#uk government systems

[listen-to-the-inner-walrus]

my favourite thing in the world is when you get a letter from the government accusing you of essentially being fraudulent when youre not, so you send an email to the email listed on the letter that explains how it isnt fraud and you attach documents to prove it, and then months later they send another letter saying you did not reply to the last letters (they only sent the one) and as such you are subject to a penalty of £125 and oops if you dont pay today, it goes up by £50, and thats just not an amount of money most people have handy to pay off false fraudulent claims. so this time, you email them again and you then go through their website to send another email, and then you call them and explain it, and their workers tell you that its all sorted and youre no longer subject to the penalty.

and then, a month later you get another letter saying that youve been picked up on the false fraudulent thing again and warm you about the penalty you have to pay. because apparently the worker on the phone removed the penalty but didnt change the incorrect information on the system like they were meant to.

so then you have to email them again, explaining everything again, attaching all the evidence again, and also call them again just in case and explain everything again, and this time she does change it on the system and says shell have a corrected certificate sent to your email within the hour.

and then two hours later, you get an email saying youll be emailed the corrected certificate within 24 hours.

[neighbourhoodtwo]

usamericans please stop putting your "congrats uk!! hope this happens to us in november!!" posts in the uk politics tag please please you have no idea

[nando161mando]

Palestine Action shuts down supplier of Israel's largest arms firm

Palestine Action group occupied Grid Defence Systems, physically destroying part of the supply chain for weapons that supply the Israeli military’s campaign in Gaza.

The targeting of Grid Defence Systems, was cracked down upon by riot police. The company is a military hardware suppliers for several arms companies including Israel’s largest weapons firm, Elbit Systems. While the U.K. government continue to arm Israel’s ongoing war crimes, Palestine Action escalates its attempts to prevent such weapons being creating in Britain to begin with.

[vryivs]

I always forget that monarchists exist and then I see someone with the username duchessofmyheartforever or williamisababe posting about how it's mean to giggle at an ultrarich economic leech experiencing just a fraction of struggle and inconvenience (because lets be honest, he probably wont kick the bucket—his doctors are paid to keep his corpse animated long after it ceases to be humane)

[violent-femmess]

imagine if we put the kings coronation money towards fixing food poverty in the UK, the cost of the queens funeral + the coronation is enough to solve the child food poverty crisis in the UK but instead tax payers money was wasted on a dead woman and a dying princess in a golden fucking cart. the potholes in the road were temporarily filled with sand because they "didnt have the funds" because apparently £100 MILLION POUNDS of TAXPAYERS MONEY is better spent on a cunt in a cart than itd be if it was spent on fixing our roads for our safety or saving children in poverty from dying due to malnutrition, they wont get a fucking gold cart, they wont even get their gcses because the government DONT CARE ABOUT THE PEOPLE THEY CARE ABOUT THE PROFIT.

THEY DO NOT CARE IF WE DIE AS LONG AS THEY ARE LIVING IN LUXURY

[taliejane]

Omfg UK and US 18-25s I'm begging you to vote in the general/presidential election 😭😭😭 young people already don't vote and then to actively abstain (I get it, all your options suck) but then politicians will have zero reason to appeal to you ever! You're entirely excluding yourselves from the conversation! Vote strategically to vote OUT the worst dude but just vote fr

I know they're all doing genocide and it's fucked but like you literally are not preventing genocide by not voting you're just sitting on your hands

[declanisms]

if u r not pro palestine u r pro genocide and pro war crimes xx

[karliahs]

hey so after reading through your entire ao3 account i just have to tell you that you’re hands down one of the most moving writers i’ve read in a long long time?? i guess i was just wondering what kinds of things influence your writing style and if you have any favorite books you’d recommend!! basically your prose is incredible and i would absolutely eat up more of it/anything like it

