Getting back to the government we've go now though we spoke about the question a lot of people ask; "Why after 20 years of a sinister Tory Government, and then obtaining a Labour government with a massive majority (remembering they've spent 20 year in the wilderness talking about the evils of a capitalist Tory government). Have they dropped all their principles and changed so much"?Mensi angrily talked about the face that they've got a "cushy" now. They have a fixation with privatisation because they've seen the success of the Tories making the rich, richer. They amazingly don’t want to upset a few people by lessening the gap between rich and poor.Is this what Labour are talking about when they burble on about new deals between industry and workers? More wage cuts/freezes, less trade union rights (in reality). You can’t upset a few industrialists, but you can upset millions of workers who voted for you to help them. Mining was important around the North East and Mensi was a miner, I spoke to him and Kid Stoker about the miners strike.Mensi's blunt, straight to the point, mode kicked in. He quickly put the blame on the Labour Party for the failure of the strike. He did say though it did flush out the real enemies of the miners, people. He did regard thought that the Heath government in the 1970's had this idea of running the mining industry; but still believes though that Neil Kinnock quite ably abetted Thatcher's brainstorm of splitting the Trade Union movement, hammering whole working class communities into the ground.He did quote "Not the Welsh windbag; but scumbag". Kid Stoker had a lot to say about this subject that always hits a nerve with a lot of miners; especially North East working class people. Kid Stoker emphasised this with telling us about the benefit gigs they played; the gigs were on the front line. It was their communities, if you were lucky you left school and obtained work in the mines. He spoke of personal contributions from people who lost homes due to striking for their jobs, their future. Non-political people were turned into flying pickets.Kid Stoker spoke about the incident that really stood out during the miners strike. During the end of the strike, asleep one morning, he was suddenly woken up by a loud roar. It was the sound of men, striking Wearmouth miners. The scab bus had turned up for work with the usual 200 police escort, he couldn't see anything but hear. "And that cry, that roar of men, confirmed to me, then more than ever, the sheer power of working men." "It was the sheer realisation of the power of the working class and when the power is truly harnessed when that roar becomes truly unified, then the whole world will hear it." Someone has to sort out problems, we have many in this country, who would you like to see as prime minister to tackle them."Arthur Scargill" Mensi said in an answer quick enough to be given on a prize show. (As long as it wasn't a Jimmy Tarbuck, Ted Rodgers, Paul Daniels, Bob Monkhouse one!)Kid Stoker replied "Tony Benn"; he said he'd like to see Alistair Campbell try and spin Tony Benn out of his crease. One question though I was nagging to ask the panel; was a question that even Colombo wouldn't even be able to work out! Tony Blair recently said that class divisions are over now, class isn’t an issue any more.I don't understand. I am working class and so are you Mensi and Kid Stoker. So if class isn't an issue, and divisions are over why is… 1. Grants being abolished (only people with a lot of money can get higher education). 2. Trade Union rights being watered down in various ways (new titles, new deals, working councils instead of unions). I thought you needed unions to watch over working people. The ones that are unfortunately low paid etc. Aren't they usually working class. 3. A Small but over looked point; if class isn't an issue then and there's no divisions (as in the word division _ act of dividing, barrier, section) Why on our railway carriages, (well used to be ours until we had them sold off) do we have first and second class apartments. Why are we also reminded of our class divisions on the train over the tannoy about services you can get from first class apartments?Or does the new government look at the word division in other terms (Army unit, method of finding how many times one number is). Mensi did give an answer, a short one. "Tony has his head stuck…" So after that short answer I asked Mensi what does the future hold for the working class in this country?He sadly replied that the working class has been eroded in this country, they're becoming dinosaurs. Tony Blair wants the working class to be unchallenging and quiet proles.I thought that's what Margaret Thatcher wanted? Ireland was mentioned and Mensi sprang into action, "love to see a united Ireland". Although he thought the Conservatives got the ball rolling with the idea; not through humanitarian values, but due to the sheer cost of the operation to the British government with occupying Ireland.He did have another point to make; he was urging support for the Republican movement in Ireland. He said the left supported nearly ever left rebel organisation throughout the world; but tended to neglect the movement in Ireland. Which was one of the most strongest socialist movements; evolved from great hardships. Racism and fascism was next on the menu; starters were finished. We're now on the main course; I asked Mensi about what was happening in Europe. Particularly in the Czech Republic where a so called western liberal democracy; was having walls built round so called "decent citizens in the community". This was to keep them separated from