Occupy Me

Occupy Yourself

If the news is anything to go by it's becoming popular to "occupy" somewhere.  It seems some people do this by putting up a tent, some people hold court on microphones in public whilst others democratically repeat everything Mic Man is saying - someone should go and occupy a bigger amp! 

In some parts of the world choosing to "occupy" somewhere attracts the attention of snipers, in others rubber bullets & tear gas.  In the good old US of A members of the republic can occupy themselves with Police brutality when they aren't occupied with choking on pepper spray delivered point blank by fat brainless uniformed bullies. Move now or occupy a taser tomorrow is the democratic answer implied by elected representatives concerned with dwindling bankers prospects in the west. 

It seems the world over that 99% of the people can occupy themselves with almost anything other than a living wage, education, prospects and straight answers to straight questions!

With that in mind I thought I might share something I started many years ago when I first broke ranks and disturbed the peace by asking a question only an open mind could ask and another open mind could answer. My father had no idea how to answer the question, but that impertinent set back was soon eclipsed by the double bind imposed by his loss of authority if he didn't answer.

I got the telltale "Quizzical Eye of Seething Anger" before the scorn I deserved for asking stupid questions was unleashed. But I learned something he didn't intend and what I consider to be most important - to answer my own questions.  I'm now calling this the Occupy Me movement, it's easy to do and its open to all!

• Do more, Plan less.
• Think more, Talk less.
• Move more, Eat less.
• Read more, Watch less.
• Test truths, Learn facts.
• Be sure, Don't act.
• Take less, Give more.
• Judge less, Love bores.

So there it is, in a nutshell  - Occupy Yourself.  Get in there, get comfortable and make yourself at home if you haven't been there for a while.  Accept, explore and acknowledge you as primary authority in your life.  Find your own answers, make your own decisions and allow others the privilege to do the same.  Yes you'll loose the TV, rediscover books, fresh air, interesting people and your intuition. But there's no guarantee it'll change the world, just YOUR world, so you can get on living. That is, actively engaging the world in a considered manner of YOUR choosing.

The "Occupy Me" Movement

Because you can't be moved from between your ears without consent!

Occupy Me is not compatible with bigoted opinion, civil inattention or easy answers.  Batteries not included - independent power supply essential.

Best Wishes - Mark

Do you feel consulted by the government?

They don't come and knock on asking for me to read through their proposed bills over a pot of tea, but I feel consulted yes.

As well as the now dated methods of local surgeries, press releases and a dedicated TV channel showing me what they are doing at work for me, they now have extensive websites, tweets, feeds, YT Channels etc. That is their side of the bargain and it costs us (tax payers) quite a lot to have so much coverage and access to that information. The other side of that deal is that if you don't like what they are doing or proposing you are supposed to let them know - but I suspect that silence is generally taken as agreement.

I don't mind it this way. Though it's a crying shame that so many choose to empower corrupt politicians, devalue their own active participation and accelerate their own loss of personal responsibility by not playing their part.

I am far more concerned about Camerons "big society" plan to "take power away from politicians and give power back to the people". Because I don't for one minute think that means that the politicians are going to help us cut spending by quitting Westminster and getting another job. I expect they have worked out that adding another layer distances themselves from blame and ought make them more palatable in the short term. I expect that it will become just another layer of public office, filled with men in short aprons and CP types that will fall on a sword when someone needs to take a hit. But what bothers me most, I expect this may be the final effort in being 'seen' to cater democracy to the 'great unwashed' - after all, for the most part we don't show any interest in taking part! Can you seriously claim that they haven't done 'all in their power' to represent you? Maybe all the press releases can stop after they "give power back to the people". You may no longer need to know anything 'important' - your representative could do that for you!

Do I feel consulted by the government? At present, yes.
Do I feel the consulted represent themselves? No.

Much as I have come to mistrust politicians, I just can't come to blame them for not representing the generally mute UK electorate. Painful as that is to admit, Brits need to catch onto the fact that we have to do more than choose not to vote every now and then to be heard!

Democracy is something you take part in. Tyranny is something you complain about.

Peace & Best Wishes

Freegionnaire

The cost of irresponsibility?

It hasn't taken many generations of spoiled kids bringing up spoiled kids to end up with an adult population that acts like it needs nappies. And some people wonder why those that govern (read take on your responsibilities) have become lazy, greedy and treat us like fools that don't know what's best for them. The mass they govern act like naughty kids and so the response is to enforce rules and regulations to try to keep the brats inline. Do the kids even know what freedom is anymore?