💛💛💛💛💛💛 this is such a sweet message and i can't tell you how happy it made me!! that means a great deal to me that you like my stuff enough to want to read more things like it

i don't necessarily know that there are writers who i feel like i'm emulating with my prose/writing style, or who i feel are similar to me. it's kind of hard to see that stuff with your own work, maybe? BUT i will absolutely ramble about some of my fave authors/books that i think everyone should read

i do think my stuff is influenced by the fact that i have read a lot of children's fiction - i studied children's lit a fair bit at uni and it's what i wrote my undergrad dissertation about. and while i know adults read/enjoy my work as well as teens, i think i take a fair bit from the children's/YA world in terms of writing about big/intense topics but gently

one of my fave children's authors and authors in general is frances hardinge. she is just...christ. her imagination, her world-building, her characters. one of the best things a book can do imo is take you to a really dark place and then back out of it with equal conviction, and the lie tree is one of the best examples i've seen of that. and i think about a face like glass and its worldbuilding constantly, and a skinful of shadows has the sickest premise on earth and absolutely delivers on it

i do also read a lot of short stories! they are underrated imo and very much their own artform. in the fic world if you lean towards oneshots/shorter works like mine then i'd recommend trying them out! i will say my taste in short stories tends to lean towards the weird and unsettling...like mouthful of birds by samanta schweblin, how to gut a fish by sheila armstrong, salt slow by julia armfield, eyes guts throat bones by moira fowley-doyle

hmmm people have previously commented on my writing being quite introspective and grounded, more about people feeling things than about plot, and my favourite book along those lines is very cold people by sarah manguso. it's so vivid and emotive and well-told. i have recced it to several people by being like listen nothing happens in this book and also it slaps.

i try to infuse my writing with a sense of compassion, and authors who do this really well imo are becky chambers, a long way to a small angry planet especially, and martha wells with murderbot, too.

uhhh these next ones i don't think i can draw even a tenuous connection with my own writing, but i think they're so good and everyone should read them. the mercies and the dance tree by kiran millwood hargrave are gorgeous and devastating. so is idaho by emily ruskovich, one of those books that's too good for me to even really talk about it coherently. piranesi by susanna clarke also - too good, can't say anything about it. courtney summers writes with uncomprising vivid rage, and i come back to her work often because of it: the project and sadie are my biggest recs, though maybe look up content warnings for sadie first because it's...a lot. actually lots of the ones in this paragraph have some very heavy subject matter so read with caution/possibly look up warnings first

i don't know that i answered the question you asked exactly but thank you very much for asking it, and happy reading!

[magiclovingdragon]

I saw this post on facebook from an organisation that helps people with their PIP applications last night

I have my PIP reassessment tomorrow, they know I have anxiety and today I have received 3 phone calls, every 2 hours from a withheld number… I haven’t answered. I fully suspect its the DWP trying this tactic and even despite my thinking that, its still succeeding in triggering my anxiety

Update: Turns out it was PIP phoning, it was one of the first things they said to me on my phone assessment. Supposedly the 4 phone calls (another happened after I made this post) from a withheld number were to remind me for my appointment today but they sent me a text during the day inbetween 2 of the calls and you’d think they’d leave a voicemail so yeah its crafty and the worst part is it worked, today its not only triggered my anxiety but its also made my fibro & ME flare up today with increased pain and fatigue (not helped by me not getting any sleep last night), its flared my ibs and gave me a migraine after the call ended

[allthetime-allthetime]

it was the POOR PEOPLE who did not get the emergency alert

people with sim cards that use the "three" network such as three or smarty (like i use), did NOT receive the emergency alert test today. these networks are known for being a lot cheaper than other networks such as O2. the government is once again prioritising those who can afford more expensive mobile data as these are the people that vote for them. this is essentially the government saying that the working classes are second rate citizens that do not deserve to be warned of fires, floods, or terrorist threats near them. do NOT vote conservative if you wish to be allowed to know if your life is in danger.

this system is meant to warn you of fires, floods, terrorist threats, and other danger. this is not a privilege it is a right.

vote for a party that does not discriminate (hard to find these days i know).

take the tories out of power.

public safety is a right not a privilege.

I hate asking for reblogs but we NEED people to know that the government does not care about them. people NEED to know that the government will leave you to die.

[starfleetwitch]

AM I HAVING A FUCKING STROKE?!

or did Rishi Sunak really basically just admit IN FRONT OF THE WORLD that taking the UK out of the EU was a terrible decision? Also what I heard: "This country we took but dont acknowledge until it benefits us is in the best position in the world in terms of access to the market"

[listen-to-the-inner-walrus]

Having some feelings today.

