CW: mental illness, self-harm, suicide Originally published on Red Fightback Self-injury and suicide are last resorts for communicating distress in a society which doesn’t listen and mental illness is often explained away by placing responsibility on the individuals who suffer it. Biological or genetic factors are emphasised and lead to focus on treatments which further […]
Tag: capitalism
What’s the Difference between Socialism and Communism?
The terms ‘socialism’ and ‘communism’ are 2 of the most misused in public discourse, so let’s clear things up. Firstly, socialism is misapplied to what is more accurately described as ‘welfare capitalism’ or ‘when the gov’t does stuff’ (aka ‘social democracy’). This is a pretence of socialism which aims to forestall genuine working class power, […]
The Apprentice – Why do we Watch it?
Originally published by Consented Magazine. We all know The Apprentice, don’t we. The show responsible for Donald Trump’s presidential campaign. The show responsible for Katie Hopkins. It has a lot to answer for. But we still watch it, don’t we, masochists that we are. The British version has inflicted Alan Sugar upon us, with his foul […]
Self-help as Capitalism Porn?
Originally published by Consented Magazine. As a teenager whenever my Dad gave me a lift somewhere he’d stick a self-help tape on. The likes of Zig Ziglar or Jim Rohn. He’d chuckle at all their little witticisms and look over at me – did you hear that? Hehe, did you hear that? – Yes, Dad, I’d […]
The Free Market in Action: How Incompetent & Corrupt G4S Wins Contract After Contract
From its discreet, tightly guarded HQ on the fifth floor of a building in Victoria Street central London, and its Security Services offices in Crawley (near Gatwick), G4S direct its global operations. Operations involve protecting the wealth of corporations, powerful individuals, and governments. It protects government institutions and facilities, and provides back-office police support, fast-response […]
A Robocop Dystopia in Reality: Privatisation, Racist Brutality & Getting Away with Murder
The Robocop movie franchise is set in a dystopia where a megacorporation (OCP or Omnicorp) forces through the privatisation of virtually every aspect of government. We have another case of life imitating art: G4S. G4S seem to be repeatedly in the press for one debacle after another. In 2011 keys capable of opening every door […]
Outsourcing Violence: Private Armies & Human Rights in the World’s Third Largest Employer
‘Britain is no longer what it was’. This is a common refrain in the corporate media whitewashing Britain’s profoundly virulent role in the world at large. Rather than ‘losing’ an empire, Britain has in fact adapted to a new order in which, admittedly, it is no longer top dog, but nevertheless still has the capacity […]