They’re basically fancy ways of saying “non white”.
Exactly
And yeah, it can get confusing and complicated when terms are a bit vague or euphemistic, which like you say, is intentional in probably most cases for both identities and countries examples (and others). But really it means we just have to put in a little more thought in to what we actually mean to say, and also be open to learn an adapt.
Happy to help, and yes, there is definitely a move away from the more general “catch-all” terms that seem to exist mostly to make life easier for those outside of the group in question, rather than those in it. It’s a good move.
There has been a move away from BAME in recent years in favour of more accurate, less broad terms:
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-53194376
https://civilservice.blog.gov.uk/2022/05/19/why-weve-stopped-using-the-term-bame-in-government/
Looks like Labour is doing what they can to make sure UK politics remains completely fucked even after the end of the Tory rule.
Literally what Starmer was brought in to do - make sure the country continues to be run by and for capitalists.
How anyone can see what he’s done and continues to do to the party (never mind what little his party does as the opposition) and still think he works for anyone but the establishment is wildly depressing.
Can you not make that point without the ableism?
Lol, literally all of it.
If anything, I can’t think of a single example of them opposing anything the tories have done in any substantial way, they don’t stand for the working class or the services we depend on, they don’t stand for marginalised people (not stepped up to protect disabled people, trans people, immigrants against the cuts and abuse we face, think BLM was a joke, just off the top of my head, I’m not doing your research for you), they’re neoliberal cons pulling the wool over the public’s eyes pretending to be an “alternative” when they literally serve the same people, and it isn’t you or me.
Maybe try actually taking your head out of the sand of privilege protecting you from seeing the reality, and paying attention instead of buying in to and pinning your hopes on this charade, because Labour ain’t fixing shit for you.
If only Labour would actually act as an opposition in Parliament, that might mean something, but they aren’t, making them complicit, and this meme slinging in an attempt to seem “with the kids”, pretty pathetic.
Of course it’d be a fine, that means only the poors have to go die “for their country”…
Gotta keep the meat grinder fed, whether people want it or not…
We don’t all have the privilege of even the pretence of “choice”, and have tory or red tory to “choose” from, and I refuse to give my vote to either.
I also think that voting none looks far more serious at this point than voting for a small party that is only standing in a handful of constituencies if that, and who are mostly perceived as a bit of a joke (and should be, because they will never be allowed any power by the existing institution, and will never change that by playing within its rules).
The media will twist anything and everything against the left, no matter what we do, it’s literally what it exist for - to uphold the status quo. Using that to discourage people from voicing their refusal to participate in this bogus system serves the same purpose.
Great, the next round of distraction theatre is here sooner than expected, and no one is even questioning what this is serving as cover for… 🎉🙄
Either way, it achieves its goal - get/keep the public riled up in its division and focused entirely on the next round of blue v red, while those who control both (and who exist outside of the party system, and therefore completely outside of voter control, by design of course) continue to relentlessly fuck us over.
Labour have been declaring loud and clear who they are and what they stand for (lmfao, as if spineless Starmer can even “stand” for anything), anyone who still believes they offer an alternative at this point is as gullible as a tory voter.
I will continue to vote none as long as I am forced to pick between one evil and another, there is no “lesser” when they both play for the same team (and it isn’t team working class).
You have a choice, to see this for what it is and not participate in their divisive charade. Be brave enough to see solutions outside of the narrow system those in power have created for you to feel like you are participating in the decision making (like the pretend wheel you might give a toddler to play with in their car seat so they feel like they’re driving), and instead start making decision for yourself, that will actually impact your life and the lives of those around you - start consciously unlearning the lies you’ve been indoctrinated with all your life (like that parliament has or ever will serve the people and not for those who own the land and hoard the money), spread this information to others, and start organising alternatives to the bullshit we’re expected to keep putting up with (namely the continued extraction of resources from the people upwards, or “reverse trickle down” which is how the system was designed to work, and the aforementioned division of the people in to blue v red instead of haves v have-nots. E: and that isn’t just a money thing, it’s a privilege thing, too) because it’s the easiest way to keep us from revolting.
Fucking revolt.
Oligarchy/plutocracy/kleptocracy/all of the above… I’m sure I’m missing out a couple more options, but I think it really might be time to start calling it what it is.
You are being both naive and internally and laterally homophobic if you think gay people are not equal to straight ones, or that there is any reasonable or somehow valid explanation to why they shouldn’t be seen as such.
I mean, fuck the Jews
Well fuck me I guess ¯\(ツ)/¯ lmfao
This bigot is a perfect cautionary story for single issue voting.
He is well known to be a bigoted piece of shit, but he pulled a “broken clock” and was inevitably right on one issue, which was clearly enough for people to either completely ignore, or not even look in to his history, which is pretty scary…
(to be clear - I’m not saying voting for a candidate who supports free Palestine is a problem, it’s voting for a candidate who only supports a free Palestine while stomping on every other marginalised group - a problem. If that is your only option, better vote none than vote for trampling someone else’s rights)
The party I was elected into valued public services, it had a compassionate view about supporting the more disadvantaged in society.
Reading that got me the closest to a hearty laugh I’ve got in a while…
He’s in about as much denial of what Tories stand for, as he is about what Starmer’s Labour stand for (it’s definitely not re-nationalising the NHS, it’s barely even committing to do anything about its state at all), and is only making the jump to make himself feel better (and apparently be able to look NHS workers in the eye, don’t think this move’ll help much with that), not because he has any genuine concerns about the NHS.
Fuck these people using most of ours last life line as a political football none of them actually give a shit about. How anyone still believes these self serving career liars is beyond me…
I think dealing with it now, while you still have other sources of income to rely on is probably best, if nothing else, it’d be mentally less horrible to deal with if you aren’t absolutely desperate, than if you are.
Either way - I hope you manage to find the help, and get the benefits! 🤞
I know how she feels, the first time I tried applying I got so overwhelmed and distressed, I gave up too. The process is deliberately designed to have that effect.
But my health was quickly deteriorating and I didn’t really have a choice, so I looked for support, and was surprised to find that there is lots out there, if severely underfunded, but people want to help, and more importantly, know how to - they know the system works, and all the tricks the DWP play, and how they lie, and how they fail people by default (your colleague, and I, are in the over 70% of rejections that get overturned on appeal. The number isn’t higher only because they achieve their goal of people giving up, not because 30% of claims are actually false), so they not only know how to navigate it, but also how to reassure you and keep you going when things seem to go wrong (but are actually going as intended - to get you to give up), and most importantly believe you, because they know what you’re up against really is that bad.
I can’t lie - it never gets easier or less scary or stressful to face. I have all long term and/or degenerative conditions, and they still only give me one or two years benefit at a time before I need to renew it again, and my health declines every time this happens just from the stress, but at least I know I personally have to do very little about it because I have an advocate who will fill in the forms for me (with my feedback), contact the DWP on my behalf if needed, take me to the assessment, fill in any appeal forms and go with me to the tribunal if necessary (has always been so far), and so on. The terror of losing my livelihood is still there, but at least I don’t have to try and get past that to also be able to focus on jumping through the DWP’s flaming hoops.
Sorry… I feel like this might not be coming across as helpful as I mean it to…
My point is - look up “help claiming benefits [your nearest town]”, find a service that can help, could be with the council, could be independent (charity/legal aid/advocacy service), either way - it will always be free (if it isn’t, find someone else!), and have a chat with them about your situation. There will almost certainly be someone in your area who will be able to support you through this and get your wife what she is entitled to.
FTFY