Category Archives: Politics

Tory Thugs

Posted on August 11, 2015 by odeboyz

Without remorse or compassion The Tory thieves ride high Austerity is their fractious fashion Deaf to starvation’s workless sigh. Workers’ rights, so hard fought won Attacked as greed from working class Swept aside most benefits, now done Banker strut their … Continue reading →

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The Press Gang: Manning the Royal Navy

Posted on August 7, 2015 by odeboyz

Royal Navy warships in the pre 20th century era were vile for the ordinary sailor. This was well known and as a result the navy suffered major recruitment challenges. The governments of the period had no alternative* but to adopt … Continue reading →

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British Police: a wordless poem

Posted on August 4, 2015 by odeboyz

    (Chris)

Posted in History, Politics | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

The Price of Virtue: Bailing out Slave-owners 1833

Posted on July 24, 2015 by odeboyz

Slavery was abolished in the British Empire in 1833. Key to abolition was the willingness of the British government to compensate slave-owners for their property. The government budgeted £20 million, supervised by the Slavery Compensation Commission. This huge amount of … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, History, Politics, Religion | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Learning to negotiate

Posted on July 17, 2015 by odeboyz

About fifty years ago, following my stint as the plumbers shop steward whilst working for Hackney Council. I was elected as the officers Convenor Steward under the auspices of the then huge union NALGO (National Association of Local Government Officers). To … Continue reading →

Posted in Autobiography, Politics | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Winston Churchill’s ‘Gestapo’ speech (4th June 1945)

Posted on July 10, 2015 by odeboyz

In June 1945, Britain resumed competitive politics for the first time since 1931. Churchill, who had spent five years surrounded by sycophants, reverted to toxic reactionary Victorian conservatism. His wartime rhetoric had been inspirational but his first peacetime broadcast demonstrated … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Politics | Tagged , , , , , | 19 Comments

Boat People

Posted on July 7, 2015 by odeboyz

Crimson waves of hatred race down the mountainsides, engulfing villages, towns, cities: a feeding frenzy of hate; a firestorm of hate. Consuming love, compassion and humanity: a hallucination of certainty. ‘These people are our misfortune’, is the watchword. All must … Continue reading →

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Modern Economic Realities

Posted on July 7, 2015 by odeboyz

Incentives  The rich need high wages, bonuses and stock options: the poor need low wages and cuts in benefits. Outcomes The Haves, the Have Nots and the Have Lots Dedicated to George Osborne, British Chancellor of the Exchequer and social … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Philosophy, Politics | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

The Junk Drawer

Posted on July 3, 2015 by odeboyz

I don’t know about you but when I’m not sure where to keep some small objects, they tend to end up in my junk drawer. Over time, (and I do mean years) that drawer refuses to shut tight, as normally … Continue reading →

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Stuart Gulliver, HSBC and Don Corleone

Posted on June 26, 2015 by odeboyz

“Well, I say yes. There is more money potential in narcotics than anything else we’re looking at now. If we don’t get into it, somebody else will, maybe one of the Five Families, maybe all of them. And with the … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Literature, Politics | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment