Last night, for the first time in many years - and for me, the first time in London - I took part in a demonstration. Thousands of people made their way to Whitehall to protest the Executive Action of the US President - and to call for Theresa May to rescind her invitation to President Trump to make a State Visit to the UK last year.
Similar demonstrations took place around the UK - & Trump's actions have led to worldwide condemnation and demonstrations - particularly in the USA itself.
It was great to be a part of the demonstration - and I left with my faith in humanity considerably strengthened. People are prepared to call out wrongful behaviour. Across the generations, people took to the streets to show their unity of opposition and their rejection of values that, certainly the older ones amongst us had hoped, seemed to have been consigned to the dustbin of history. I was particularly impressed how young people were (often with great humour) were prepared to make serious points about the need to reject the politics of division, hate and scapegoating.
But where now? Some have argued that Trump (& his increasingly powerful aide - Steve Bannon) had planned a series of "shock events" - designed to stir up opposition, and create a sense of crisis - which - heyhoe - they need to resolve - thereby both cutting down the opposition, and boosting their own supporters.
We live in dangerous times - Trump is not the first in history to use this tactic of doing outrageous things, causing chaos, and then "resolving" it in a way which diminishes liberty. So my first answer to the question in this post is -
1 Learn from history - expose the tactics of those who would be tyrants. Become sensitive to the way they act. Tyranny can be defeated. Also keep in mind the principles that we are seeking to maintain. Free Speech; the Rule of Law; Equality of all mankind. We can learn much, and take great encouragement from the fight for liberty which runs through British and American history (and that of other countries)
2 Clearly expose the challenges that Trump and others are mounting on the traditional values behind our nations. Today Theresa May is seeking to force Parliament to abdicate its traditional responsibility to hold the government of the day to account - and to make reasoned legislative choices. The debate kicks off in a few hours - less than a week after the bill was published (the convention is that at least two weekends should separate the 1st and 2nd Readings - to allow MPs to consider and prepare their response to proposed legislation) - and without the promised White Paper. Before Britain joined the EEC - there was a substantial white paper - and a thorough series of debates. A programme motion will be introduced today which will severely curtail the time available for debate. The provisional timetable for debate in the Lords has also ben published. The whole thing makes a mockery of "Parliamentary Sovereignty". A brief 'Enabling Bill' has been prepared - which cedes all power - with no oversight - to the Prime Minister.
Similarly Trump is displaying already, 10 days into his Presidency, an arrogance towards the use of power that would have embarrassed Richard Nixon. Overnight the acting attorney general has been fired (remember when Nixon did that - and some believe that was the point at which his downfall became inevitable). Court orders have been ignored.
3 Don't be cowed by the aggressive response to legitimate opposition. Trump is a bully - he has been all his life. But bullies can be stood up to. As I noted yesterday, the day of the demonstration in Whitehall was also the anniversary of the execution in that place of Charles I. He bullied - he even declared war on his own people - but he was defeated. Hitler overreached himself. Britain pushed and punished its colonists in America - until they threw off the yoke - and set up the United States.
4 Remember that we have a heritage of liberty. I walked to the demonstration past the statue of John Hampden - through the old chamber of the House of Commons (St Stephen's Hall) - where the Speaker refused to be bullied by the presence of the King (and his army stationed outside the chamber) into revealing where the dissident MPs had gone. Through Westminster Hall, where the impeachment of high office holders had taken place - and where Charles was tried. Through New Palace Yard - where the elected MP for Northampton was dragged by the Sergeant at Arms and his assistants. Across the areas where previous generations had demonstrated against the abuse of powers by authorities who had been tempted by the idea that they were above the law.
5 Most of all - don't keep silent when wrong is being done.
Tuesday 31 January 2017
Monday 30 January 2017
History really does Matter
My apologies if you have already read this on one of my other blogs - I have 4 blogs (jdm_progressive, Washminster, jdmeducafe, and JDM's history explorer) - each with its own purpose. This blog is designed for progressives. The others deal with Politics (especially legislatures); History; and 'learning'. Please feel free to explore all or any - though today, I'm publishing this post in all of them)
I'm writing this whilst taking a cup of tea in the British Museum. It's a wonderful building full of items of great historical interest from around the world. Though it was built up during the period of the British Empire - when some people had some very stupid ideas about the superiority of certain races - it is an excellent antidote to such idiotic ideas. Think the West is superior to the Islamic world? - visit the wonders in Room 34; worried that the future has been ceded to the Chinese? (Thanks President Trump), then see how great China has been over the centuries. Discover the many heritages that have been combined to make the United Kingdom .
