“You Can Prove Anything with Facts” – Owen Jones, The Establishment

The negative reaction to “The Establishment” often boils down to dismissing Owen Jones as silly. Jones notes in his book that, in the 70s, free market proponents were dismissed in similar ways.

It’s important to remember that the current Establishment is relatively recent and not as invincible as it seems. But back to anger: if you’re even slightly left of center, Jones’ book will make you angry for different reasons.

The majority of the British public, including some Tory voters, support ideas like renationalising the energy industry, but the government refuses to consider them. This book will leave you feeling angry, depressed, powerless, overwhelmed, and shocked.

The aim of Owen Jones’ book, “The Establishment,” is to expose how the British Establishment operates. Jones examines how politicians, the media, the police, big businesses, the City, and the extremely wealthy manipulate the system to their advantage.

He highlights the revolving door between these groups, showing how politicians create laws benefiting big businesses, then leave government to join these businesses, and how financial auditors draft laws they later exploit.

Philip Hensher’s review downplays this, arguing that it’s natural for people to help those they know. However, Jones points out that this mutual support can be harms to everyone else.

The problem is worsening as politicians, already earning three times the median UK wage, now seek lucrative lifestyles with big business, feeling underpaid despite their substantial salaries.

The book is a powerful rebuttal of the mainstream narratives we are fed. For instance, everyone knows that the 2007 global financial crash was caused by reckless financial businesses and lack of regulation, with governments unpicking regulations due to their ties to big business, which funds political parties to get what they want.

Despite this, over the past seven years, this narrative has been dismissed in favor of blaming the public sector. This obscures the truth: financial markets were reckless, and British taxpayers ended up paying trillions of pounds.

The ongoing privatisation, particularly the dismantling of the NHS by the coalition government, continues this trend, allowing businesses to profit while  the taxpayers bear the risk.

It repeatedly shows how the government, business, and media unite to crush any challenges to their narrative. This is seen in how they led us into the Iraq War and how they fiercely opposed the YES vote for Scottish independence, using bullying and misinformation.

Jones draws parallels to the end of “Animal Farm,” where politicians once had real disagreements but now seem united on major issues. After the NO vote in Scotland, Cameron quickly pushed for legislation to prevent referendums.

A key takeaway from the book is that if the Establishment is united against something, it’s likely beneficial for the public.

Imagine if we had a political party that voiced these issues. Imagine genuine media debate on why the government ignores what the people want. Remember when Osborne & Cameron fought against  cap on bankers’ bonuses in Europe?

Imagine if they fought for the rest of us. Jones suggests solutions, showing how we can regain power. The massive voter turnout during the Scottish independence vote hints at this potential, terrifying those in power.

While the solutions don’t entirely counter the book’s grim reality, there’s hope. The book starts with the story of the outriders of the current system, who were once seen as improbable. Change is possible.

Is it any good?: It’s a solid and important book that everyone should read.