Every cloud has a silver lining

Next month I turn 60. I've voted at every election that I've been eligible to vote in since I was 18. At every general election I have voted labour. I have never elected an MP. I say never, but that changed yesterday. Yesterday I helped elect a Labour MP. Obviously I am very disappointed at the outcome of the election as a whole but I gave a little whoop when I learned that I had finally got a voice in parliament. If you've never been in this position then you can't hope to appreciate how I feel. For me this is a really big deal. I HAVE ELECTED AN MP FFS! Clive Lewis is now MP for Norwich South replacing the little Lib Dem work-experience lad who was sitting in for the next Labour incumbent. 

I know some of you will challenge my definition of democracy but I've never believed we live in anything but a sham democracy. It can't be right that your vote is so often wasted and that you are not truly represented by those who have been elected. Our first-past-the-post electoral system has never been fit for purpose. It can't be right that a party can govern with only thirty odd percent of the popular vote no matter what their hue.

It isn't right. But unfortunately the problem with our own perverted way of electing the way we are governed is that it allows a few people in a few marginals to decide the outcome. And when a large proportion of the electorate are basically stupid then democracy is on a hiding to nothing.

A lot of people are going to suffer because we have now have a true blue Conservative government. Many of those that will suffer will have either voted Tory or worse still not voted at all. In a way it will be rough justice. But I'm no lover of rough justice or revenge/retribution. No one deserves to live in an uncaring unequal society no matter how foolish they have been. Even if they are turkeys that have voted for Christmas.

Laconic longhand

I've always been a somewhat laconic individual but I seem to be going through a phase where most of what I have to say is not is the form of words but in pictures. I'm currently going through one of my most prolific periods of creating art ever. I share most of my art here. Why not take a look?

My art: http://www.paulgarrard.xyz/search/label/gallery?view=classic

You may also like to have a look at: http://ifyoufeelititsreal.blogspot.co.uk/

Socialist chanting

I've long been a fan of Darren Hayman. He was in a spiffingly brilliant band called Hefner. I was reminded of his work upon discovering the existence of David Woodcock another fine singer/songwriter from Essex. I've always loved the strand of quintessentially English style of music that mostly blossoms in and emanates from the Essex/London area. A style that no doubt had its roots in music hall but was defined by the Kinks and the Small Faces and then via Ian Dury, Dr Feelgood, The Kursaal Flyers, Sham 69, The Members, Billy Bragg, Depeche Mode, Billy Bragg, Blur, The Libertines and many , many more.

Anyway back to the business in hand; one of Darren Hayman's recent projects has been to produce a musical offering based on a pamphlet of Socialist chants by William Morris. The left most certainly has the best music:

Boredom boredom uh hum, bur dum bur dum

Being bored shows a lack of imagination. If you are bored then you are clearly not capable of thinking. Boredom is a lazy state of mind.

Musarpial

I was fortunate enough to see the fantastically brilliant Courtney Barnett play live twice last year; once for free at Rough Trade in February and the again down our street in May. Not only is she a clever and talented songwriter but her three-piece band is as tight and complete as you'd need. What's she like? well apart from musically being the 'dogs bollocks' you could consider Jake Bugg to be her mirror image; that's a deeper concept than you might think at first observation. She's a fully rounded songwriter and performer. And, the GOOD NEWS is she's got a new album coming out this year. I can hardly wait!

Tory 'values'

Conservative 'values' are built on greed, oppression and inequality. Tories, whatever their hue, be it blue or purple, are the bully boys of British politics. And people are gullible enough to believe them and vote for them.

If you repeat a lie often enough people will start to believe it. It's how the rich remain in control and maintain their supremacy.

A Tories raison d'être is to ensure that blame is always assigned down the socio-economic scale; divide, conquer and exploit. Tory politics is nothing but evil.

The real meaning of Christmas

Today is the reason why we have Christmas. The fact that we've now ended up with the wrong day shows the true ability of the ruling classes to fool the masses. Any other reason for this festive season is just a con.