It is particularly important that we don't forget the lessons of history. At the moment we would do well to recall the consequences of aggressive nationalism - and how quickly some turn to scapegoating others. We need to face up to the worst of our history - as well as be encouraged by the best.
Today is 30th January - a significant day in British history. Back in 1215 (The Magna Carta - Runnymede) - the principle was established that no one - NOT even the King - was above the Law. Charles I forgot that. He hoped for a passive Parliament - and when he didn't get that - he tried to live without calling Parliament - and when that failed - he tried to intimidate parliamentarians (his attempt to arrest five MPs in the chamber have led to a ban on any monarch entering the chamber of the House of Commons) - eventually he went to Nottingham and declared war on his own country.
On this day in 1649, after a trial in Westminster Hall (which he refused to recognise - since he believed himself to be above the law) - he was executed outside the Banqueting Hall in Whitehall.
So remember this day, that important principle, which lies at the heart of British (and American) History and current law.
NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW.
I'm writing this whilst taking a cup of tea in the British Museum. It's a wonderful building full of items of great historical interest from around the world. Though it was built up during the period of the British Empire - when some people had some very stupid ideas about the superiority of certain races - it is an excellent antidote to such idiotic ideas. Think the West is superior to the Islamic world? - visit the wonders in Room 34; worried that the future has been ceded to the Chinese? (Thanks President Trump), then see how great China has been over the centuries. Discover the many heritages that have been combined to make the United Kingdom .
It is particularly important that we don't forget the lessons of history. At the moment we would do well to recall the consequences of aggressive nationalism - and how quickly some turn to scapegoating others. We need to face up to the worst of our history - as well as be encouraged by the best.
Today is 30th January - a significant day in British history. Back in 1215 (The Magna Carta - Runnymede) - the principle was established that no one - NOT even the King - was above the Law. Charles I forgot that. He hoped for a passive Parliament - and when he didn't get that - he tried to live without calling Parliament - and when that failed - he tried to intimidate parliamentarians (his attempt to arrest five MPs in the chamber have led to a ban on any monarch entering the chamber of the House of Commons) - eventually he went to Nottingham and declared war on his own country.
On this day in 1649, after a trial in Westminster Hall (which he refused to recognise - since he believed himself to be above the law) - he was executed outside the Banqueting Hall in Whitehall.
So remember this day, that important principle, which lies at the heart of British (and American) History and current law.
NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW.
Tuesday 24 January 2017
No Contempt...
... of Court or Parliament should be tolerated. The Supreme Court of the UK this morning upheld central constitutional principles. We must not stand silent if our unelected Prime Minister treats the judgment with contempt.
A short blank cheque is not an appropriate response. No doubt she would seek to cow her ministers and backbenchers into backing such a blank cheques. She will no doubt raise sinister threats to warn off the House of Lords - and the main opposition is led by a lifelong eurosceptic.
But too much is at stake.
A blank cheque would allow a small group of radicals who (like wolves in sheep's clothing) go under the misleading title of 'conservatives' - to achieve their aims of stripping away the rights of the British people. Rights at work, rights as consumers, rights as mothers and fathers, rights as people seeking the best for their families. Will British citizens living in other EU countries be cast adrift by their mother country? Will those who have contributed their labour, their skills, their entrepreneurship to the UK have their rights stripped?
If all Parliament does is to grant a blank cheque to the government, it will have failed us - so please - write/tweet/call your MP and demand as citizens that they represent you (and your fellow citizens) by ensuring that the process of withdrawal is done in a way that upholds our existing rights.
DO NOT UNDER-ESTIMATE the radical agenda of the Europhobes, or those that think Britains should 'know their place'. We owe it to the generations that fought for the rights and liberties we have held so dear to ensure that they aren't discarded in secret places.
