I'm away for a few days, and will miss all sorts of exciting things: tomorrow's Budget, at which the Chancellor will impoverish the poor further and reward the rich while making it sound like he's doing exactly the opposite, the strike on Thursday and the massive demonstration on Saturday. I'll check in once a day maybe, but it's uncertain. Having got us into a war in double-quick time even by Tory standards (a war which looks like decisive action but actually is a fraudulent way of looking caring), I wouldn't be surprised to find that we've invaded Belgium by the time I get back.
So I'll leave you with this Leonard Cohen gem, which really does summarise what's going on.
Oh yes, this is why I blog. Because I'm secretly a self-pitying American teenager.
"Everybody Knows"
Everybody knows that the dice are loaded
Everybody rolls with their fingers crossed
Everybody knows that the war is over
Everybody knows the good guys lost
Everybody knows the fight was fixed
The poor stay poor, the rich get rich
That's how it goes
Everybody knows
Everybody knows that the boat is leaking
Everybody knows that the captain lied
Everybody got this broken feeling
Like their father or their dog just died
Everybody talking to their pockets
Everybody wants a box of chocolates
And a long stem rose
Everybody knows
Everybody knows that you love me baby
Everybody knows that you really do
Everybody knows that you've been faithful
Ah give or take a night or two
Everybody knows you've been discreet
But there were so many people you just had to meet
Without your clothes
And everybody knows
Everybody knows, everybody knows
That's how it goes
Everybody knows
Everybody knows, everybody knows
That's how it goes
Everybody knows
And everybody knows that it's now or never
Everybody knows that it's me or you
And everybody knows that you live forever
Ah when you've done a line or two
Everybody knows the deal is rotten
Old Black Joe's still pickin' cotton
For your ribbons and bows
And everybody knows
And everybody knows that the Plague is coming
Everybody knows that it's moving fast
Everybody knows that the naked man and woman
Are just a shining artifact of the past
Everybody knows the scene is dead
But there's gonna be a meter on your bed
That will disclose
What everybody knows
And everybody knows that you're in trouble
Everybody knows what you've been through
From the bloody cross on top of Calvary
To the beach of Malibu
Everybody knows it's coming apart
Take one last look at this Sacred Heart
Before it blows
And everybody knows
Everybody knows, everybody knows
That's how it goes
Everybody knows
Oh everybody knows, everybody knows
That's how it goes
Everybody knows
Everybody knows
I had the privilege of seeing Cohen live twice - the first time in Birmingham just after the pub bombings. We couldn't get a drink before the concert because we were wearing jeans, and the pubs weren't allowing anybody in wearing jeans because we might be members of the IRA. Shrewd eh?
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