Towards a carers' movement ?

Just how close to getting organised to fight back against their oppression are carers ? What degree of political awareness actually exists among them?

Perhaps I am not best placed to answer these questions myself. As a long-time political activist I am perhaps too impatient to move towards an activism which may be beyond the capacity of many carers, particularly given the day-to-day situation in which they struggle to survive.

I doubt if it is any coincidence that 24/7 carers, such as myself, whilst probably having the least spare time, are among the most conscious of the disempowerment of their situation. They experience caring in its most oppressive form.

Carers' organisations vary from the bland, but sometimes useful, charities, which serve to provide tea and sympathy, information and advice, as well as a degree of social control, which is most instrumental for government, to the carer-led organisations. These latter vary in their idiosyncrasy, but are generally not very democratically accountable to their members. They are rather, vanity groups, led by ersatz charismatic personalities, whilst being more representative of carers than charities, most of them are still in a state of infantile disorder. I jest, of course I do. How could you possibly imagine anything else ! I think that Carer Watch, so far, has come closest to a democratic ideal, but it still has some way to go, in my opinion.

I imagine a fully democratic mutual carers' movement whose leadership is elected and accountable. Yes, and dismissable. Such a movement could embrace the campaign for a Carers' Charter, the campaign for a Carers' Trade Union and the Campaign for a Carers' Wage.

Speed the day !

A new start is needed for Europe

This is certainly worth looking at. Thanks Mick.

A new start is needed for Europe: The European Left chart a way forward

http://organizedrage.blogspot.com

A campaign against class discrimination

Campaigning against race discrimination, gender discrimination, sexuality discrimination, even age discrimination, is an accepted part of politics now, even if the progress made is limited. However, class discrimination is in a different category, somehow. We are aware of it, but it is accepted as a routine part of political conflict between Left and Right. A very unequal conflict, of course. This conflict is inevitable, but somehow the human consequences of class discrimination seem lost in this transcendental political struggle. It is like capitalism itself, seen as a natural phenomenon by most and, therefore, a routine part of life. We have, the assumption is, to achieve a fundamental change in society, before we can go much beyond ameliorating its worst effects.

Why should this be so ? Why shouldn't we campaign specifically against particular forms of class discrimination ? There are some people who seem condemned, in many cases, to low standards of living by their particular circumstances. People with disabilities of all kinds, for example. Not that they don't sometimes prosper, but the odds against them in a competitive society are frequently much greater than the norm. Can this be regarded as a form of class discrimination ? Are carers a class, or a category of the working class, and should their particular situation condemn them to economic degradation ? The low paid are an economic category and, in some circumstances, are thought to be deserving of a minimum wage, although not necessarily a living wage. They are the deserving poor, unlike the disabled and carers who, although thought to be 'wonderful' when hypocritically convenient, are somehow considered undeserving. Do we need to win a class war, the existence of which is not even noticed in passing by many people, before we can seriously confront issues of class inequality ? Perhaps by campaigning on particular class issues we can raise awareness of the general class nature of society, nationally and internationally. That may just facilitate its replacement by something better.

Saying good bye to the Labour Party, again ?

The truth is that I have left the Labour Party, which I joined in 1950, twice before. The first time was in the heady sixties, when I joined the Independent Labour Party, only to immediately find myself in the middle of a debate about whether the ILP should return to affiliation with the Labour Party. The second was just a few years ago, when I became utterly sick of what New Labour were doing to the Party. I wandered around in the wilderness for a while and then thought how futile, I can't fight the bastards from here. I had written an angry resignation letter to the General Secretary, which I posted on 'What Next for Labour ?', but I received no reply. I cancelled my DD payment. A few months later I had a letter from HQ saying that there must be a fault at my bank as my subs had stopped coming through. Despite the angry letter, nobody had noticed my leaving. That puts both the importance the Labour Party attaches to its members and my own sense of self-importance, into some perspective.

Now I am going through a green period and looking at the Green Party as a possible new home. Difficult to imagine myself among them somehow, except that the analysis of the Green Left, particularly that of Derek Wall, who paid a visit here recently, is very, very, interesting and seemingly relevant to our times. Why stay among the neo-Tories of New Labour, when I could be with decent enthusiastic, ecosocialists ? I ask myself. 

The 24/7 carer

Caring situations vary considerably, as do the attitudes of carers and carees to the situations in which they find themselves. I am concerned here with the particular situation of the full-time carer.

I have heard many stories from 24/7 carers over the years, which I am able to relate to strongly, being one myself.

Much praise is heaped on the heads of those struggling to cope heroically with impossibly demanding situations, with little, or even no, effective support. We are wonderful, as was confirmed recently in the government's Carers' Review, which offered carers generally sweet bugger all, of any consequence.

I want to get just a little controversial about 24/7 caring. I know why we do it. However, the question of whether we should do it remains.

For me, and I speak exclusively for myself, 24/7 caring is a largely unmitigated evil, ultimately destructive of the personalities of carer and caree alike. I fully acknowledge the potential for disagreement, but I believe that somebody had to say it.

The Campaign for a Carers' Trade Union

If you are a carer and interested in the formation of a carers' trade union, please register your interest on the Carer Watch forum on the following thread:-   http://carerwatchdotcom.myfineforum.org/about283.html

Have a look around the Carer Watch site and forum at the same time. You will be very welcome to join this campaigning group run by carers for carers.

Dangerous Davis-The last libertarian

David Davis is undoubtedly, a populist Tory of the Right who feels uneasy and unloved in a Conservative Party which has rejected him, a working class lad, for a resurgent Tory Toff Tendendency, which affects a certain spurious liberalism. He appears to have an ego the size of a planet. There is, I think, something a bit odd about all of this, a contradiction which needs to be resolved. If DD is a maverick who sprung his decision to resign his seat on Cameron, without prior consultation, and then force a by-election, so that he could fight it again, in the incredible name of civil liberties, why is he standing again as an official Conservative Party candidate, rather than as an independent ? The speed with which the Tories accepted his decision and attempted to depict him as a brave individualist, a St George riding out the slay the dragon of state oppression, is deeply suspicious. And yet we are told by the media that his Party are really furious with him. That their apparent embracing of his 'cause' is a damage limitation exercise. That they are trying to turn disaster into triumph. I suspect collusion.

Now the Sun is shining on Kelvin. How seriously weird. Two shining knights of right-wing libertarianism in mortal combat. I ought to be delighted. I can't lose ! It's a long time since I've been in that situation.

Of course, I opposed 42 days myself and stand with the Labour Left dissidents. Neither DD nor Kelvin are one of us.I will watch future developments with great interest.