The 1984 miners' strike – how things change in 25 years?

There’s a lot in the news today about the 1984 Miners’ Strike
- a milestone in our history that seems like only yesterday.
Where did all that time go? How things have changed… or have they?
Few British mines and miners any more.
Few British steel plants and steel workers.
Few British manufacturers and manufacturing jobs.
It’s all been said before.
Now Britain’s gone to the bankers of this world,
never mind the dogs.
Are you old enough to remember the old ‘socialist’ Labour Party versus the capitalist Tories?
Or the ‘militant’ trade unions versus the poor employers?
The ‘evil empires’ of Communist Russia and China v. the good and peaceful West?
All that’s history, now.
Like Cavaliers v. Roundheads, Protestants v. Catholics, Mods v. Rockers.
In the current climate, we’re even tempted to say “those were the days…”. At least you knew where you stood.

So what have we learned since 1984?
After all, some things NEVER seem to change…
We still vote for the same old politicians and political parties, giving them absolute power to mis-spend our taxes on whatever suits their mis-guided political interests (or paymasters) and then to arrest us if we object.
Like turkeys voting for Christmas…

We still allow a divisive ruling class to exist in our society – the lords and ladies, princes and princesses, knights and queens – as if we were in some kind of fairytale kingdom. Many corrupt, most barmy and all self-seeking. (For more on this theme, see our ‘Monarchy?’ article.)

We still let big business dictate what we can buy, at what price, and on whatever terms they see fit to impose:  food, water, gas, electricity, transport, housing, banking… you name it. All in the interest of ‘free markets’ and ‘competition’ rather than making sure everyone has a fair and decent standard of living – and a job – in our ‘civilised’ western democracy.
Is this REALLY what we want for ourselves in the 21st century?

But wait a moment. Is there a common thread running through all of these things?

Could it be anything to do with the politicians and the rich using the powers of State to divide and control us?
Removing our right to protest against those to whom WE gave power in the first place?
The right to proper free speech? (…not just the usual whimper of middle-class journalists, more concerned with how clever they are than wanting to CHANGE anything – heaven forbid).
REAL free speech, REAL freedom and REAL democracy – not the poor imitations we ‘re fobbed off with at the moment?
The right to strike, protest and to REMOVE any government that doesn’t represent its own citizens?

More importantly, are we too repressed to CHANGE anything after centuries of putting up with the ruling classes and being force-fed with their IMITATION democracy?
Are we too ‘British’… too ‘civilised’ to kick up a fuss?

Whether we compare 2009 to 1984, 1884,  or even 1684, the British people are still exploited by the same self-seeking politicians, ‘aristocrats’ and the rich: all of whom have gained power and wealth for centuries at our expense.
Things will never change unless we MAKE them change, and for good this time.
After all, the French don’t put up with it – and haven’t done so since la Revolution.   Why should we?
It’s a big idea, and it won’t happen overnight, but it can be done.