http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/ Rational Refreshing Reflections on What's Happening Now en-en Wed, 12 Dec 2018 02:37:29 -0600 http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/recent.gif http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/ http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/index.html http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/index.html 18A050.htm   18A050 Oceans Apart by Jim Davies, 12/11/2018       Recently I had the chance to read a kind of history book; the sort that archists don't mind the public learning. It's called An Ocean Apart and relates relationships between the US and the UK from Colonial days through 1989. The authors are British: David Dimbleby, a member of a dynasty of TV anchormen, David Reynolds, a Cambridge historian, and Peter Pagnamenta, a TV producer with whom I was acquainted, long ago, at school. Their knowledge of the subject is detailed, and the book reflects a BBC-TV series of the same name, so it's well presented for a wide readership. I learned plenty about how the two nations, over two centuries, varied from open hostility (1776-81) to a very close association (in WW2 and in the 1980s) and most points in between, rather like an accordion. Although it hits all the main events of which I was aware - and many of which I wasn't - it is a bloodless account, lacking passion, and sometimes blind, by omitting a seriously needed explanation. It leaves the reader with a chronicle, more than a history; and that shortfall may well reflect exactly the intent of "educators" on both sides of the Atlantic. It is oceans apart from a serious attempt to interpret events rather than simply relate them. The former is what History is really about, and which makes its study fun, and David Reynolds ought to know that. So for example its chapter on "The Struggle for Independence" conveys none of the indignation that fired the Declaration of 1776 (defective though that document is), nor of the grass-roots dedication of the Patriots' militia. Why were Americans so enraged, by being taxed to pay for that Redcoat army that defended them from all those fierce Indians and Frenchmen? - at being shot, for mounting a protest? Ocean fails to say. After the unpleasantness of the 1812 War, the two countries became much closer, with half of all US foreign trade being with the UK following 1820, and British investments in the US very extensive. Ocean tells us that the London bank of Barings arranged many of them, but doesn't expressly say whether they were all private or whether Her Majesty's Government took a stake. This forms one of the puzzles of Ocean later in WW1, at which time it says some £3 billion of them were paid over to US arms manufacturers and another £3 billion borrowed; and a billion then might equate to a hundred billion today. Presuming the UK stake in US industry was mostly privately held, how did that money get into HMG's hands as payment for munitions? The extensive 19th Century trade between the two countries helped set a British preference for the South in the War to Prevent Secession; for while Northern buyers were good customers for British capital equipment, Southern cotton supplied 80% of the important British textile industry. Friction therefore arose between HMG and the FedGov, the more so after the warship Alabama was built in the UK and delivered to the South. But after 1865, good relations were restored. Germans, I learned, were a majority of recent US immigrants by 1914 so the Brits had to be creative if US help was to be obtained in their war against the former; and while Ocean mentions that the NY banking firm of J P Morgan was busy arranging deals to buy American matériel, it doesn't point out the central role that firm played in bringing direct military help in 1917; Morgan's stake in an Wed, 12 Dec 2018 02:37:29 -0600 http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/12A012.htm http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/12A012.htm Read more about '12A011: What's To Be Done?, 2/29/2012 Fresh out of arguments, they silence the opposition ' on the Zero Government blog... Wed, 12 Dec 2018 02:37:29 -0600 http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/18A050.htm http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/18A050.htm Read more about ' ' on the Zero Government blog... 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But not both ' on the Zero Government blog... Wed, 12 Dec 2018 02:37:29 -0600 http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/18A045.htm http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/18A045.htm Read more about '18A045: Hot or Cold?, 11/6/2018 Archists don't know the question, but are sure of the answer ' on the Zero Government blog... Wed, 12 Dec 2018 02:37:29 -0600 http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/18A044.htm http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/18A044.htm Read more about '18A044: Our Big Job, 10/30/2018 Not trivial, but entirely feasible ' on the Zero Government blog... Wed, 12 Dec 2018 02:37:29 -0600 http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/18A043.htm http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/18A043.htm Read more about '18A043: Driving on the Right, 10/23/2018 A litmus test for anarchists ' on the Zero Government blog... Wed, 12 Dec 2018 02:37:29 -0600 http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/18A042.htm http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/18A042.htm Read more about '18A042: VOGs Part 2, 10/16/2018 Some other Victims of Government ' on the Zero Government blog... Wed, 12 Dec 2018 02:37:29 -0600 http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/18A041.htm http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/18A041.htm Read more about '18A041: VOGs Part 1, 10/9/2018 A few Victims of Government ' on the Zero Government blog... Wed, 12 Dec 2018 02:37:29 -0600 