Larry's Lunchette

I encounter my own violence in my choice of light reading – particularly the Jack Reacher novels – of which I’ve read all 23 – twice; does this count as an addiction! This Tuesday (29^th Oct) sees the publication of Lee Child’s 24^th offering, ‘Blue Moon’. I’m attracted by Reacher’s ‘aloneness’; he wanders the USA – hitching or in buses – sleeping wherever – no luggage – minimal money – no family or partner – he carries a toothbrush. Reacher’s physique and combat training make him invincible; the archetypal hero – the stranger who walks into town – avenges its wrongs – quietly leaves. He’s a clever, resourceful and ultimately moral man – but Reacher is a vigilante – and that’s his, rather shameful, attraction: that without reference to the law or the courts – he’s judge and executioner; if you’re a bad guy, he’ll take you down – violently. Not a wholesome role model.

I’m a fairly predictable middle-class – liberal – leftie, who wants ‘constructive conflict resolution’ to gradually replace brutal incarceration; my fascination with Lee Child’s violent, untamed avenger is a bit embarrassing – because he just ‘flattens’ the baddies. But I’ll buy ‘Blue Moon’ on Tuesday – maybe have it read by Wednesday night. I should not be surprised to discern in myself the underlay of human savageness; did I imagine I was somehow different.

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“Much of the glue that held British society together since the second world war – has been deliberately removed and replaced by a harsh, uncaring ethos”: words from the report of Philip Alston – the United Nations poverty specialist. There is much agitation for second referenda on Brexit and Scottish Independence – but ultimately, these are distractions from the central issue – that too many in our communities can’t afford the basics of a decent life. Tony Blair’s Labour was Thatcherite – but Jeremy Corbyn’s visualises a very different society – one that tries to consider everyone. A general election brings the opportunity for change.

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In spite of all the hype around so-called social investment – it benefits a paltry 1% of third sector organisations: too slow and too expensive. When he was appointed chair of Big Society Capital (BSC) in 2014, Harvey McGrath was explicit – that debt finance is only suitable for a small sub-set of social enterprises; true social investment is a grant – or patient, blended finance. Good article by Richard Litchfield exploring why BSC’s business model has failed our sector. He says that with an effective monopoly of supply of social investment capital in the UK, that’s where fundamental change is required.

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This is a BBC piece about mass protests that have broken out all across the world in recent weeks; what are the common themes that connect them (see short video). Last Sunday, George Monbiot was on the streets of London – to get himself arrested with Extinction Rebellion (successfully). This is his rationale.

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Tomorrow sees the Radical Independence Conference in Glasgow with a long list of impressive speakers.

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With the highest number of drug deaths in the EU, Scotland is desperate for answers; Portugal has turned itself into a world leader in recovery and harm reduction. Spending four days there, the Scotsman’s Dani Garavelli conducted dozens of interviews – composed this longer piece on Portugal’s experience.

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This is the way Raymond Chandler’s iconic detective Philip Marlowe describes himself – shades of Jack Reacher.

“I’m a licensed private investigator and have been for quite a while. I’m a lone wolf, unmarried, getting middle-aged, and not rich. I’ve been in jail more than once and I don’t do divorce business. I like liquor and women and chess and a few other things. The cops don’t like me too well, but I know a couple I get along with. I’m a native son, born in Santa Rosa, both parents dead, no brothers or sisters, and if I get knocked off in a dark alley sometime, nobody will feel that the bottom has dropped out of his or her life.”