area, but even if you have, you've never been gay (or Jewish, for that matter) in one. It can get pretty unpleasent.

2) Hatred. This partly related to 1), in that hatred breeds violence. Also, I think that there's something to be said for having political thought, even poltical thought that you disagree with, behind policy, rather than basing politics on, when it comes right down to it, 'I don't like the look of your face'...

[knirirr.livejournal.com]

I still see no difference. Both left and right are guilty of violence, intimidation and hatred, though more so in the 20s and 30s than now.
A couple of examples stick in my mind from my undergraduate days:
1. The BNP were coming to town (Dundee) for a rally. The left heard of this, and turned up in force. The BNP were scared off, but the left went on a rampage through the streets causing considerable damage. I saw this first-hand.
2. Those who said "no" to a Socialist worker seller were often abused. For example:

SWS: Sign this petition against racism!
Me: Sorry, it's not clear to me what that petition is really about, and it says "militant labour" across the top of it. I'm not happy putting my name on a petition run by a party I don't support.
SWS: You f**king nazi! Hey, everyone, that bloke's a f**king facsist!

I suspect that these problems are caused mainly by fringe parties. At present, left-extremism is more socially acceptable than right-extremism, so leftists probably feel the need for violence is less. You'll still find plenty of violent leftists about, though.

[anotherusedpage.livejournal.com]

*sigh* Bloody socialist worker.

At present, left-extremism is more socially acceptable than right-extremism

I'd disagree. I'd say that what is considered to be left-extremist is considerably less extreme than that which is considered to be right-extremist. I'd practically count new labour as right-extremist.

I think the far left has almost been totally pushed out of the debate, because even being in the centre looks like being extreme left wing at the moment.

Admittedly, there isn't the same fear of the extreme left than there is of the extreme right. But I partly think that that's just because you hardly ever see the extreme left and so it is no threat, and so not feared the way the extreme right is.

[knirirr.livejournal.com]

You may well be right.
I fear the left more, as most people seem to be sufficiently wary of the right for them to stand no chance of achieving any serious powers. Many friends and acquaintances of mine openly admit to being socialists (I shudder at this), but none would ever admit to being a fascist. I don't recall ever meeting anyone who would.

[anotherusedpage.livejournal.com]

none would ever admit to being a fascist
On the other hand, how many times have you heard the phrase 'I'm not a fascist, but...'

Socialist as a word I think is falling out of fashion. It's not an option on facebook, I seem to remember. I've ended up ticking the box marked 'liberal' a couple of times with gritted teeth, because I wouldn't describe myself as a liberal at all, really...

[knirirr.livejournal.com]

I've heard “I'm not a racist, but...” many times. Of course, racism is not restricted to fascists.

It's also interesting that the word “liberal” has changed. It now seems to mean “socialist”, or something like it, when it used to mean something close to minarchism.