Romaine's. Worryingly Mensi stated that people are so ignorant of history; haven't they learned enough from the past, a lack of education is partly to blame.Mensi quoted "It takes 10 hours of counter knowledge to balance one hour of fascist propaganda"."The simplest lies are the easiest to believe"; he said. I then asked Mensi about his involvement with Anti-Fascist Action; why did he become involved. He had been attacked physically and verbally by the far right. He quoted the first attack was around 1978 by the Young National Front. Another subject I knew Mensi would have at least a little to say about was the subject of the police authorities in this country. At least two tracks by the Angelic Upstarts have set the agenda on this subject; the tracks "Police Oppression" which quotes ["I just can't take much more of this oppression, I'm going off my head and going for aggression"]"The Murder of Liddle Towers" a classic song asking how and who killed this gentleman while in police custody.Mensi's thoughts especially about the Stephen Lawrence murder was one of respect to the Lawrence family. He wasn't surprised about the police actions but was surprised by the sheer amount of determination, courage and doggedness of the Lawrence family.Mensi quoted "The police have never changed since they supported the Blackshirts". Asking Mensi about the world in general; he would like to see Britain be part of Europe. For cultures to be shared, he did think people in Europe were a lot more relaxed than people in Britain. He urged people to travel; to break down barriers.Modern eastern Europe wasn't left out; was eastern Europe a better place now the wall had been knocked down. Are people better off? Or have they been conned and betrayed.He thought eastern Europe was now part of the western disease. "It's a disgrace what's happened to eastern Europe/Soviet Union. They've had their taste; crime, drugs and the rise of fascism in the so called western liberal democracies." And "Boris Yelsin is a bigger crook than Thatcher."He thought Gorbachoff was an honest man who wanted a gradual change; but who was betrayed."Gorbachoff wanted new wheels and tyres. But Yelsin hijacked; took over, and still ended up with a broken down Lada." Conspiracy theories; we see plenty of films about them. People are writing books about them. Perhaps there's always been someone watching over us from the year man was created.Mensi warned us that the computer age is here; big brother is watching you and it won't be long before everything is monitored. Anyone with conflicting views is a heretic: ie. Anti fascists, socialists.I thought CCTV was to stop crime, I thought computers were to benefit mankind, supermarket saver cards to help loyal shoppers to save money. So what was the poll tax for, credit debit cards for, mobile phones for?! The chat went into lighter discussion and questions were asked about the future of the Angelic Upstarts. Mensi told me he still has the urge to go on; he still thinks there is something to say. People are listening; he does want to stop but the magic keeps the urge ticking over. He would love a son to take up the feat his father has endured all these years.He won't force messages down his sons' throat; all he'll teach him is fair play and not to hate. New album in the pipeline?The new album is to be an anti fascist album; no confusion about it being anti fascist. He did add that he still considers himself to be non-political, and no political allegiance to anyone. And doesn't regard anti fascism as political, but as a civil right.Well if Mensi's not political, I'd hate to meet anyone who is! I asked if he had any regrets during his life. He did; a big regret. He spoke about that he wished he'd not been in the neutral corner in the early days. He was anti fascist; but he tried not to anger the far right lyrically in songs, and to entertain (as in being near, same are etc) as the far right involved in gigs etc.He tried to keep the violence away but after threats, physically and verbally he could no longer take that line.He said that AFA were a necessary organisation that needs to be supported by all rank and file. He also said that AFA wouldn't exist if it weren't for the far right. His final few messages were of worry for the working class in this country, he gave some advice to them "Look into the murkyness and cloudiness of the seat; keep on enquiring and asking"He worried about the lack of work for the working class. He said that people should work but where's the posters telling you where to go. Not a computerised dummy run unemployment centre that is trained in how many ways to tell you that you should have a job; but we haven't any or many here.Where have all the industries gone? Mensi spoke of the times he goes into the unemployment office and asks them the questions; find me work, where's the work.Where do the kids go now? Crime? Mensi had a message for the Morning Star "Hope that the Morning Star keeps going; an alternative voice it must carry on and it is needed"He said he wouldn't hesitate to support the Star because it needs to be supported. Kid Stoker's final words of advice were 1. Join a Union. 2. Vote Labour. 3. Never trust a Tory. I will say or add a little to that quote; isn't voting Labour trusting a Tory? But thanks go to Mensi and Kid Stoker; but also to the Angelic Upstarts, Red London and Red Alert for their great support. Cheers Lads. _______________________________________________ Leninist-International mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] To change your options or unsubscribe go to: http://lists.wwpublish.com/mailman/listinfo/leninist-international
