Newspapers?

There was once but now there is'nt........they don't contain news and they are not paper.

A few days ago i made certain comments about a certain newspaper,and in grudgingly acknowledging that for a hysterical publication so far to the right,they do sometimes exhibit some quality of journalism.i guess the linked material might illustrate my point,except i can't avoid offering that further opinion that this represents a further twist.i suspect that there will be some shadenfreude at this newspaper at the discomfort this is likely to cause at least some on the left of centre and perhaps even further to the left.

i wonder whether at some point in the past charities did ever run their own charity shops,or whether it has always been the case that capitalist"sharks"moved in from the start or fairly near it,to make such profits from others good will.i am pretty sure that when the Samaritan,in the New Testament story cared for the injured person in the street and left money for that person to be cared for,he did not expect a 3rd party to take a slice of the action/costs/gift as either administrative costs let alone profits.

i am also aware that of all the material "we" donate,a vast amount is disposed of as waste.This might be recycling but it still seems wasteful to me.It seems to me that,for example rather than consigning to recycled waste the many books donated,because of slight damage to covers or notes in the text there are many people out there who would rather have a book of  some kind than in pristine condition.I suggest that in these times when the poor are being rendered destitute and students so wighed down by loans that buying a book at say 50p or £1 would be a lot more helpful than seeing it trashed or paying say £5 for one in pristine condition.

And while i am at it,my heart breaks at seeing pictures of the poor,mostly black,in the USA being held back or beaten by police lines whilst unsold food is removed to be destroyed.And here in the UK too government pressure has ended cheap food distribution through food/soup runs to prevent food falling into the wrong hands,except via food banks,which whatever their good intentions can feel or look like it is humiliating.

frankly i would rather that a few who don't need it get to eat something rather than a lot who do need it,should go without.it also seems to me that for many of the agencies like the salvation army,st.mungoes and the simon community who used to do such"runs",it enables them to keep a watchful and caring eye on those who otherwise get little attention.Such services,were they allowed again might prevent those deaths that happenned this winter-where even 1 or 2,is 1 or 2 too many.They might alos bring other sorts of attention to bear on those in need.The alternative seems to be a phoneline.Thats good too but i have not always had that number to hand when i have come across people in need and in the cold.Nor do they neccessarilly have access to numbers or internet to call for themselves.I am sure that such"runs"directly identified those in need,and encouraged such information to be passed on by word of mouth.Somehow"word of mouth"does not get transmitted on the newer media.

It seems to me that there used to be multiple levels and layers to the welfare state,but that now as it all falls apart,it all falls apart and the complex of content is emptied.It really might be the case,that one day we wake up and none of it is there,anymore.Yes,we the working class,the left need to develop new forms but equally we need to defend,rebuild and build anew from what is still in place before it is all turned into what was,and it is gone!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1352343/Salvation-Army-millionaire-William-Booth-makes-fortune-donated-clothes.html

d1/200413