h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

According to Owen it was "it is sweet and fitting to die for your country".. But there are others 'you can get what you want if you work hard enough'.

Sometines you have to accept that to get what you want you would need to hurt those closest to you, and them you decide not to do it. And that's the right thing to do.

What others are there?

"All you need is love."

Great song lyrics, but as a guide to life not so great.

Scottish football needs the Old Firm.

There's a lot of what's supposed to be encouraging mantras: Life is what you make it. You are in control. Anyone can be happy if they really want to. That sort of thing.

They're not entirely false, but we aren't in full control of our lives. And, taken too far, this sort of thing can lead to victim-blaming. Also, it provides us with an excuse not to address systemic injustices.

(Yes, I've been reading Barbara Ehenreich's Smile or Die. A while ago now, but it's stayed with me.)

TRiG.

I heard Barbara Ehrenreich speak at a library convention once. Shw was talking about her book "Nickel and Dimed," which exposed the falseness in the "pull yourself up by the bootstraps" philosophy. People who have to start out in minimum wages jobs don't really have a chance to advance, other things being equal.

Deregulation leads to economic growth.

Work makes you free.

I've heard many good things about Nickel and Dimed. Must look it up.

TRiG.

"Never stop believing in yourself" is repeated by those who are lucky enough to hit the big time. Trouble is, there's a lot of unlucky people whose genuine talent goes forever unrecognised. And there's plenty more deluded folk who carry on believing in themselves when they'd save a lot of heartache if they simply gave up early on.

"Crime doesn't pay". Those Colombian drug barons don't seem to have trouble making ends meet.

"What's for you, wont go by you". Utter bollocks.

Jesus died for your sins.

All together: Oh no he didn't!

Oh, yes he did!


Geggs

How about "it doesn't hurt a bit, but you might feel a tingling sensation"?

Or,

"One careful owner..."

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger.

Not always.

Only the good die young

"WMD in Iraq can be used in 45 minutes"

Hundreds of thousands died for that one

Well, they did and they didn't - precious few people believed it even then.

'Money isn't everything' - Yeah, but with money I can buy almost everything.

If I was a complete twonker with no friends, family or loved one, then I'd just be the same but a rich twonker...

Everything happens for a reason..