Saturday, March 09, 2013

Not just the left surely?



The Five on Fox is car crash television if, as I am, centre left in your political outlook, there isn't one subject that cannot be spun around and around until it becomes the 'left's' fault. Of course the phrase 'the left' is about as meaningful as 'them' or 'Government' it's shorthand for all that is wrong at one particular time with one particular group of individuals.

That said I find the show entertaining because it offers what Lester Bangs would have called 'think pieces', they aren't always polemics and they aren't all the political equivalent of badger baiting, one such 'think piece' took place this week on the night of the death of Hugo Chavez. There wasn't much subtlety attempted in trying to link the previous discussion on Barack Obama's style of bigger Government with the politics of Chavez, I don't know whether or not everybody watching would have grasped the link but it certainly didn't need much joining of the dots.

Anyway during the discussion on Chavez the main target of the groups ire were those Americans who had supported the dictator and Greg Gutfield asked 'why is it always lefties who end up supporting corrupt Governments?' It was one of those little think bombs that Gutfield likes to drop into conversation just to take our minds off Kimberly Guilfoyle's legs, lips or boobs - or all three (or should that be all six?) and it got me wondering how true it was.

It has occurred to me, over the past six months, that in the States right wing now means small Government and individuals taking responsibility for themselves - similar to our own Conservative party but that doesn't preclude corruption until you have defined what corruption is. Corruption in left wing countries seems to be in your face, not very subtle and a gradual move from socialism (other right wing isms are available) to a stage where only those in power have access to the resources and means that allows the 'benefits for all' popular ideology to collapse or reach a point of total dependency for those who are subjugated. Right wing corruption seems to be much more subtle, nepotism, executive directorships, honorary positions are obtained with almost obscene haste by those leaving power or even those still in power as we have seen during the life of the current UK coalition Government. We also know the high levels of corruption (bribes both subtle and not so subtle) that take place in the name of free market capitalism around the world.

Where I agree with Gutfield is that more often than not the victims of left wing corruption are always almost without fail those who had little or no economic independence in the first place. Right wing corruption often takes long to work its way down through the economy, a politician who campaigns for a particular law whilst accepting large backhanders knows or at least believes that he is playing the old 'you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours' style of business that goes on all over the world and that whilst the end consumer will be affected it be long after his name is forgotten.  

6 comments:

Span Ows said...

I suppose you know it's Kimberley's birthday today?

:-)

You're right re the corruption and the inaptness of left/right (especially in the USA!)

Paul said...

Happy birthday Kimberley!

I think corruption seems to be okay in the States if it doesn't appear to obvious - I know from the conversations we have had in the past that it happens and anecdotes from my clients over there.

oakleyses said...

north face, nike air max uk, sac hermes, hollister uk, nike air force, louboutin pas cher, michael kors, oakley pas cher, converse pas cher, abercrombie and fitch uk, hollister pas cher, nike free run, jordan pas cher, nike tn, burberry pas cher, longchamp pas cher, timberland pas cher, nike air max, polo ralph lauren, nike roshe, lululemon canada, ralph lauren uk, true religion outlet, guess pas cher, vans pas cher, sac longchamp pas cher, nike air max uk, true religion jeans, hogan outlet, north face uk, new balance, air max, ray ban pas cher, nike free uk, true religion outlet, nike blazer pas cher, sac vanessa bruno, michael kors pas cher, ray ban uk, polo lacoste, michael kors outlet, mulberry uk

oakleyses said...

hollister clothing, giuseppe zanotti outlet, lululemon, wedding dresses, abercrombie and fitch, hermes belt, asics running shoes, bottega veneta, celine handbags, soccer shoes, valentino shoes, ferragamo shoes, vans outlet, mcm handbags, timberland boots, nike roshe run uk, longchamp uk, nike air max, north face outlet, p90x workout, new balance shoes, insanity workout, iphone 6 cases, herve leger, instyler, oakley, hollister, nike huaraches, soccer jerseys, nike trainers uk, babyliss, chi flat iron, ghd hair, baseball bats, jimmy choo outlet, mont blanc pens, north face outlet, mac cosmetics, beats by dre, nfl jerseys, reebok outlet, nike roshe run

oakleyses said...

ralph lauren, vans, gucci, pandora jewelry, ray ban, hollister, ugg, swarovski crystal, links of london, lancel, toms shoes, juicy couture outlet, montre pas cher, pandora uk, replica watches, converse outlet, ugg,ugg australia,ugg italia, coach outlet, ugg uk, hollister, ugg pas cher, uggs outlet, ugg boots, supra shoes, pandora charms, marc jacobs, louboutin, thomas sabo, juicy couture outlet, ugg boots, karen millen uk, uggs outlet, converse, swarovski, uggs on sale, nike air max, ugg,uggs,uggs canada, wedding dresses

oakleyses said...

michael kors outlet store, coach purses, prada outlet, nike air max, michael kors outlet online, chanel handbags, ray ban sunglasses, longchamp outlet, coach outlet, replica watches, tiffany and co, oakley sunglasses wholesale, longchamp outlet, christian louboutin uk, michael kors outlet online, kate spade outlet, burberry handbags, ray ban sunglasses, coach outlet, tiffany jewelry, oakley sunglasses, nike free, nike air max, christian louboutin, kate spade, nike outlet, christian louboutin outlet, christian louboutin shoes, oakley sunglasses, jordan shoes, polo outlet, burberry outlet, polo ralph lauren outlet online, tory burch outlet, michael kors outlet, longchamp outlet, michael kors outlet, true religion outlet, gucci handbags, coach outlet store online, prada handbags, michael kors outlet online