http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/18A040.htm http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/18A040.htm Read more about '18A040: Jamal, 10/2/2018 Some migrants don't need carrots ' on the Zero Government blog... Wed, 12 Dec 2018 02:37:29 -0600 http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/18A039.htm http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/18A039.htm Read more about '18A039: All or Nothing, 9/25/2018 Modified Minarchism cannot cut it ' on the Zero Government blog... Wed, 12 Dec 2018 02:37:29 -0600 http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/18A038.htm http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/18A038.htm Read more about '18A038: Why Government Cannot Work , 9/18/2018 An alternative proof ' on the Zero Government blog... Wed, 12 Dec 2018 02:37:29 -0600 http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/18A037.htm http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/18A037.htm Read more about '18A037: A Discordant Party, 9/11/2018 Not one of amp;quot;principleamp;quot; ' on the Zero Government blog... Wed, 12 Dec 2018 02:37:29 -0600 http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/18A036.htm http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/18A036.htm Read more about '18A036: Child Abuse, 9/4/2018 Ubiquitous ' on the Zero Government blog... Wed, 12 Dec 2018 02:37:29 -0600 http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/18A035.htm http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/18A035.htm Read more about '18A035: Meet M. Proudhon, 8/28/2018 Nobody saw the problem more clearly ' on the Zero Government blog... Wed, 12 Dec 2018 02:37:29 -0600 http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/18A034.htm http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/18A034.htm Read more about '18A034: Bleats from the Booboisie, 8/21/2018 Pitiable ' on the Zero Government blog... Wed, 12 Dec 2018 02:37:29 -0600 http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/18A033.htm http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/18A033.htm Read more about '18A033: They're Desperate, 8/14/2018 Fresh out of arguments, they silence adversaries ' on the Zero Government blog... Wed, 12 Dec 2018 02:37:29 -0600 http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/18A032.htm http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/18A032.htm Read more about '18A032: The Mind of a Statist, 8/7/2018 Seriously damaged ' on the Zero Government blog... Wed, 12 Dec 2018 02:37:29 -0600 http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/"http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/arch3q18.htm" http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/"http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/arch3q18.htm" Read more about 'ZGBlogs for July - September 2018 ' on the Zero Government blog... Wed, 12 Dec 2018 02:37:29 -0600 http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/"http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/arch2q18.htm" http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/"http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/arch2q18.htm" Read more about 'ZGBlogs for April - June 2018 ' on the Zero Government blog... Wed, 12 Dec 2018 02:37:29 -0600 http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/"http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/arch1q18.htm" http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/"http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/arch1q18.htm" Read more about 'ZGBlogs for January - March 2018 ' on the Zero Government blog... Wed, 12 Dec 2018 02:37:29 -0600 http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/"http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/arch4q17.htm" http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/"http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/arch4q17.htm" Read more about 'ZGBlogs for October - December 2017 ' on the Zero Government blog... Wed, 12 Dec 2018 02:37:29 -0600 http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/"http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/arch3q17.htm" http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/"http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/arch3q17.htm" Read more about 'ZGBlogs for July - September 2017 ' on the Zero Government blog... Wed, 12 Dec 2018 02:37:29 -0600 http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/"http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/arch2q17.htm" http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/"http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/arch2q17.htm" Read more about 'ZGBlogs for April - June 2017 ' on the Zero Government blog... Wed, 12 Dec 2018 02:37:29 -0600 http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/"http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/arch1q17.htm" http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/"http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/arch1q17.htm" Read more about 'ZGBlogs for January - March 2017 ' on the Zero Government blog... Wed, 12 Dec 2018 02:37:29 -0600 http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/"http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/arch4q16.htm" http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/"http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/arch4q16.htm" Read more about 'ZGBlogs for October - December 2016 ' on the Zero Government blog... Wed, 12 Dec 2018 02:37:29 -0600 http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/"http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/arch3q16.htm" http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/"http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/arch3q16.htm" Read more about 'ZGBlogs for July - September 2016 ' on the Zero Government blog... Wed, 12 Dec 2018 02:37:29 -0600 