[nando161mando]

[Glascoed, Cymru]

Early this morning on January 3rd, over 60 activists from the Cymru Peace Coalition have shut down BAE Systems PLC Glascoed site, one of the UK's largest munitions factories.

[beeseverywhen]

I mean like. Not to bring the mood down but... you guys know that's because American media is everywhere right? Like the world is unable to avoid some version of American accent on a regular basis. Of course ppl find it easy to mimic. This is absolutely not restricted to ppl in the UK, its really common for ppl who learn English as a foreign language to have perfect 'American actor' accents (cause the reason everyone's so good at the American accent that's expected of them as actors is cause at large there's little distinction between regions in the 'Hollywood accent' that ends up on TV and films and stuff. You guys have massive regional differences in pronounceation, but what makes it on to TV (in 9/10 cases) is a very standardised version of American English.)

But yeah. It's not just actors lol. Most British ppl can speak in a passable american accent, as can loads and loads of people worldwide. I'm not saying this to be like 'you should feel guilty! 😡' but it does always stun me when Americans are unaware of the impact their country has worldwide on all versions of English (and even on use of native languages. Many countries are using English more and more over their native languages and dialects , and yeah, historical colonialism has had an impact there.)

But in the last few decades things have progressed way way faster and that, is thanks to the impact of anglo/american/ect lead capitalism. I'm in no way dismissing the impact the UK has on this, but in recent years, its the US that is largely pushing that train .While the UK and several English speaking commonwealth countries are very involved in this kind of capitalist imperialism, there's a reason that more and more people are speaking American English. Not one of the many UK dialects, not Australian English, or NZ English. Across the world more and more people are increasingly speaking in the same standardised american dialect that's in so much of the media you export. Hollywood based media, with that standardised accent/ dialect and the standardised 'normal american life', has a stranglehold on the world and I just find it crazy that a lot of you guys don't even know.

It's stupid stuff like. So many countries are importing american cars and are widening their roads/ changing town planning to account for it (this is less of a thing in the UK but I see it more and more when I travel). Its the food becoming avaliable everywhere. Its the influence that for profit healthcare has even on countries with socialised health systems. Its houses being built to account for American style appliances. Fashion trends. Worldwide, everything is slowly evolving to be closer and closer to this 'American standard' which honestly? I really don't think actually represents the lives of real American people either. You've been turned in to products, the system has taken an unrealistic snapshot of 'American life' and it's being sold to you all day in day out, but it's also being sold to the rest of us. It's being pushed on us all.

Kids in the UK go through phases of talking only in American accents. Anyone born later than the 90s is carrying round 2 sets of spelling and vocab, cause we're all so used to the American way, that you barely know which one you're using half of the time. In the UK we have always had really strong regional accents yeah, and dialects differ between areas that seem tiny to you guys, I know. But like. Those dialects are being lost cause all UK accents are evolving to become closer to this standardised american and yeah not great, but at least we share a language! US American society is largely rooted in the same foundations as UK society, largely we have the same flaws! But oh my god. What about the rest of the world.

It's global. This impact continues to be seen, steamrollering ahead, in places that had completely different starting points. UK culture isn't that dissimilar to that of the US, so we aren't losing nearly as much as cultures that had something completely different. So much is being lost.

Languages and dialects and everything else is just being wallpapered over so we all meet the same ideal of the 'American life' and it's not even real! It's just a product based on how ppl were actually living in the US, manipulated until it's the most marketable mould. You guys are victims of it as well but like. It's based on your culture so you don't lose as much if you conform to it. Just like how in the UK, if we conform, we lose more than US, but nowhere near as much as countries that had languages, dialects and cultures that were so so different to UK/US culture. The less like the US, your starting point, the more there is to lose.

And look. I said it to start with. I'm not having a go. That's not what this is. But you guys really need to be aware, you need to make an effort to understand the impact that this plastic Hollywood american culture is having on the rest of the world. You need to actively look for it, and make an effort to not pay in to it. Because when Americans see other cultures represented in media and say its not relatable, when you guys go on holiday and make no effort to learn local customs, and try and pay in dollars and spend your time abroad like you're still in America, when you see cultural differences and immediately argue that the American way is better and of course everyone should have giant cars and never dry laundry outdoors and live in American style homes, without any kind of critical thought. Just 'this is how we do it so why wouldn't everyone else do it this way. This is the only way. The American way is obviously best.' When you guys do that you are individually feeding in to this absolute bulldozing of cultures (including American ones!) to allow for better marketability.

