the libertarian self-criticism session ('our dreams are moving further out of reach each year')

the sun is up. horsemouth is up. it's roughly 7am (a decent time to get up in horsemouth's book - not too late, not too early). 

now horsemouth's political thought has always been contaminated by some libertarian thinking (he read the illuminatus trilogy as a kid) when he got to the great city he discovered the falsity of it. of late various billionaires have espoused this doctrine of independence from the state while actually filling their boots while engaged on state contracts. this is not mere hypocrisy but in fact reflects the actual position of libertarianism with respect to the state - that the state should be reduced to a minimal state offering policing services (so the successful can have their property defended) and everything else should be set up  to permit entrepreneurs a free rein (so that they may become successful).

this reflection was brought to you by a number of articles - first mark blyth's whether homes or jobs... in which just about everybody is towed down into poverty (excepting a few billionaires). secondly the welcome return of david runciman from his summer break (august) in a podcast devoted to libertarian paypall of the state steve thiel.

something strange is happening (horsemouth remarked to TG on their walk yesterday). the shortage of foreign workers caused by covid and brexit  is allegedly driving up wage levels in certain occupations (lorry drivers now, possibly fruit pickers later, but not nurses) and this (it is held) is driving inflation upwards - eroding the wages of those newly highly paid workers, as well as the rest of us whose wages have not gone up. 

this strikes horsemouth as a compensation theory (something good happens , therefore something bad must happen), horsemouth doubts the economy is actually that responsive. inflation he views as being down (largely) to gas price increases and to the sudden froth of people being released from lockdown - he expects the 'feel bad' factors to kick in pretty quickly.

to TG horsemouth remarked that inflation takes money out of the pockets of the workers meaning they have to fight the bosses for wage rises (or fight the government for higher in work benefits). it is interesting to see the return of the economy and wages and jobs as a reason why things are happening, previously you would never have suspected these were part of the process of capitalist accumulation (which seemed to be entirely composed of innovation).  

the conservative government gets to pose as the defender of the british worker and his bulging paypacket and the labour party are... er.  about to go into the post-brexit  election with the great remainer at the helm. 

back in 1981 king crimson released discipline. this is a great album but horsemouth doesn't think it changed much. it is the sound of king crimson succumbing to talking heads envy (just as signals by rush is the sound of them succumbing to police envy). but it is also the sound of steve reich's innovations meeting avant funk (7/8s crossing 4/4s). it remains very influential on horsemouth (not that he can play anything that complicated himself). 

yesterday he went to record. the acoustic guitar part he was offering up wasn't well received. horsemouth thinks the proof of the pudding is in the eating and we will see. he did however offer up a root note (and a few accidentals) bass line and that seemed to go down better. the main guitar has been rerecorded to click and the vocals are on their way.