J David Morgan
A short blank cheque is not an appropriate response. No doubt she would seek to cow her ministers and backbenchers into backing such a blank cheques. She will no doubt raise sinister threats to warn off the House of Lords - and the main opposition is led by a lifelong eurosceptic.
But too much is at stake.
A blank cheque would allow a small group of radicals who (like wolves in sheep's clothing) go under the misleading title of 'conservatives' - to achieve their aims of stripping away the rights of the British people. Rights at work, rights as consumers, rights as mothers and fathers, rights as people seeking the best for their families. Will British citizens living in other EU countries be cast adrift by their mother country? Will those who have contributed their labour, their skills, their entrepreneurship to the UK have their rights stripped?
If all Parliament does is to grant a blank cheque to the government, it will have failed us - so please - write/tweet/call your MP and demand as citizens that they represent you (and your fellow citizens) by ensuring that the process of withdrawal is done in a way that upholds our existing rights.
DO NOT UNDER-ESTIMATE the radical agenda of the Europhobes, or those that think Britains should 'know their place'. We owe it to the generations that fought for the rights and liberties we have held so dear to ensure that they aren't discarded in secret places.
J David Morgan
Friday 20 January 2017
Thursday 19 January 2017
Effective Legislatures
In the history of Britain, Parliament has played a central role in the development of our liberties. It's a long story - and has seen setbacks as well as progress. It is however a story which merits study. Not merely for its own sake, but to learn lessons about the effective oversight and control of executive power.
As progressives we face a challenging future. If we are to stand up to the aggressive use of executive power by Theresa May in the United Kingdom - and Donald Trump in the USA (and by regressive Executives in a host of countries), then effective use of legislatures will be play a key role.
Parliament and Congress matter. Progressives are a minority in both - but there is a powerful forum for scrutiny. Effective questioning can reveal what the Executive would prefer the people to be ignorant of. The use, and especially - the abuse - of power can be revealed and challenged. Alternatives to bad policy can be aired.
Certainly there is a role for action by citizens - demonstrations have had an honourable role in the history of the UK and the US. The press can play an important part - my interest in Congress was spurred by the revelations in the Washington Post - and the action taken as a result by congressional committees.
This blog (jdm_progressive) will aim to draw attention to the work of Congress and Parliament in the new environment. It's sister blog, Washminster, deals with the nitty gritty of the workings of both.
As progressives we face a challenging future. If we are to stand up to the aggressive use of executive power by Theresa May in the United Kingdom - and Donald Trump in the USA (and by regressive Executives in a host of countries), then effective use of legislatures will be play a key role.
Parliament and Congress matter. Progressives are a minority in both - but there is a powerful forum for scrutiny. Effective questioning can reveal what the Executive would prefer the people to be ignorant of. The use, and especially - the abuse - of power can be revealed and challenged. Alternatives to bad policy can be aired.
Certainly there is a role for action by citizens - demonstrations have had an honourable role in the history of the UK and the US. The press can play an important part - my interest in Congress was spurred by the revelations in the Washington Post - and the action taken as a result by congressional committees.
This blog (jdm_progressive) will aim to draw attention to the work of Congress and Parliament in the new environment. It's sister blog, Washminster, deals with the nitty gritty of the workings of both.
Friday 13 January 2017
The French Presidential Election
A week on Sunday, supporters of the Parti socialiste and associated parties of the left, will participate in a primary to select a candidate to represent them for the French presidential election. Not all left wing parties are participating, but the winner is likely to be regarded as the mainstream candidate opposing François Fillon (Les républicains) and Marine Le Pen (Le Front national). The election has two rounds, with the two candidates gaining most vote on 22nd January going forward to the second round on 29th January.
The candidates are -
Manuel Valls - Prime Minister under President Hollande from 2014 until December 6th 2016. His
website is http://manuelvalls.fr He has been a member of the Assemblée nationale, Interior Minister and Prime Minister. He ran for the Parti socialiste nomination in 2012, describing himself as "Blairiste" or "Clintonien".
