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| Ship of Fools, Bosch, 1490/1500 |
(with apologies to Hieronymous Bosch one of my favourite artists of the medieval period)
This posting will definitely bring to a close my dealings with both Barrow National Union of Teachers and Barrow Trades Union Council for reasons that will become obvious to any who choose to read further.
I realise this may be boring to many but what follows adequately illustrates why there is so little resistence to the Tory/LibDem cuts in this region and, as such, is a vehicle of enlightenment.
At the last meeting of Barrow Trades Union Council on Tuesday 1st May (MAY DAY!) the secretary produced his alternative letter. Unfortunately, the very first paragraph contained the inappropriate use of a BIG WORD - disenfranchisement. Read, if you will, this start to his long-winded rambling letter and make sense of it what you can. (I won't test your patience with the rest of it)
British Politics may be considered to be at a critical watershed, due to the effective disenfranchisement of the electorate by the continuing lobby by the vested interests of those who caused the financial debacle in the pusuit of thier own agendas. (Note: I have not corrected the spelling mistake - Muddz) An attempt was made to draw attention to the misuse of 'disenfranchisement' but a health service delegate retorted she was not here (at BTUC) for 'politics' but to support Barrow Trades Union Council. What a ludicrous statement!! Attempts to have the wrong word corrected were drowned out by a general hubbub of 'No politics!' that confused the chairman who then moved 'Next item on the agenda' and this brought an end to the din. By this method, the mobsters of the Labour Party not only successfully ended any criticism of the lack of Labour Party opposition to the cuts but also any fightback that was expected of a party of opposition. The dead hand of Labour will now dominate Barrow Trades Union Council until such time as a chairman possessing the strength of character to assert his will and insist on discipline at the meetings is found. This is not currently the case so it is likely that the secretary may soon find himself sitting on his own at BTUC once more.
Following this last meeting, I determined it was high time to leave the asylum and to also abandon Barrow NUT as the delegate fee of £10 remained outstanding - to leave them all to stew in their own juice. This wisdom of this decision was confirmed when, on the drive homeward, I found myself singing (I only ever dare sing to myself in the car!) :
Well I don't know why I came here tonight,
I got the feeling that something ain't right,
I'm so scared in case I fall off my chair
And I'm wondering how I'll get down the stairs,
Clowns to the left of me,
Jokers to the right, here I am,
Stuck in the middle with you.
Yes I'm stuck in the middle with you,
And I'm wondering what it is I should do
It's so hard to keep this smile on my face,
Losing control, yeah, I'm all over the place,
Clowns to the left of me, Jokers to the right,
Here I am, stuck in the middle with you.
Stealers Wheel "Stuck inthe Middle With You" from Reservoir Dogs soundtrack
So, with this song and the image of Bosch's 'Ship of Fools' in my head, my mind was made up. Enough of the stupidity. Enough of the incompetence, inefficiency and complacency. I sent out notice to both organisations of termination of my interest in their affairs. My efforts on behalf of Barrow & Furness Pensioners' Association together with Furness Against the Cuts will also follow suit.
Look, I enjoy a comfortable pension, the mortgage on our home was completed some years ago and our children have grown up and lead independent, secure and healthy lives of their own - so why am I using my time campaigning on behalf of those who don't even care what happens to themselves let alone anyone else? What an idiot I have been these last few years - but no more! Yes, work to promote the Party and those willing to stand up to fight for their class but no more dealings with apathetic dolts and complacent oafs. No more involvement with the hapless and helpless led by the hopeless. Goodbye to all that.
