It is increasingly rare, almost as rare as the sighting of a Yeti, that I find myself praising the BBC for a political programme or documentary these days. Yet that most rare of things actually occurred after catching sight of one they did earlier(Blue Peter style). I am not sure when the documentary entitled “Shock Doctrine” was produced and aired, but it certainly lives up to it’s title.
I shan’t say much further about it at present, because it really is better that you watch it for yourself, once you have a spare 1hour and 20minutes.
What I will say is this…Watch it. You will find it distressing,and it does not make for comfortable viewing, but it brings a few home truths home to you, which you perhaps would rather not think about!
Also while watching it, bear in mind the BBC ethos of political commentary in Britain, where it has probably leaned more to the left than the right in its views…So while it rightly focuses on Thatcher, it neglects entirely the furtherance of her ideology by Blair and Brown,and particularly Blairs involvement in certain events.
Not being entirely bang up to date, there is nothing said of Cameron/Osbourne/Clegg behaviour, in this government. But consider well, what this governments attitudes have been, what they are currently doing,and what they plan further to do….And be very frightened!
In the broader picture, consider the fates of Iceland and Greece. How Iceland(who you will barely hear mention of now by British politicians and press)have through social government, overcome the system and are prospering greater than here,with a balanced social society. And how Greece(who didn’t/couldn’t do,what Iceland has done) has been ruined and in turmoil.
And for Scots…Consider what we have had taken from us, what more is being stripped from us, and what could be the ultimate destiny of the result of a NO vote in our referendum.
The Better Together love their puny scare stories,and this documentary shows why they do.
But here is a far scarier story against them! Provided completely unintentionally by the BBC for this purpose.
Watch…and See..And Learn.
Please leave your comments here afterwards, and please share this out.
P.s. Should you find any of your neighbours taking permanent holidays..please let us know.
And if that documentary doesn’t set you thinking,there is another along similar lines by the well known and respected John Pilger, which covers much of the same period of history for Latin America.
It is very unsettling to watch..and indeed some of my American Republican party friends may not like it!
But lets be very clear, irrespective of Empire…and there have been a few, including the British one which is heavily implicated in many atrocities in history and complicit in a number of actions today, all have the same stamp!
Special thanks to David McCann for bringing it to my attention.
Consider well…what is happening in the UK today, to the poor, the disabled, the elderly, our communities, and country. And ask yourself where is it all going,and what can we do to prevent it?
One answer presents itself in 2014. We wont get that opportunity again..Don’t let it pass by through ignorance of the realities of what it means, and can mean for our children and society.
You will note I hope, the use and control of media in Pilgers film… We see what difference the control of media has in this country,used continually against Salmond, using the same terminology, and comparing the Scottish nationalists to nazis at times, and Independence supporters of whatever ilk as Cybernats.
You may also note in another part, the wholesale sell off of national industries and assets on a grand scale,and the decimation of others ..now what does that remind you of? Thatcher..selling off Gas,Electricity,airline,oil companies, telephones,steel and water etc..Destroying other industries entirely,and putting whole communities on the dole. The sell off of public housing stock,that we are still in gross shortage of. And Browns raiding of pension funds, and selling of our gold at bargain basement prices.
And if you still haven’t had enough??
Ok..lets have a look at the BBC in action, talking about Saddams Kurdish massacre after the Iran-Iraq war, suggesting that possibly Russia had supplied him with chemical agents, no suggestion of some other well known countries interests in supplying and funding him initially.
and here is reference to the above.
Auld Acquaintance 
Fine, you’ve fired my curiosity but unfortunately as I don’t have a TV, wifi or even 3G available I will have to remain uninformed, unless, of course, you can précis the programme for me and others in my position.
I would love to be able to help you..but I have no idea how to do so, given your circumstances?
Perhaps I can do an article in the next week covering the basic points in it, and their implications…But that will take some time, and a whole load of energy for my old grey matter.
Boorach – I’ve yet to watch the documentary, but Naomi Klein is involved. Read her stuff here: http://www.naomiklein.org/main
Her book, “Shock Doctrine” is well worth reading (and due for an update).
This programme is based on exactly that…and if you have read her book, then you will have a fair idea how this programme was heading
Thanks, I’ll be watching it late tonight. The book was published, if I recall correctly, just before The Great Crash – her book is more relevant now than ever. Thanks for the heads up; missed the programme when it was broadcast somehow.
Regards
Thank you both for your help. Just had a quick look at that link and will get hold of the book.
