The more things change

Researching the social turmoil in Manchester UK during the early 1840s throws up some alarming parallels with the recent past. In many ways this period throughout the newly emerged industrial England was an extension of the feudalism which preceded it, only the masters changed.

The power of the aristocracy was slipping being replaced by the power of capital. The ordinary people were becoming more dependent on their industrialist employers than they ever had been in the previous agrarian society, as hard as that had been for most

I would contend that Manchester was at that time the major crucible of modern economics. While my primary focus has been the Chartism it is impossible to ignore the various other political and social reform groups which impinged on their relatively straight forward political aims of a democratic parliament.

By 1842 support for the charter was spreading throughout the country, but like a modern corporation the popularity made it ripe for takeover. The makeup of the movement had changed and become divided by differing interests.

There were those seeking little more than opportunity for a cherished seat in Parliament, a burgeoning socialist movement was riding the coattails of the Chartists, various social reform movements were looking for advantage within the movement, and there was doubtless a natural symbiotic relationship with the development of organised labour.

Absent at that time we only Frederick Engels and Karl Marx, with the former busy designing his blueprint for communism in the cauldron of Manchester social and political upheaval.

A New Charter

Modern Liberalism was also influenced by the dramas playing out in the cotton city. . Liberal economics sought to provide, at least, sufficient nourishment and rest to provide viable workers for the factories. Nothing should hinder the profits of industry.

All a long winded way of suggesting that the neo-liberalism of the past thirty years sought a return to a time when capital was absolute master. The tide is now turning, but undoing the massive damage will be no easy matter.

I would have supported the charter in 1842 and I would propose a new charter now. The truth is our parliaments (congresses) are still no more democratic. Electoral systems are rigged to ensure only those in the club form governments. Parties might differ in substance but we are still denied real democracy.

To my mind a new charter would seek:

• The banning of all political donations, being replaced by taxpayer funding
• All candidates, not parties, allocated an equal time/space in appropriate media
• All 3^rd party advertising would be banned
• Ex members would be barred from holding any commercial position which relates to former elected responsibilities for two years. To compensate ex members would be compensated with their elected entitlements for the duration.

I really owe those points to my blog friend and guide on certain issues Abi. The fact is, as Abi has often pointed out, money is undermining our democratic systems. We might have full voter franchise now, but it means little when votes, legislation and a host of other government preferments can be bought.