Yes, this is pretty much where I'm up to with it. I don't really care what they do or get up to much. Yes, they probably give each other a leg up in life, but then any birds of a feather tend to do that. Are they a cancer subverting the democratic process, a hidden mafia? I doubt it. A lot of dross has been talked about the Bilderberg group which is, as far as I can see, a very select club of influential people who can discuss things together out of the media spotlight (and thus can finally say what they think, you would hope). The excluded always feel that something nefarious is going on. The moment you have secrecy, you have conspiracy theories.
I only did the original post to see how many people got sucked into an argument........:wink: Sort of like Pete1950 does......
Absolutely. If you want to set up a private club, you are perfectly entitled to make it highly exclusive and secretive if you want and there is nothing illegal or immoral about that - but it is a bit creepy. No-one has suggested that the Freemasons act illegally, or should be banned or prosecuted or forced to change. It's just that being exclusive and secretive, they can hardly complain when people say they are exclusive and secretive. And creepy.
Don't you think it's just a bit juvenile? Secret ceremonies, secret handshakes? I got over that sort of thing when I was 11. The masonic events I've been to have mostly not made me think it's a club I'd want to be a part of, rooms full of middle aged small businessmen all congratulating each other on their great charitable works while asking the guests how much of a good time they're having whilst regurgitating Daily Mail stories. No thanks.
One thing I have noticed with some that I know (I'm being careful now) is that 'you' can be downright cr*p and useless at 'your' job and 'you' may be on hard times, because 'your' none member employer has seen 'you' for what you are; yet because 'you' know another one who runs a business, 'you' get a reasonably well paid job where 'you' can continue to be cr*p and useless at it. But people with real ability don't even get an opportunity for an interview. Seen very many instances of this..........I am also aware of another situation, where a major construction organisation was employed by a major client (a known link for very dodgy handshakes, there) and when the job was finished the client company went bust (or administration)......the construction organisation was paid for the contract, but all the sub-contractors lost out, many of whom also went bust. Five minutes later the client company started up again under a different name. I have deliberately left a lot of info out in the above; however I find the whole thing appalling. AL
Wahtch-out Pete, you'll be hanging from Blackfriars Bridge with a load of half-bricks in your pockets, if you're not careful!
Or be found in Mitre Square with his innards hanging out...............after all he is an old tart, like the rest of the Ripper's victims. AL I suppose that will be wasted over a few heads......we will have to wait for Pete to explain.
Roberto Calvi - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Different aspects of this get muddled together, don't they? May I repeat the following: "If you want to set up a private club, you are perfectly entitled to make it highly exclusive and secretive if you want and there is nothing illegal or immoral about that - but it is a bit creepy." That applies generally to private clubs of any sort. Your private stamp-collecting club can decide not to admit women, gays, black people, or anyone not born in Yorkshire, if you so choose. That's not the illegal or immoral bit. May I also repeat the following: "The masons are corruption personified." That is a reference to the making of improper private arrangements behind the scenes in secret. Manipulation of contracts, appointments, bank loans, auctions, planning permissions, etc by officials, councillors, senior police officers, bankers, and businessmen would obviously be corrupt - if it happened. Does it happen? Hard to prove, but anecdotally it seems to happen quite a lot. Exclusively among masons? No, but masonic activities provide a uniquely convenient way for those with something to hide to meet up without any record or public acknowledgement of their meetings. Hence my comment about corruption, which I see no reason to withdraw by the way.
There are always cliques in society. Masons, old boy network, school tie brigade, the police ... No getting away from it. "It's only water, in a stranger's tear", as Peter Gabriel so aptly put it.
