What did the Industrial Revolution ever do for us?

neverdespairgirl

GlynD wrote: »

I saw the concrete monstrosities in East Belin and in the Ukraine when I was there. Dreadful to have to live in such places. Also saw the dachas of the dignitaries. A true lesson about the real meaning of Communism if ever one was needed.

I lived in one for a year, teaching English, when I was 18. It had the inspiring address:

Flat 44 / Block 38, <town name>, Poland <postcode>

I also taught in the imginatively-named "Secondary School No. 4, <town name>"

neverdespairgirl

Thrugelmir wrote: »

Not suggesting we shall the likes of the Third Reich again. However with the rise of nationalism amongst the young in Greece, 27% unemployment in Spain and record numbers of unemployed in France. Society is fragile. There must be a danger that resentment will build.

Rise of nationalism in Scotland, too.

zagubov

neverdespairgirl wrote: »

Rise of nationalism in Scotland, too.

Yeah sure. Desire for local democracy more like.;)

zagubov

neverdespairgirl wrote: »

I lived in one for a year, teaching English, when I was 18. It had the inspiring address:

Flat 44 / Block 38, <town name>, Poland <postcode>

I also taught in the imginatively-named "Secondary School No. 4, <town name>"

Sounds like Islamabad with its Nuspeak Orwellian districts named affectionally after letters and numbers.:D

GlynD

neverdespairgirl wrote: »

Rise of nationalism in Scotland, too.

Can't say I agree with that. The situation in Scotland has come about more as a response to what the Scots see as Labour failures. That's what has put the SNP in power. The acid test comes when they vote and if there is not enough support for independence the SNP will just have to settle down to normal government.

zagubov

GlynD wrote: »

Can't say I agree with that. The situation in Scotland has come about more as a response to what the Scots see as Labour failures. That's what has put the SNP in power. The acid test comes when they vote and if there is not enough support for independence the SNP will just have to settle down to normal government.

Scotland's been effectively a one-party state badly run by labour for ages (well that's what it felt like in the west anyway). Getting ruled by a party that's not even the opposition in Scotland - it's like democracy's flown out the window. A personal union, a currency union, a banking union, maybe even a defence union might have a future. But what's the point of keeping the parliamentary union?

It's not so much nationalism- it's more like climbing into the lifeboat and sailing away from this sinking ship.

GlynD

zagubov wrote: »

Scotland's been effectively a one-party state badly run by labour for ages (well that's what it felt like in the west anyway). Getting ruled by a party that's not even the opposition in Scotland - it's like democracy's flown out the window. A personal union, a currency union, a banking union, maybe even a defence union might have a future. But what's the point of keeping the parliamentary union?

It's not so much nationalism- it's more like climbing into the lifeboat and sailing away from this sinking ship.

As a committed Unionist I have to disagree. Plus I thought Labour WAS and IS the opposition in Holyrood?

Kennyboy66

neverdespairgirl wrote: »

Rise of nationalism in Scotland, too.

SNP got 30% of the vote way back in the 1974 election (they got 20% in 2010 of Scotland votes) and polls on devolution / independence are little changed from 40 years ago (depending on exactly how the question is phrased).

Kennyboy66

Thrugelmir wrote: »

Has the current crisis run its full course?

Is there risk of social instability.With those that have plenty and those that don't. Something which Hitler played on in winning public support.

Probably not - but it would be ludicrous to claim that this crisis is the worst in 200 years, when so far it palpably isn't.

Just in my lifetime, we have had (and ignoring the whole of Eastern Europe)

1) A long terrorist campaign in Northern Ireland that frequently spilled over in to the UK and the Republic

2) Ditto Spain with ETA

3) Mass European and US terrorist events of 9/11, 7/7 and the Madrid bombings.

4) The end of dictatorship in Spain and Portugal in the mid 1970's

5) A military Junta in Greece that lasted 7 years, as well as the partition of Cyprus in 1974

6) Civil war and genocide in the former Yugoslavia.

7) The kidnapping and killing of former PM Aldo Moro in Italy.

The Red Brigade, Red Army faction, Baader Meinhof, and assorted 1970's terrorists gangs.

It's simply self indulgent nonsense to claim we are living in the worst of times.

TruckerT

Kennyboy66 wrote: »

Probably not - but it would be ludicrous to claim that this crisis is the worst in 200 years, when so far it palpably isn't.

Just in my lifetime, we have had (and ignoring the whole of Eastern Europe)

1) A long terrorist campaign in Northern Ireland that frequently spilled over in to the UK and the Republic

2) Ditto Spain with ETA

3) Mass European and US terrorist events of 9/11, 7/7 and the Madrid bombings.

4) The end of dictatorship in Spain and Portugal in the mid 1970's

5) A military Junta in Greece that lasted 7 years, as well as the partition of Cyprus in 1974

6) Civil war and genocide in the former Yugoslavia.

7) The kidnapping and killing of former PM Aldo Moro in Italy.

The Red Brigade, Red Army faction, Baader Meinhof, and assorted 1970's terrorists gangs.

It's simply self indulgent nonsense to claim we are living in the worst of times.

Some might say that the longer it takes to solve a problem, the problem will get worse and worse. The Red Brigade/Baader Meinhof etc were dealt with quickly and have faded from memory. The current crisis has lasted longer than WW2, and there is no sign of our leaders finding a solution.

TruckerT