It isn't any one individual American citizens fault that things are the way they are, and you guys are victims of the same system, but you need to have some self awareness when it comes to the fact that as individuals you are unknowingly, helping driving this forwards and as individuals, there are things you can do to limit your personal impact (and no arguing that you have no culture is not it!!! Being all self deprecating doesn't do shit. Take some responsibility and accept that individual Americans didn't create this system, but currently, individual Americans really are doing their bit to keep promoting it, to keep pushing it on the rest of the world.

And I've already rambled for an age so I'll stop here but I just want to make clear as an ending note here, that this really isn't about piling on Americans and being all 'boo it's all America's fault. They should apologise. Their culture isn't worth anything.' Not at all this is the opposite of that. The fact that millions of Americans have been convinced you have no culture, all while a mimicry of American culture is plastered on to the rest of the world, and while you as individuals are encouraged to help that happen, often without even realising what you're doing; is a crime. You've been wronged, as have we all.

And America is not the problem. The problem is imperialism and it didn't start with you guys. It started in Europe, and Europeans, particularly British ppl, have a responsibility to push back and be self aware, take some fucking responsibility and not inadvertently keep feeding in to that system, just as you guys do. The US didn't start the fire, imperialist capitalism is a fire that started burning long before the United States was even considered, but its on all of us, to do what we can to not feed that fire. And right now? You guys are the face of it.

This idea of what America is, is the face of imperialistic capitalism, and that means that even if you don't mean to, you guys are feeding that fire more so than the rest of us. You're responsible for spreading it, more so than the rest of us. And if you don't step up and take responsibility, accept that you're gonna get it wrong sometimes and you need to try to do better; if we don't all do that. There will be nothing left. They'll paper over it all, the lives of real Americans just as much as those in Scotland and India and the Netherlands, and 100 other cultures, that are at risk, thanks to this fire, that's currently, largely coming from America.

So yeah. It's absolutely not just on you guys and ppl who act like there's no racism or wealth divide in Europe or anywhere else for that matter are complete idiots, however, this Americanisation of the world (and I hesitate to call it that. Because its not a representation of real American lives. Its simply wearing an American face.) Its real. It's happening.

And we don't tell you about it to make you feel guilty (those of us who aren't dicks at least) ,we are telling you. We are kicking up a fuss. Because it isn't fair. It's not right and while individual Americans ignore that and refuse to take responsibility where they can (small apples. We aren't asking for you to call a violent revolution in our names. Just take some time to learn about the rest of the world. Stop assuming America is always right and examine your biases. When you find them. Stop personally pushing them.) , while that is happening, as individuals, you are contributing to this. It's not even altruism. This system is hurting Americans too. It's hurting us all. All we ask is that you do what you can to not personally contribute, and keep an open mind, be aware. That's all any of us can do.

when a british actor does an american accent everyone’s like “i didn’t even know they were british until they were on colbert.” but when americans do a british accent everyone’s like “they’re supposed to be from east cocksford but their glottal e’s are north dicksford. shameful.”

[wild-at-mind]

gotta be honest, it's really annoying after a victory for the right wing (or even the centrist only slightly left like the current UK labour party) for pundits to be all like 'this shows that really what we need is something much more left wing. Like the most left wing you could possibly imagine. that is what the people want, and they showed it in their vote today. It's a shame :'( that this cannot be provided for The People. And when it is provided and no one wants it, that was a smear campaign.'

What the fuck can we do about it then? Do you have suggestions, labour party leaver Owen Jones?

[readerviews]

"An Alternative Government System" by Ahmed Abu Latif

A Bold and Incisive Work Presenting Fresh Solutions in Governance #books #bookreview #reading #readerviews

An Alternative Government System Ahmed Abu LatifAuthor House UK (2024)ISBN: 979-8823087506Reviewed by Lily Andrews for Reader Views (09/2024) “An Alternative Government System: New Provisional Income Tax System, New Election and Voting System” by Ahmed Abu Latif is a revolutionary work that presents a fresh new paradigm for running a responsible, transparent, and properly regulated…