Some Socialists...

9:46am Tuesday 9th October 2012 in Letters By Reader's letter

WELL known Socialists were seen hovering around the Labour Conference last week.

David Miliband is reported to have earned £400,000 in the past year, consultancy and speeches, two-and-a-half times the Prime Minister. Tony Blair is said to be worth an estimated £60 million.

Alistair Darling, in the past year, reportedly cleared £170,000 on books and speeches. Polly Toynbee, The Guardian columnist and left-winger, is said to have a luxury holiday home in Italy.

David Blunkett in the past year allegedly cleared £240,000 on various sinecures, and now lives on the Duke of Devonshire’s Chatsworth estate. As for Jack Straw, in the past year he is said to have made £136,000 on consultancy, media and speeches. Got the message?

Paul H Farley, Austerbank Road, Tadcaster.

Comments(13)

The Great Buda says...
10:27am Tue 9 Oct 12

How dare people not allow their wealth to alter their political view!

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YSTClinguist says...
11:06am Tue 9 Oct 12

If you'd like to point out what part of their wealth/property is gained through immoral actions, then I'll listen. But merely pointing out that people earn or own things is not enough. I feel that form of knee-jerk commentary comes from the worst parts of socialist circles.

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Jezreel says...
11:41am Tue 9 Oct 12

Well known socialists, Blair, Blunkett, Miliband etc? Pull the one with bells on!

That apart, the letter writer fails to distinguish between income and exploitation. Socialists oppose wealth made from exploitation, not earnings, as YST has already indicated above.

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rothko says...
12:52pm Tue 9 Oct 12

Polly Toynbee is the only name mentioned who is even close to socialism. All the others were on the right of the Labour Party, I would refer to them as economic and social liberals, definitely not socialist.

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Zetkin says...
1:17pm Tue 9 Oct 12

Not a single socialist named in a letter littered with "allegedly", "reportedly", and "is said to", which I take to mean it's a work of fiction.

Why does the once-mighty Press print such guff?

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Scarlet Pimpernel says...
2:28pm Tue 9 Oct 12

Jezreel wrote:
Well known socialists, Blair, Blunkett, Miliband etc? Pull the one with bells on! That apart, the letter writer fails to distinguish between income and exploitation. Socialists oppose wealth made from exploitation, not earnings, as YST has already indicated above.
Define exploitation ?

Do you mean people who set up legitimate businesses, risking their capital to provide jobs, then pay tax on their profits ?

So where does this hard earned income that Blair, Straw, Blunkett and Toynbee earn come from ? Where are the jobs these individuals provide, and how much capital are they risking in their lucrative ventures ? What are they producing ? Are they feeding, clothing and housing people through their labours ?

Ther guff Zetkin speaks of, doesn't come from Paul H Farley's letter, it comes form the five left-wing pinko's posts above !!!

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The Great Buda says...
9:43am Wed 10 Oct 12

Back with the insults Pimp?

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oi oi savaloy says...
1:17pm Wed 10 Oct 12

All the politicians mentioned in the letter are just Tories in disguise! No such thing as a socialist in this country anymore just crooked politicians in it for what they can get! And at a price that will ruin this country for good!!

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Even AndyD says...
3:19pm Wed 10 Oct 12

Unusual letter - it is possible to have political belief irrespective of financial situation. I'd never suggest it is impossible for a Tory to feel sorry about the disabled or poor, so why shouldn't a socialist be wealthy? Individuality supersedes ideological doctrine. Or in other words, we are more than merely our political leanings. This isn't religion, we are not compelled to give all our money away, compassion for people and wanting to effect change doesn't rely solely on personal circumstances.

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Even AndyD says...
3:27pm Wed 10 Oct 12

I'm also wary of people who judge others purely by their political leanings. People are not defined by their politics in the same way they are not defined by their colour, race, religion or whether they have garden gnomes or not!
For heaven's sake - most people are okay, you know? Really - when push comes to shove, most people are pretty decent. Look for the good in people, don't just write them off as BMW drivers, pinkos, layabout students, dumb-brickies or any of other stereotypical, hugely-generalised labels I see on here. People are people. Rant over!

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Jezreel says...
3:39pm Wed 10 Oct 12

Up to a point Andy.

However some people most certainly are defined by their politics, like the neo-Nazi nail bomber David Copeland, or the racist mass murderer Anders Breivik

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Even AndyD says...
4:07pm Wed 10 Oct 12

Yes, but come on Jez, you and I both know that isn't what we are talking about. We are talking about mainstream political ideology, not those who blow people up or engage in mass genocide!

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Jezreel says...
5:01pm Wed 10 Oct 12

Im agreeing with most of what you said which I why I said "up to a point" However racists must not be treated as having legitimate views.
You are right when you say we should look for the good in people and that most of us are pretty decent.
In order to keep it that way we have to guard against the views of the bigots and those who want to turn part of our society against the other parts.

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