Adrian Scott Counsellor Supervisor MBACP Accred

When of the enduring questions for the left and centre is how Populist politicians are so attractive to the electorate? One answer might be the rise of measurement and its administration leading to a culture of Proceduralism.

The increase of rules, excel sheets, quality reviews, & audits all done in the medium of powerpoint has created a management class at odds with the workers trying to provide services. Those service workers generally see society as a network of human relationships. Those who manage the workers as a set of rules in organisations and institutions.

This sets workers and managers apart. The idea that managers are overpaid and that their salaries could fund services is not new. But the culture of work is overtaken by this culture of measurement to create social classes with these ambitions. This started with Thatcherism and is continued and prospered with both the left and right political parties in the Uk. This obsession with paperwork and filling forms is most prevelant in the Uk. 312k accountants and 150k lawyers make up a large part of the Uk workforce.

This might help explain the attraction of populist politicians. Even if they come across as shambolic and impulsive they radiate a can do attitude. Cut through the Proceduralism and get it done!
This idea of cutting through the red tape of the management class goes to the heart of life in the Uk.
It is attractive to think that Populist politicians can bypass this management culture.
It looks like this is what the new Uk government is going to try to do.

Copyright Adrian Scott North London Counsellor Blog 2020           
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Disclaimer: This weblog is the view of the writer and for general information only
This article is designed to provoke argument and critique

There is a theory that the planet is heading for a Green Apocalypse. The end of the world. Not enough people are bothered or care enough about the planet to save it. In the last election the Labour Party was congratulated for its Green Manifesto. But it was too complicated, too middle class and didn’t resonate with working class voters.

Extinction Rebellion XR is an activist political movement trying to agitate governments to promise green legislation. Intent on disruption but in danger of alienating people’s support.

And the planet keeps dying.
The idea of Apocalypse isn’t new. It is part of many religions and belief systems. Is there a kind of relief in the end? Could it be reassuring? Perhaps we loathe ourselves so much that we think humans ought to die in this way? Is this yearning for the apocalypse freezing the human race into inaction?

Freud and his theory of the death instinct also add to this idea that we are more comfortable with the idea of the end and death. All of life leads to death. So why not include ourselves and the planet?
Green Apocalypse

Copyright Adrian Scott North London Counsellor Blog 2020           
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Disclaimer: This weblog is the view of the writer and for general information only
This article is designed to provoke argument and critique

Apricity meaning from the warmth of the sun in the season of winter. The word used to describe a very specific phenomenon – the sun’s warmth on a cold winter’s day. 

The word’s origin comes from the Latin apricus representing a sunny day but in a random way used to describe objects warmed by the sun. The Modern Italian language derived apricot from the same Latin word, but really it describes an outdoors position that is clear, bright and serene.

The other word originating from this Latin root is apricate, a verb, meaning a basking, warming up, in the sun.

In the modern world words like this are lost, in our culture of the indoors divorced from nature. This is a nature word to describe a state of mind of being in the moment and appreciating a beauty that is given and free. The moment that the physical world is bigger than us. A moment of luxury of being cold but warmed by the rays of the sun. 

Through awareness Apricity is easily used. Next time when out and about in nature or even on the way to work. Point out to a colleague the beauty of Apricity. 

Copyright Adrian Scott North London Counsellor Blog 2020           
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Disclaimer: This weblog is the view of the writer and for general information only
This article is designed to provoke argument and critique

So Labour have lost the election again. They have only two elections in the last 50 years.
Brexit has muddled British Politics. Usual Labour voters voted Conservative to Get Brexit Done

One way of thinking about the political scene is to see it as an exercise in non representation. Cameron introduced the Brexit Referendum, to appease the Tory Right. Johnson represents an elite who benefit from Brexit by corporate profit. Corbyn represents Brexit (but couldn’t say so) to benefit left wing idealogue.
Public School Boys Games

The common theme is that they are each representing themselves. Not who they are elected or paid to represent. This is an expression of a political system that is unrepresentative.
If the system is unrepresentative, the people in it are also going to be unrepresentative.

If Cameron had looked outside the Westminster Bubble he would have seen the signs. If Corbyn had reached out to the dessimated working classes in the North, he might have had a clearer Brexit Mandate. Both decent?, well meaning? men who looked in rather than out.

While Johnson immoral, and unscrupulous, flexing any way to gain advantage. Win or Lose. The unrepresentative system creates a vacuum, for the immoral to work their schemes. Whatever works to their advantage is used. There is no base or platform that can predict behaviours except to see the behaviours through the lens of advantage. Johnson doesn’t know who Johnson is. Like Blair who doesn’t know who Blair is. Both suceeded in ruling the UK to their own advantage.

This all begins at Public School. A training ground setting up young boys to compete, and win. The intensity of the Public School Experience creates a bubble of expectation. Where winners are winners, and there is no way you want to be a loser. Losing is what is to be avoided. Not the joy of winning. The competition is so intense that young boys have to create a winning persona. Away from the more stabilsing effects of family and community.