http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/"http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/arch2q16.htm" http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/"http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/arch2q16.htm" Read more about 'ZGBlogs for April - June 2016 ' on the Zero Government blog... Wed, 12 Dec 2018 02:37:29 -0600 http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/"http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/arch1q16.htm" http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/"http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/arch1q16.htm" Read more about 'ZGBlogs for January - March 2016 ' on the Zero Government blog... Wed, 12 Dec 2018 02:37:29 -0600 http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/"http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/arch4q15.htm" http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/"http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/arch4q15.htm" Read more about 'ZGBlogs for October - December 2015 ' on the Zero Government blog... Wed, 12 Dec 2018 02:37:29 -0600 http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/"http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/arch3q15.htm" http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/"http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/arch3q15.htm" Read more about 'ZGBlogs for July - September 2015 ' on the Zero Government blog... Wed, 12 Dec 2018 02:37:29 -0600 http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/"http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/arch2q15.htm" http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/"http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/arch2q15.htm" Read more about 'ZGBlogs for April - June 2015 ' on the Zero Government blog... Wed, 12 Dec 2018 02:37:29 -0600 http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/"http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/arch1q15.htm" http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/"http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/arch1q15.htm" Read more about 'ZGBlogs for January - March 2015 ' on the Zero Government blog... Wed, 12 Dec 2018 02:37:29 -0600 http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/"http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/arch4q14.htm" http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/"http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/arch4q14.htm" Read more about 'ZGBlogs for October - December 2014 ' on the Zero Government blog... Wed, 12 Dec 2018 02:37:29 -0600 http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/"http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/arch78914.htm" http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/"http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/arch78914.htm" Read more about 'ZGBlogs for July - September 2014 ' on the Zero Government blog... Wed, 12 Dec 2018 02:37:29 -0600 http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/"http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/arch45614.htm" http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/"http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/arch45614.htm" Read more about 'ZGBlogs for April, May amp;amp;amp; June 2014 ' on the Zero Government blog... Wed, 12 Dec 2018 02:37:29 -0600 http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/"http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/arch2012.htm" http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/"http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/arch2012.htm" Read more about 'ZGBlogs for January amp;amp;amp; February 2012 ' on the Zero Government blog... Wed, 12 Dec 2018 02:37:29 -0600 http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/"http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/arch101211.htm" http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/"http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/arch101211.htm" Read more about 'ZGBlogs for October - December 2011 ' on the Zero Government blog... Wed, 12 Dec 2018 02:37:29 -0600 http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/"http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/arch5911.htm" http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/"http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/arch5911.htm" Read more about 'ZGBlogs for May - September 2011 ' on the Zero Government blog... Wed, 12 Dec 2018 02:37:29 -0600 http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/"http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/arch0411.htm" http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/"http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/arch0411.htm" Read more about 'ZGBlogs for April 2011 ' on the Zero Government blog... Wed, 12 Dec 2018 02:37:29 -0600 http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/"http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/arch0311.htm" http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/"http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/arch0311.htm" Read more about 'ZGBlogs for March 2011 ' on the Zero Government blog... Wed, 12 Dec 2018 02:37:29 -0600 http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/"http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/arch0211.htm" http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/"http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/arch0211.htm" Read more about 'ZGBlogs for February 2011 ' on the Zero Government blog... Wed, 12 Dec 2018 02:37:29 -0600 http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/"http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/arch0111.htm" http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/"http://www.theanarchistalternative.info/zgb/arch0111.htm" Read more about 'ZGBlogs for January 2011 ' on the Zero Government blog... 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