That's what you get with socialism/communism = crooked kleptocrats dealing out public property to their buddies, or themselves, accepting bribes and what have you. <really scummy high rise flats to be put in their place at vast profits by kooked local politicians and crony half crooked developers. >
In 1974, I was wandering around Thamesmead, admiring the great new housing development, with huge open spaces, lakes, lawns, brand spanking new.
Now, they are considered to have been a big mistake and they have been demolished. The problem was not the buildings or concept, the problem was the chimpanzees who were given the properties to trash. en.wikipedia.org
We lived in Brixton, in a little flat [and had no inclination to riot and destroy the place] and in a VW van in Abbey Wood motor camp [across the road from Thamesmead]. We did not riot or destroy in Abbey Wood either. My grandfather and 3 sibling were orphaned when their parents were in their early 30s due to tuberculosis. They lived in Peckham, which has now been rioted and partly destroyed. As children, they were shipped to NZ with an aunt, as was another grandmother and sisters, refugees from France, to live desperately poor lives. None rioted in NZ or elsewhere, despite actual poverty.
I had a look around Peckham a couple of weeks ago and did not see many people who could have been relatives. I am going to claim right of return, like Palestinians.
The Libyans were helping the IRA destroy the place though, back in the mid 1970s. The Americans were helping the IRA bomb England too - many Americans were in favour of terrorism until they learned on 11 September 2001, up close and personal, that it can have untoward and unpleasant consequences of a personal nature. That hideous barbarian Gerry Adams used to be entertained at The White House at presidential pleasure. George Bush II put the kibosh on that. I doubt that Ronald Reagan [Maggie's mate] was keen on IRA terrorism either.
I should put in a good word here for our great and estimable idol, Alan Greenspan KBE, who managed the monetary system very well for a couple of decades, returning huge profits to his shareholders. Big Ben is having a bit more fun than he expected, but he has the QE2, 3, 4, 5 ... n levers at his fingertips, with fleets of helicopters ready to launch at any moment to toss bales of bucks to the hordes of Americans rioting financially.
Mqurice |