Detached from themselves to win. This creates a dangerous, devious and highly intelligent individual mainly bound for the City or Politics.
Public School Boys Games

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Disclaimer: This weblog is the view of the writer and for general information only
This article is designed to provoke argument and critique

Under a week to go until a second election this year, the electorate is being tested. A more positive spin on the political scene is that we are coming to the end. The smell of decay abounds.
Dying Order. 

First started by Reagan and Thatcher Neo Liberalism was a dismantling of the state, and a push to self-reliance and the rise of the entrepreneur. With austerity this has extended to all parts of life, with the denial that it is all about debt. Paying back for past spending. 
 
Brexit looms. With no constitution in place. Big decisions being made for the UK by party political issues. The Extinction Rebellion generation is gathering momentum with increased awareness around climate change, and the fragility of the planet. More people are not eating meat. Challenging habits of a lifetime.
There is change in the air.

Copyright Adrian Scott North London Counsellor Blog 2019            
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Disclaimer: This weblog is the view of the writer and for general information only
This article is designed to provoke argument and critique

In 1981 Prince supported the Rolling Stone’s tour for two nights. His ambivalent sexuality compared to the rock hetrosexuaity of the Stones didn’t go down well, and he was booed off stage. He was coaxed back for a second night, and the audience was ready.
Again he was booed off stage with food and vegetables. Never again.

His rebellion against sexual mores, and religious values were controversial. He abandoned any traditional truths of being black or male. He blurred the boundaries including his own early life.

At his peak Prince was one of the biggest manistream stars of his day without diluting his blackness. Quite a feat. Then he slid into his own cliche. Staying safe feeding of past glories. He changed his name which removed his audience further from the glory days.

He was one of the first pop stars to create his own world in Paisley Park. Like Neverland it became a refuge, a bunker where he was in control of his world. A good idea. Real life is replaced by a Boys’ Own World.

He preferred younger women, who didn’t argue with him. He could never be seen to be vulnerable. The polished presentation and image took him over. Who was he underneath might never be known. Perhaps ordinary and dull. Not compatible with the image.

His drug use was hidden but people knew it was going on. After Purple Rain he got everything he wanted and didn’t like it. Five days before his death he bought music by Joni Mitchell and Stevie Wonder. Listening to the past. He went back to playing his old tunes to small audiences on his own.

Prince died alone in Paisley Park. Even he couldn’t keep reality out. Maybe he just thought he could.

Copyright Adrian Scott North London Counsellor Blog 2019            
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Disclaimer: This weblog is the view of the writer and for general information only
This article is designed to provoke argument and critique

 Gary Rhodes chef, restauranteur, and the first to champion British Food in the modern era, when Brtiish Food had little reputation. Gastro pubs, Jamie, Heston, & Gordon all owe a debt to him and wouldn’t have flourished without him.

Gary was proudest of reinventing the British Classic Bread and Butter Pudding. Typical of him. Everyday British fare with a twist. He disliked the cheekie chappie spikey haired image and wanted the food to speak for itself.

Involved in a near death accident as a teenager, the culinary world was lucky to have him!

Gary Rhodes 1960-2019

Copyright Adrian Scott North London Counsellor Blog 2019            
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Disclaimer: This weblog is the view of the writer and for general information only
This article is designed to provoke argument and critique

Women are more likely than men to experience sexual threat or violence, so are more likely to make  judgements like creepy men. We are told to trust ourselves but our intuition is more likely to keep us safe in terms of social boundaries rather than physical safety.

Creepiness was judged to be about men who who were sexually interested, and behaved differently outside the usual social norms. So intuition can exclude men signalling social difference rather than safety. The disabled and homeless are more likey to be judged as creepy. 

The issue of consent is challenging. Situations can be creepy but legal and with consent. Does this argument fail to take into account the issue of power? The power of money, fame and priviledge. We are in a time of the exposure of creeps (social judgement or safety alert?) These men are socially accepted, part of the establishment, and priviledged.

They are judged to be guilty on the strength of the number of allegations against them. Reputations fall easily, along with marketing endorsements and charity sponsors.
How to stay safe from creepy men?

Copyright Adrian Scott North London Counsellor Blog 2019
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Disclaimer: This weblog is the view of the writer and for general information only
This article is designed to provoke argument and critique

Conservatives have tidy bedrooms with laundry baskets. Liberals have world music cds and books on travel. Like Mud Rooms

Is there a link between personality and political leanings? Apparently openess is the biggest indicator. More openess to new experiences means you are more liberal. Concientiousness and order mean you are more conservative.

People migrate towards each others characteristics: particularly minorities. Urban environments being more accepting of difference. Londoners are more liberal and open: but less agreeable and concientious but more neurotic. Humans are attracted by similarity. People live in clusters.

People who voted for Brexit came from less open areas of the country. Perhaps there is a reason for people being less open: Border areas historically under threat, or areas where natural diseases or disasters occured. Being less open and you might survive.

If you forget that everything has to be proved: it seems common sense that there is a relationship between politics and personality. What is the surprise? Is the empirical world so rigid that nothing can be guessed or suggested?
Politics are values: and values are personal. What’s the big deal?
Tidy Bedrooms 

Copyright Adrian Scott North London Counsellor Blog 2019
All rights reserved
Disclaimer: This weblog is the view of the writer and for general information only
This article is designed to provoke argument and critique