Alan Moore: 'Banks seem like an untouchable monarchy'

Alan Moore has suggested that modern banks have attained the status of "untouchable monarchy".

The comics writer made the comments in a column for BBC News exploring the adoption of the V for Vendetta mask by the Anonymous collective and Occupy movement.



"Our present financial ethos no longer even resembles conventional capitalism, which at least implies a brutal Darwinian free-for-all, however one-sided and unfair," he said.

"Instead, we have a situation where the banks seem to be an untouchable monarchy beyond the reach of governmental restraint, much like the profligate court of Charles I.

"Then, a depraved neglect of the poor and the 'squeezed middle' led inexorably to an unanticipated reaction in the horrific form of Oliver Cromwell and the English Civil War"

He added: "Today's response to similar oppressions seems to be one that is intelligent, constantly evolving and considerably more humane.

"Yet our character's borrowed Catholic revolutionary visage and his incongruously Puritan apparel are perhaps a reminder that unjust institutions may always be haunted by volatile 17th century spectres, even if today's uprisings are fuelled more by social networks than by gunpowder."



Moore continued: "As for the ideas tentatively proposed in that dystopian fantasy 30 years ago, I'd be lying if I didn't admit that whatever usefulness they afford modern radicalism is very satisfying."

In November, Moore suggested that his V for Vendetta character had "somehow escaped the realm of fiction" with the Occupy protests, though he added that he had "no particular connection or claim to what [they] are doing".

Later, Moore contributed to an Occupy Comics anthology, which collated work from over 50 contributors.

Responding to fellow comic author Frank Millar's description of the protesters as "thieves" and "rapists", the Watchmen co-creator described the Occupy movement as a "completely justified howl of moral outrage" that was "being handled in a very intelligent, non-violent way".

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