Of course they do. It's the world cup on a 5 foot plasma TV and a reclining sofa from DFS(interest free until Dec 2012) - but only if you can shut the Ritalin munchers away in another room with the latest x-station game. A four pack of Stella in the fridge, Cora on series link on the Sky+ and a blister pack of 'brufen for the morning and that's freedom right there in your living room.

A look at the Isle of Man and how it works day to day is a pointer to what a society can do when it chooses to and it's based (at least in part) on personal responsibility. For example there's no MOT on the island, it's your responsibility to keep your vehicle road worthy. If it's not and you cause an accident you will loose what ever you own to pay for what you have done because your insurance will be void. The Police walk around, in and out of pubs and chat with people. You respect them for it and they show respect to you. When a gang of you are hanging around
chatting after the pub closes they will wander up, join in the chat and eventually move you on - respectfully. You act like adults, they act like adults and everyone treats everyone else like adults. I'm sure many mainland UK residents can't imagine it.

What's the cost of the 'freedom' not to be bovvered costing us eh? A cartload more than the cost of being personally responsible I'd suggest.

But what has irresponsibility actually cost the UK as a society? Well aside from the financial costs passed on to the taxpayer to fund most of it we have round the clock armed Police guards protecting Westminster 24/7 from a group of mountain based terrorists in Pakistan. We have intrusive air and sea port security. CCTV everywhere. Traffic wardens & bouncers given 'extra' responsibilities to help 'Police' the streets. The right to freely gather in public (section 63) taken away. The right to be safe walking the streets reduced dramatically. The right to let our kids enjoy childhood and grow up in their own time. The right to good food. The opportunity to support our families eroded. The freedom to be proud of your home country demonised (unless you leave that country). The freedom to holiday when it suits you. Etc. Etc.

In short it's cost us the freedom to take part in deciding what we want for ourselves.

In return we now have the omnipotent God of Money passing on his 'word' through his corporate Diocese and over to the needy people via retail outlets in every town and city. His ministers are sales reps and the bishops of the faith are politicians. The message is to buy because you need. The prayer is to look like you have more than your nieghbour. The alter is a wall mounted plasma (big is best). The commandments are:

1. I am the currency your God.
2. Thou shalt not worship another method of payment.
3. Thou shalt not blaspheme your Gods name.
4. Remember thy Sunday opening hours, use them fully.
5. Spend hugely on thy mother and father.
6. Thou shalt not haggle for discounts.
7. Thou shalt not buy from the charity shop.
8. Thou shalt not worry about debt.
9. Thou shalt not hide thy spending from thy nieghbour.
10. Thou shalt covet thy neighbours apparent purchasing power.

AM I bovvered? Yeah. I'm livid and if you aren't I'd say you don't pay enough attention to what's happening around you!

Peace & Best Wishes

Freegionnaire

UK - Why so scarred?

I have often wondered how much the lack of energy to stand up and be counted these days is due to the miners strikes of the mid 80s.

In the UK many of us watched it, the rest have been brought up by those that watched it. They watched Thatcher ship in masses of police from all over the country to beat men that made a stand into submission. Men that were striking to save their jobs from Polish ships bringing in Polish coal. If you didn't know families split in two by the conflict - and they were, violently - then you certainly saw it reported. Men chose to fight for their rights, in some cases for almost a year, many losing their homes and most relying on support to keep at it. They lost their fight, their jobs and in too many cases their communities.

But the rest of the UK population watched it unfold. They carried on working and paying bills. They watched the drama unfold each night on the evening news whilst they ate their dinners. Despite a gnawing guilt, most will have been glad it wasn't happening to them.

That strike was the first time I 'felt' like I was watching people being programmed.

What was the message slipped in with the ITN jingle? Don't start or you're next.

The programming has been constantly reinforced ever since. Endless new toys and gadgets for the good boys and girls (say it wasn't so late 80's until recently). In your face threats (Dr Kelly springs to mind as an example I have heard whispered behind hands) keep those in the middle from straying off line. The encouragement of violence at protests and the subsequent police backlash should make someone who WANTS to DO something think better about it. In fact, I'd go another step further now and suggest the encouragement of violence in society at large. In the UK I am sure most people now live within 15 minutes of somewhere they wouldn't want their wife walking alone after dark. Ultra effective eh!