Arnaud Montebourg - His website is http://www.arnaudmontebourg-2017.fr. He told the UK
Guardian that he saw himself as a French version of Bernie Sanders. Like Valls he ran for the nomination in 2012. He was Minister for Industrial Renewal from 2012-14, serving under both Ayrault and Valls
Benoît Hamon - A former Minister for Education (April - August 2014); MEP 2004-09 and a leader of the left wing at the 2008 PS Reims Congress. He resigned from the government in August 2014 in protest as Hollande's "abandonment of a socialist agenda" His website is https://www.benoithamon2017.fr
of the left wing at the 2008 PS Reims Congress. He resigned from the government in August 2014 in protest as Hollande's "abandonment of a socialist agenda" His website is https://www.benoithamon2017.fr
Vincent Peillon - Also a former Minister of Education (and former teacher 1984-92; 1993-97), he was elected as an MEP in 2014, having served in the Assemblée nationale in 1997-2002. L'Express has described him as "à équidistance de Manuel Valls, et des frondeurs" [halfway between Valls and the PS rebels on the left]. His website is http://www.vp2017.fr
was elected as an MEP in 2014, having served in the Assemblée nationale in 1997-2002. L'Express has described him as "à équidistance de Manuel Valls, et des frondeurs" [halfway between Valls and the PS rebels on the left]. His website is http://www.vp2017.fr
Sylvia Pinel - Leader of the moderate and social-liberal centre-left Parti Radical de Gauche. Minister
of Territorial Equality and Housing under the Valls premiership, leaving in February 2011. Her programme can be found at http://www.partiradicaldegauche.fr/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Projet-SP_final.pdf
François de Rugy - A member of the Assemblée nationale since 2007, he is a former member of
EELV (Europe Ecology - The Greens) but formed his own party - Écologistes! - after breaking with EELV over their alliances with the left-wing Front de Gauche. His website is https://www.derugy2017.fr
Jean-Luc Bennahmias - An MEP for 10 years from the South of France.
He formed his own party - the Front démocrate in 2014. His website is http://jlbennahmias2017.fr
If you read French, there is a full description of each of the candidates here.
Useful sites for following the Primary are -
France 24 - English, French - Who are the candidates?
Le Monde - Primaire de la gauche
Liberation
L'Express
Le Point
The candidates are -
Manuel Valls - Prime Minister under President Hollande from 2014 until December 6th 2016. His
website is http://manuelvalls.fr He has been a member of the Assemblée nationale, Interior Minister and Prime Minister. He ran for the Parti socialiste nomination in 2012, describing himself as "Blairiste" or "Clintonien".
Arnaud Montebourg - His website is http://www.arnaudmontebourg-2017.fr. He told the UK
Guardian that he saw himself as a French version of Bernie Sanders. Like Valls he ran for the nomination in 2012. He was Minister for Industrial Renewal from 2012-14, serving under both Ayrault and Valls
Benoît Hamon - A former Minister for Education (April - August 2014); MEP 2004-09 and a leader of the left wing at the 2008 PS Reims Congress. He resigned from the government in August 2014 in protest as Hollande's "abandonment of a socialist agenda" His website is https://www.benoithamon2017.fr
of the left wing at the 2008 PS Reims Congress. He resigned from the government in August 2014 in protest as Hollande's "abandonment of a socialist agenda" His website is https://www.benoithamon2017.fr
Vincent Peillon - Also a former Minister of Education (and former teacher 1984-92; 1993-97), he was elected as an MEP in 2014, having served in the Assemblée nationale in 1997-2002. L'Express has described him as "à équidistance de Manuel Valls, et des frondeurs" [halfway between Valls and the PS rebels on the left]. His website is http://www.vp2017.fr
was elected as an MEP in 2014, having served in the Assemblée nationale in 1997-2002. L'Express has described him as "à équidistance de Manuel Valls, et des frondeurs" [halfway between Valls and the PS rebels on the left]. His website is http://www.vp2017.fr
Sylvia Pinel - Leader of the moderate and social-liberal centre-left Parti Radical de Gauche. Minister
of Territorial Equality and Housing under the Valls premiership, leaving in February 2011. Her programme can be found at http://www.partiradicaldegauche.fr/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Projet-SP_final.pdf
François de Rugy - A member of the Assemblée nationale since 2007, he is a former member of
EELV (Europe Ecology - The Greens) but formed his own party - Écologistes! - after breaking with EELV over their alliances with the left-wing Front de Gauche. His website is https://www.derugy2017.fr
Jean-Luc Bennahmias - An MEP for 10 years from the South of France.
