Tag Archives: inequality

Refuse to be complicit in austerity and council budget cuts

I just sent the message below to all of my council representatives. Feel free to use it as a model for your own emails. Dear ____ I am writing to you as one of my representatives to object in the strongest … Continue reading

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Manchester Dogs’ Home fire should remind us what the UK is capable of and why we should vote Yes

A caring lot? The fire at the Manchester Dogs’ Home is receiving significant coverage at the moment. The million pounds donated to date would seem to suggest that the great British public are a caring lot. However, the vast amount of … Continue reading

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Social injustice is killing on a grand scale

Praise where praise is due.  I have previously criticised the BBC for its championing of GM and for offering a Pinochet-apologist a platform for his obnoxious views without challenging them. Now I must praise the BBC for hosting Professor Sir … Continue reading

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Economic inequality is caused by… Get the facts. Reject the propaganda.

Economic inequality is caused by “free-market” (rigged-market) capitalism, not immigrants, asylum-seekers, “benefits-scroungers”, etc. Get the facts. Reject the propaganda. Here’s a handy compilation of resources. I hope you will find it entertaining and informative, if not jaw-droppingly shocking. My novel may … Continue reading

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What’s the truth about taxing the wealthy? Eleven things you should know.

UPDATE, 18 October 2016. This article has appeared on Al Jazeera: US elections: The rich can’t be trusted with money. The more they have, the more they screw up. I highly recommend it. Introduction One hideous neoliberal party forced to throw … Continue reading

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Health policy in an independent Scotland: tackling inequality is key.

On 11 November 2013 I attended a meeting of the Edinburgh branch of the Radical Independence Campaign, addressed by Dr Kate Wrigley. Not just poverty but inequality explains Scotland’s poor health Dr Wrigley got us to come up with a … Continue reading

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Tax breaks for “job-creators”? Toolkit for busting this and other neoliberal myths.

*Update 6 October 2018*. This article encapsulates the issues beautifully: ‘In one sentence, Noam Chomsky helps expose how fascists are taking power around the world‘. *Update 28 June 2017*. This handy guide nicely debunks capitalist myths: ‘Lies That Capitalists Tell … Continue reading

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Dreich, dour and crabbit: does the weather explain Scottish negativity? Climate, posture, mood, empathy, mirror neurons, meditation and education.

This essay was born in meditation One of my New Year’s resolutions was to meditate daily. I simply concentrate on my breathing. Thoughts pop up, and I observe them and let them go. (Here’s an inspiring talk on meditation.   Below … Continue reading

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BBC must allow the truth a voice: social mobility can only come from greater equality

BBC fails to invite relevant experts to discuss low social mobility I was pleased to hear the UK’s low social mobility discussed on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme this morning, but annoyed that the people involved did not include either … Continue reading

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Ten questions for election candidates

Scottish Local Government elections will take place on 3 May 2012. With this in mind I am suggesting that Occupy Edinburgh asks candidates some or all of the following questions and the answers used to decide which candidates to endorse. … Continue reading

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