The book itself is slightly out of date now, having been written a while ago…but still very pertinent..I believe the author is writing a new book at present, which should make interesting reading.
I read something about the new book some months ago, focusing on the “austerity” regime forced upon the many in almost in every Western nation but not the 0.1% who caused this Depression.
Should be a good read. Hopefully will become an even bigger best seller now that “shock doctrine” is being imposed on almost all of us, particularly people who are seen as “weak” who do not have pound (enough) voices – the disabled, the dispossessed, the working poor and the so-called “scum” (irony alert!) who through no fault of their own have no employment.
I wrote an email to Sue Marsh the disability activist who writes – “diary of a benefit scrounger” – an excellent blog. She wanted to publish it but much of it is very personal. I’ll quote a wee bit from the email, sort of giving my views:
“…(personal bit removed) The trigger? THAT BASTARD GOVERNMENT OF CROOKS AND LIARS IN WESTMINSTER. The horrific ATOS scandals that are now starting to be reported properly, thanks to you and Kalliya and everyone else. Hillsborough. I just looked at the world, and decided it was too hateful and cruel a place to exist in. I am sick of being sick physically; I see nothing but chaos in the future, from war in Europe, the re-run of the 1930’s, the Westminster Government’s inhumane treatment of the poor, the weak, the dispossessed and how seemingly the vast majority of folk are taking it, believing the narrative, indeed – enthusiastically embracing it. People are enslaving themselves. Have they – the majority – no eyes to see, no ears to listen, no mouths to speak? The party of Kier Hardie died the other week in Scotland, did you know that? We’re a “something for nothing” society, the Labour Leader has told us. Universality must be abandoned. Extreme Liberalism must be embraced. You know, that policy which caused the longest recession in history. We are in an Orwellian dystopia and cannot – will not – accept that truth. How many idiots will be have lattes in Starbucks today, that great company which opened its stores as a charity?
I tell you this: I shall not die until I see the heads of Osborne, Clegg and Cameron on fucking pikes along with their financial backers who have turned the U.K. into a Corporation.
My anger will keep me going, whether it’s the fight I’ll have with the medical profession (edited personal stuff here) – or the fight to retain the core values of a social democratic society here in Scotland, where we do face a stark choice in under two years time, between 3 establishment parties all agreeing on “shock therapy” on the Unionist side, and a mass of people from Greens, to Labour for Independence, the SNP, Women for Independence and so many others, all on the left of the spectrum.
Sorry for the rant but I am consumed with rage yet feel impotent.
We must all work together, pool our talents and energy, get things changed. We will not go unheard, for we speak for those who cannot.
I’m sorry John but there is nothing I can offer you but my moral support though I wholeheartedly support what you say.
An interesting little factlet on munguins republic today; British Soldiers killed in Afghanistan: 438.
Sick and disabled who died within weeks of being found “fit for work” by Atos: 1,700.
It was a wee while ago, things have improved somewhat.
I have Munguin’s blog on RSS (as well as this one, obviously!) and read that earlier. Fechin’ shocking. Another horrible story on the Sunday Herald (online) today. The disabled having to work for the pittance they receive from the state – for – big corporations. Shock Doctrine.
Still, come April and the cuts really start, people will notice – cutting support to disabled children, benefits Cameron claimed for his son? – for starters. Pensioners having their DLA removed. Working tax credits frozen or cut in some cases. Enforced labour. Welcome to the 19th Century.
To make a joke, the English are “revolting” by nature: revolting against King Charles I to the Corn Laws to the Poll Tax. The Westminster Nomenklatura don’t know what they are stirring up, to their peril.
Kind regards
Another scary documentary by John Pilger. A must watch.
Excellent documentary, many thanks for the link. Very thought provoking and literally shocking.
As far as I could tell it wasn’t in fact a BBC documentary but a More4 production. It certainly had the More4 logo in the upper corner of some of the footage.
It was billed on youtube as a BBC one, however you may well be right Marjorie, I don’t know?
It would certainly be more like the thing if it was a C4 production.
Excellent post, Rod, very thought-provoking and well worth having here in an accessible and relevant place.
If you will forgive me from momentarily putting my tongue well inside my cheek, did anyone notice the name of the psychiatrist whose work was mentioned at the start of the programme and was said to have been the ground-work for the “shock” dimension? It was Dr Ewan Cameron…He might be another ‘inventor” to add to my calendar depicting great Scottish inventors. Only joking, great post.