He formed his own party - the Front démocrate in 2014. His website is http://jlbennahmias2017.fr
If you read French, there is a full description of each of the candidates here.
Useful sites for following the Primary are -
France 24 - English, French - Who are the candidates?
Le Monde - Primaire de la gauche
Liberation
L'Express
Le Point
Monday 9 January 2017
Challenging Times
These are challenging times for Progressives. The populist Right has been having great success of late.
While there are many progressives who backed the Leave campaign in Britain's referendum (I understand their position, though I think it was misguided), that campaign was dominated by the populist Right. I personally think that there have long been strong links between the Eurosceptic Right in the UK and some of the extreme wings of the US Republican Party (although, they are now the mainstream of the GOP in Congress).
In the US we are but days away from the inauguration of Donald Trump as President. He may have lost the popular vote - but won in key states, thus winning in the electoral college. What an irony that a system designed to lessen the chances of a populist politician winning power, succeeded in delivering the country to him. (With some help apparently from outside the USA).
The situation in France does not look very encouraging. Most observers believe that Marine LePen will win a place in the second round of the Presidential election. The Républicains have chosen as their candidate, François Fillon, who is himself quite an extreme conservative. At the moment, few observers give much hope to however will be the Parti socialiste candidate. [The Primaire à gauche takes place on 22nd & 29th January)
So how are progressives to act in these dark days?
We certainly need to reflect on how this situation has come about - and how we act to regain the initiative.
We also need to respond to the actions of the populist right as they exercise power. We must protest the attempt by the Tory government to deny Parliament a role in the triggering and process of Article 50. We must keep reminding people that the Brexit victory was only achieved through a cynical and persistent campaign of lies and false promises.
(the same applies to Donald Trump)
With power comes responsibility. We have to hold those in power to account. Parliamentary and Congressional committees have a key role to play. Let us give our support to those on those committees who are challenging the populist right in power. We need to tackle our representatives who fail to do their job in holding power to account. Don't be slow to write to your MP or Congressman. Help expose any abuse of power.
But most of all - remember the great history of progressive politics. It has achieved much in the past - and WILL do so again.
While there are many progressives who backed the Leave campaign in Britain's referendum (I understand their position, though I think it was misguided), that campaign was dominated by the populist Right. I personally think that there have long been strong links between the Eurosceptic Right in the UK and some of the extreme wings of the US Republican Party (although, they are now the mainstream of the GOP in Congress).
In the US we are but days away from the inauguration of Donald Trump as President. He may have lost the popular vote - but won in key states, thus winning in the electoral college. What an irony that a system designed to lessen the chances of a populist politician winning power, succeeded in delivering the country to him. (With some help apparently from outside the USA).
The situation in France does not look very encouraging. Most observers believe that Marine LePen will win a place in the second round of the Presidential election. The Républicains have chosen as their candidate, François Fillon, who is himself quite an extreme conservative. At the moment, few observers give much hope to however will be the Parti socialiste candidate. [The Primaire à gauche takes place on 22nd & 29th January)
So how are progressives to act in these dark days?
We certainly need to reflect on how this situation has come about - and how we act to regain the initiative.
We also need to respond to the actions of the populist right as they exercise power. We must protest the attempt by the Tory government to deny Parliament a role in the triggering and process of Article 50. We must keep reminding people that the Brexit victory was only achieved through a cynical and persistent campaign of lies and false promises.
(the same applies to Donald Trump)
With power comes responsibility. We have to hold those in power to account. Parliamentary and Congressional committees have a key role to play. Let us give our support to those on those committees who are challenging the populist right in power. We need to tackle our representatives who fail to do their job in holding power to account. Don't be slow to write to your MP or Congressman. Help expose any abuse of power.
But most of all - remember the great history of progressive politics. It has achieved much in the past - and WILL do so again.
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