“The distinction between worker and pauper vanished.” To understand the catastrophic effects of UBI, it’s worth considering the Speenhamland system, a prototypical form of UBI enforced in rural Britain in the early 1800s. Memorably analyzed in Hobsbawm’s classic _Captain Swing._

This is one of those essays that deserves to be printed and read carefully. Jacob Siegel has accomplished something remarkable here and Tablet Magazine is the only place where it could published. Should be turned into a book. tabletmag.com/sections/news/…

So one Labour frontbencher wants to put calories on pint glasses and another wants to ban smoking. This is before before they even get into power. The real opposition party we need is the Leave Me the F**k Alone Party. One that pledges to do absolutely nothing.

“Eighteen hundred years ago the simple and sublime doctrine of equality was preached and taught and acted upon, but that doctrine has long been lost sight of, and now we see nothing but unchristian selfishness.” George Binns, Sunderland-born Chartist, was born #OnThisDay 1815.

“The Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of man are realities, and our whole social and industrial system to-day is subversive of these relationships.” Keir Hardie, founder of the Labour Party. #Easter #HolySaturday

1/ A reminder that this happened: Elderly people in nursing homes were literally abandoned by staff and left to die. aljazeera.com/news/2020/3/24…

"The bouquet" by Władysław Czachórski.

English Radical History This is the last ever international TV interview with Tony Benn. It is banned by UK government censor Ofcom, banned across the entire European Union and banned by Pentagon contractor Google's YouTube platform. rumble.com/v1y90gk-archiv… (even this link is banned in France)

Mark Changizi So many of the really stupid practices came about because someone, in some meeting somewhere, suggested something & it was virtually impossible for anyone to say "No, we don't need to go that far." Because it wasn't possible to say no to "carefulness" no matter how insane it was.

“The toleration of [animal cruelty] is repugnant to the dictates of humanity & to the spirit and precepts of the Christian religion.” The RSPCA, the oldest and largest animal welfare organisation in the world, was founded in Old Slaughter’s Coffee House, London #OnThisDay 1824.

Extremely important discussion. The expansion of the meaning of "mental health" has been accelerating - we are over-medicalising distress.

They're effectively going to steal a chunk of our pensions to fund the elite's green agenda - transferring resources to politically connected cronies, while impoverishing ordinary people. This can be viewed as another assault on the middle classes. telegraph.co.uk/business/2023/…

Labour Friends of Animal Cruelty.

if they dont suffer consequences for their evil, of course they will repeat their actions why wouldnt they?

The Observer’s politics: to the right of Conservative voters on the economy and public ownership, while calling them racist.

“The poorest he that is in England hath a life to live as the greatest he.” Thomas Rainsborough, republican officer who served in Parliament’s army & navy in the English Civil War, was born #OnThisDay 1610. Rainsborough was the highest-ranking officer to support the Levellers.

The events of the past weeks confirm, I think, that the climate movement is rapidly turning into the most dangerous doomsday cult the world has ever known. Indeed, it’s the first global movement of this kind: never before have millions of people been convinced that the world is

“Peace on earth has been restored.” Clement Attlee informed the House of Commons of Japan’s surrender #OnThisDay 1945. At Attlee’s suggestion, MPs attended the Church of St Margaret to give “humble and reverent thanks to Almighty God on the victorious conclusion of the war.”

"Don't worry, our assisted dying laws will be the most robust in the world." Yet, of course, all of the discussion I'm hearing in the media today is, "But is this too restrictive?" Prediction: these questions will get louder, as they have in other countries.

Read this. Blair's objective with ID cards is clear: it includes financial transactions. In other words, the state could, at a stroke, be able to block your ability to buy goods & services. Possibility for previously unthinkable authoritarianism. institute.global/insights/tech-…