How much has the guilt of survival and the fear of being next fueled the head down waxing of cars and the buying of handbags?

Peace & Best Wishes

Freegionnaire

Making an aquaintance

You will have seen the planned increase in the percentage needed to get a vote of no confidence, 51% - 55%, announced on the 13th May. Given the fact the conservatives hold a 47% share of seats in parliament it struck me as a severe blow to the system of checks and balances that holds governments accountable.

So I emailed my MP about it as soon as I saw the BBC news report that sold it as a 'fait acomplis' aside in the deal done with Nick Clegg.

As this is my first encounter with my new Tory right honorable member. I began by congratulating him on his recent success, wished him well in his new post and hoped he would represent his constituents well from his new position. I then went on to explain my alarm at the move suggested, the way it is reported as a done deal and my reasoning behind my being against such a move. To his credit I received a reply by email within the hour asking for my home address in order to reply.

I was content with the small amount of time invested. Well worth spending lunch writing that email and taking an active part in the system I pay for. He may as well add me to his contacts now anyway!

Sadly on the same day I had a conversation with someone who had a similar view on the whole thing, yet laughed at the fact I had bothered to write at all!

"Why bother, that won't change anything?" He said.

"Do nothing and you can be sure of the results." I said.

I don't expect I can change the world. But I can do a shit load more than lean on a bar complaining about MPs, what they don't do for us and how they look out for themselves.

If you email your MP every time he/she does something you don't agree with:

1. They KNOW you are watching, when you OPPOSE and that you are prepared to get INVOLVED.

2. They will have to consider YOUR view, because at the very least they MUST reply.

3. They know you are on the net. How many MPs want you Blogging about how LITTLE they did to represent you?

Despite the massive power corporate £s have in lobbying your MP one way or another it is still wrong to do so - hence covered as 'contributions'. They still depend on your VOTE to get that cushy seat, subsidized food and expense claims. They still HAVE to play the GAME of representing you.

There are almost 650 MPs representing millions of voters. It wouldn't take many of us engaging in our usually ignored democratic right to make them hear OUR view, perhaps 1 in 10. The game is being played every day, with or without you. When you choose not to play and allow your MP free reign YOU are as guilty as him when abuses happen. Your MP is one aspect of democracy, YOU are the other.

Do your bit. Play the game.

Peace & Best Wishes

Freegionnaire

Apethy

Yes I know it's not spelled like that. I just felt it described my view well on that aspect of the human condition that seems to have such an over whelming hold these days.



Apathy, careful it's catching!

Not that I am entirely without blame. I know intimately the bliss of apathy. I spent enough years indulging in my own agenda without thought for much outside my sphere. Fueled by a hedonistic lifestyle and a growing frustration with a political system that failed I happily let the world sort itself out. Though it didn't last. I could ignore the system but the system didn't ignore me!

After losing the thirst for every new gadget and fad I began to ask.
"What do I really want?"
For me the answer was buying less, saving more and enjoying the things that mattered most rather than indulgence in passing fancies. Then, some years later, the 'global financial crisis' hit.

Now I find myself staring down the barrel of a third world lifestyle with first world taxes. My political representatives have long since given up representing the people they pretend to represent. Bankers take obscene bonuses for failing and then get us (taxpayers) to pour ever more into supporting their profits. Corporations support vast profits by investing in politicians. No longer parties, but all politicians. Well the best way to win the horse race is to own them all eh?

Given the deepening financial crises where 'too big to fail' banks financially terrorizes governments into producing vast amounts of money, effectively turning the rich/poor divide into a gulf that will be impossible to cross. There is little doubt in my mind now that times are set to become very much harder and remain so.

So I began to use the web to look around for others with a similar outlook and there are many. Lots have a similar view. They see corruption or they see the erosion of their rights. Some see a global elite others understand the headlines put before us. Lots of them use online forums to 'chat' about their epiphanies or share their insights. Some even write blogs on the popular subjects. But I haven't found many, yet, that are actually doing something about the problems they see.

That was a moving moment for me. Reading the thoughts of others, some I agreed with others I didn't but listened to, but most I respected - indeed I still do. Realizing that a post on a forum was the sum total of their contribution to the system that they pay heavily to complain about was a deep low.

My response? To express myself more. To be the change I want to see in the world.

This blog is about my taking part in life. Not as a husband, a dad, a national insurance number or an IP number. But as someone who cares.

Peace & Best Wishes

Freegionnaire