Altered States - Is Anyone Out There? (CD)

Anarchists will often argue that the media is little more than the propaganda wing of the ruling class.

This can be no more evident than in the complete absence of discussion surrounding alternatives to capitalism or the perpetuation of references to the 'middle-class'.

And so it is that Gordon Brown has given a speech, dutifully reported on by the (state owned) BBC, in which he refers to creating "more middle class jobs than ever before". He went on to say that social mobility would be Labour's "theme for the coming election and the coming Parliamentary term".

It needs to be borne in mind that the income gap under Labour has widened to it's highest level since records began in the 1960s. Couple that with the abject failure of Labour to make an impact on their much touted promise to reduce child poverty and I think we can see that Gordon's words amount to little more than empty rhetoric.

However this doesn't prevent Gordon from planting his foot firmly between his teeth and coming out with this gem: "A fair society is one where everyone who works hard and plays by the rules has a chance to fulfil their dreams whether that's owning a bigger house, taking a holiday abroad, buying a new car or starting a small business"

That one statement alone is so riddled with hypocrisy that I am surprised his audience didn't burst into hysterics.

"everyone who works hard" - The working class have always worked hard. We've had to. We make absolutely everything whilst carrying the unbridled weight of the parasitic ruling class on our backs.

"plays by the rules" - Aaahh, like those MPs who play by the rules whilst fiddling everything from cash for honours to their own expenses. Yes Gordon, very fair - if you are in a position of power.

"bigger house, taking a holiday abroad, buying a new car" - Whilst these may be perfectly reasonable aspirational items, his speech completely disregards the environmental impact of our ongoing uber-consumption.

Let's be absolutely clear. Gordon Brown, like all politicians, is concerned with nothing other than the retention of power for the state and the ruling class. If he has to lie to do it then he will. The Tories will join in the charade safe in the knowledge that their interests are, ultimately, the same as his. They may indulge in some critical sabre rattling but their concerns are not ours.

I submitted the following comment in response to the BBC's "What did you think of Gordon's speech?" -

Strange that Gordon is trying to appeal to a group of people who don't actually exist - that is, the "middle class". If you HAVE to work for a living, and can not afford to live off share ownership/property/inherited wealth/etc, then you are WORKING CLASS irrespective of your income bracket. Labour, Tories and Lib Dems are all the same and NONE of them represent the working class.

I'm not holding my breath in anticipation of its publication. After all, why would the BBC challenge the status quo and thus their own existence?


Altered States on this recording comprised:

Yig Hughes - vocals & guitar
Rob Ryan - bass
Martin Winbury - drums

and if you look carefully you can see Yig's signature on the cover. Enjoy.

Altered States - Is Anyone Out There? (The Primary Recording Company PRC31 1994) 320kbps

1. Twin Obession
2. Is Anyone Out There?
3. What Is Left?
4. Everything
5. Them
6. They Wouldn't Listen
7. Drowning Children
8. Cathy
9. Those Voices
10. Low Life
11. What's The Matter With Lucy?
12. Walls & Fences
13. Final Chapter

Alters Nothing - pwd: c4ctusm0uth
Still Alters Nothing - pwd: c4ctusm0uth