Around mid-morning yesterday I finally got the package I had been waiting for that contained the kettle lead to my speakers. I brought my speakers with me for my month stay in Glasgow. I'm in a detached 4 bedroom house, all on my own. The PERFECT time to crank up Arctic Monkeys.
Shortly after I put some tunes on, I got an email from my energy provider.
For about a year and a half I've paid less than 40 quid a month. I live in a 4th floor, one bedroom flat.. and heat rises.
Over the past 3 months I've barely been there, I stayed at my brothers over Christmas, then went to Wales, Oxford, Birmingham and now I'm in Glasgow for a month, yet somewhere along the line I am using 70 pounds more worth of electricity? I think not. So I took the opportunity to tell Octopus Energy what I thought of them.
I started by updating this thread I did last month
Today
They in their infinite wisdom decided to reply..
I was not best pleased…
It did get me to reacquaint myself with The Who's Won't Get Fooled Again
And the lyrics…
We'll be fighting in the streets
With our children at our feet
And the morals that they worship will be gone
And the men who spurred us on
Sit in judgement of all wrong
They decide and the shotgun sings the songI'll tip my hat to the new constitution
Take a bow for the new revolution
Smile and grin at the change all around
Pick up my guitar and play
Just like yesterday
Then I'll get on my knees and pray
We don't get fooled againThe change, it had to come
We knew it all along
We were liberated from the fold, that's all
And the world looks just the same
And history ain't changed
'Cause the banners, they all flown in the last warI'll tip my hat to the new constitution
Take a bow for the new revolution
Smile and grin at the change all around
Pick up my guitar and play
Just like yesterday
Then I'll get on my knees and pray
We don't get fooled again, no, noI'll move myself and my family aside
If we happen to be left half-alive
I'll get all my papers and smile at the sky
For I know that the hypnotized never lieDo you?
Yeah
There's nothing in the street
Looks any different to me
And the slogans are effaced, by-the-bye
And the parting on the left
Is now parting on the right
And the beards have all grown longer overnightI'll tip my hat to the new constitution
Take a bow for the new revolution
Smile and grin at the change all around
Pick up my guitar and play
Just like yesterday
Then I'll get on my knees and pray
We don't get fooled again
Don't get fooled again, no, no
Shortly after this however I received ANOTHER irritating email. This time from the Trussel Trust wanting to know if I will help people facing financial hardship…
The energy crisis, all the crises that the Tories have engineered in their continued war on the working class CANNOT be solved by charity.
What we have been living for three decades is frontier capitalism, with the frontier constantly shifting location from crisis to crisis, moving on as soon as the law catches up.
Naomi Klein, The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism
This is disaster capitalism. This is the shock doctrine.
Keep vigilant..
I recommend reading Naomi Klein's book The Shock Doctrine.
The Shock Doctrine is a study of the history of economic shock therapy, which aims to quickly improve a country’s economy through rapid privatization, deregulation, and severe cuts in government spending. She also describes how it gave rise to the disaster capitalism complex: a privatized system of destruction and rebuilding that funnels billions of dollars into corporate pockets. The book discusses the incredible harm that economic shock therapy and disaster capitalism have caused to millions of people all over the world.
I believe the Tories have mastered it. And capital is now following them. Energy/ships/Supermarkets... The book is years old now but really does chart our present times.
When it comes to paying contractors, the sky is the limit; when it comes to financing the basic functions of the state, the coffers are empty. Naomi Klein, The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism
Disaster capitalism is the Thatcher, Pinochet, Chicago boys playbook. And Boris Johnson is the child of Thatcher. He was just brought up at Eton rather than a butchers shop so can put a better spin on it and throw in some Latin while he’s at it. Buffoon.
Look at the state of this…
I'll leave you on this note and see you on the barricades I guess…
Update Octopus Energy had mote to say once they became aware of this blog, here’s my replies:
Have a good day.
Sam
P.S I know there is going to be some non-black women and /or middle class women who try to take my experiences and use them as their own. Trust me, I will hunt you down if you do and you will catch these hands.