Part of the people's anti-austerity actions was a 10 hour poetry and music concert at the People's History Museum yesterday, in the old pump house, culminating with a performance by Billy Bragg. This is Longy in action. The big demo at the Tory conference is today in Manchester with actions, benefits, comedy and drama until the unwanted Conservatives skulk back to their mansions in a few days' time.
Engels and Marx. who wrote their Communist Manifesto and other works just a half a mile of less from the Pump House would be proud, Here they are the other week in Manchester's twin city of St Petersburg.
When the conference is over the overwhelmingly middle class and public sector demonstrators can skulk back to their expensive houses in leafy suburbs in Manchester and elsewhere.
ReplyDeleteThe only austerity most of them are worried about is that the Tory government won't boost their public sector pay packets with inflation busting pay rises like the last Labour government did, and they now have to share the difficult economic times with all the workers who pay their wages.
You do write some negative stuff Pete what's your solution then?
DeleteNot negative, just what I observe.
DeleteLook at the gallery of pics in the MEN from the march - overwhelmingly white and middle class, and probably overwhelmingly public sector or students.
Hardly representative of the wider population.
It is a protest of the relatively insulated and privileged, angry that they are not being treated quite as generously as they once were by their employer, just like we all aren't.
They are members of the modern version of the petty bourgeoisie, and if Lenin or Stalin came back they'd probably be amongst the first up against the wall.
I think the Engels sculpture suits me better.
ReplyDelete