Tolerate it? We actively embrace it!

The 'Manics' tried to warn us when they sang 'if you tolerate this, then your children will be next', but did we listen? NO. We passively tolerated, accepted, that our consumer goods and services were being made and delivered under conditions of modern slavery. We accepted the suicide netting, the dangerous workplaces, the exploitation and abuses, it was all happening elsewhere. Beguiled by our things, we looked away, we could buy our desirable disposable shit at a competitive price. Even when we paid through the nose for items we knew cost a few pounds to manufacture, made by the powerless in unbearable conditions, we stayed on message; yeah, but this is designer. After all, you had your 'thing' and that's all that mattered. And anyway, we couldn't change the conditions of over there, that's how they do things 'over there'.  The 'Manics' knew their stuff, man, they saw the future, and their words were prophetic. We already tolerate zero hours contracts, we're accepting the erosion of workers rights along with growing wage and wealth inequality. Then on Friday Uber learnt their licence wouldn't be renewed; a company who've frequently been in the media for alleged poor employment practices, dangerous work practices and underhand shenanigans of plenty.  Embodying the worst excesses of the capitalist model. You'd have thought folk would have celebrated, an alleged abusive employer, who allegedly hid crimes and thwarted compliance and public safety, getting what they deserved..right on! But no, we're far too obedient to our corporate masters, or maybe we just don't care about the lot of others as long as we're all right. No, nearly 750,000 people signed a petition in support of Uber! That's nearly 3/4 of a million people supporting an alleged abusive employer, with questionable and dangerous work practices. How fucked up is that! I can't really get my head around it, it's too weird, too wrong. I can't say whether the future will be Orwellian or Dickian, I can say it's most likely going to be shite, and shite of our own mandating, the stupidest type of shite.    

Bastards!

I didn't enjoy my walk today, and I should have. I went to Studland with its dunes, its long broad and wild sandy beach, undoubtedly the best beach for miles in either direction. I've been coming here since childhood, I love the place!  It took me 30 mins to get to Sandbanks, you used to be able to park in the back roads for nought, walk to the ferry and cross the harbour mouth for a quid return. It made walking over Studland far easier, cheaper, less fuel consuming (so less polluting) and less time consuming than the long drive across the conurbation and around the harbour. But no, our greedy new God 'Economy' has sent forth two of his most prized horsemen, monetization and enforcement, to kick sand into our ice creams. Pay meters now line all the roads on Sandbanks, and charge £1.50 an hour! One pound fucking fifty! And that's the out of season tariff, yup, there's an in season tariff, the cost of which I can't imagine.  Now, I'd give myself 4 hours to walk, for the crossing each way, and to allow for missing the ferry.  That's £7 (£6 parking, £1 for the ferry) to go for a walk now, when it was just a quid. That stinks, man. Although still more expensive, it's now cheaper for me to drive the hour each way to Studland. Most worrying is that it also subtly gentrifies Studland (Sandbanks already being one of the most exclusive post codes in the country), by putting a substantial financial burden on a visit, or the imposition of a long, and during the season untenable drive, especially if you've a young family. So on today’s walk I was annoyed at the monetization of everything possible, and rushed as I only had £3, so only 2 hours. As a consequence my walk left me disappointed and more than a bit downhearted at the path my country stumbles down. Bastards! (shakes fist in Basil Fawlty fashion)