During the 1950s and the Red Scare period in the States, the country began to turn in on itself and looked for conspiracies where none existed, fearing the rise of a Fifth Column it sought the Enemy Within. Into this dreadful paranoia rode the "Red Baiting" self-appointed saviour Senator Joe McCarthy and the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC).
A film that beautifully portrays an aspect of that era, namely the blacklisting of writers, actors, and artists, is The Front, starring Woody Allen and Zero Mostel whose birthday it would have been today.
Zero Mostel was a fantastic actor who was in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Waiting for Godot, and of course The Producers.
The Front explores the important issue of what is best for the country versus individual freedom, which is pertinent given the recent case of Binyam Mohamed. The film has classic quotes like, "To be a spy on the side of freedom is an honour" and implies that true patriots are willing to spy on their friends.
It does have a "happy ending" though, and shows that even an amoral character can see through the vileness of groups like HUAC.
What it reminds us however, is that the awful noise of ignorance can sometimes be deafening.
Sunday, 28 February 2010
Saturday, 27 February 2010
Happy Birthday Paddy
As an executive member of Union of Liberal Students I went to Liberal Assembly in Margate hundreds of years ago.At a fringe meeting about something or other, I heard an extremely articulate young man who was the PPC for some West Country constituency, and thought he'll go far.
His slightly militaristic bearing was a tad anomalous given the peacenik mood of everyone else present, as was his dress sense, cords and brogues.
Well gentle reader, you won't be surprised to hear that that young (!) man was none other than Jeremy John Durham Ashdown aka Paddy, whose birthday it is today.
I think that he was the right leader to lead us after the disastrous "fling" with the SDP and helped steady the ship.
So thanks Paddy and many happy returns.
His slightly militaristic bearing was a tad anomalous given the peacenik mood of everyone else present, as was his dress sense, cords and brogues.
Well gentle reader, you won't be surprised to hear that that young (!) man was none other than Jeremy John Durham Ashdown aka Paddy, whose birthday it is today.
I think that he was the right leader to lead us after the disastrous "fling" with the SDP and helped steady the ship.
So thanks Paddy and many happy returns.
Thursday, 25 February 2010
John Arlott and The Little Master
Yesterday, Sachin Tendulkar became the first man to hit 200 in a One Day International yesterday, and it made me think of the great John Arlott whose birthday it would have been today.
The man's mellifulous tones were the sound of summer when I was growing up. He had a wonderfully poetic phraseology and had marvellous gift for evoking magical moments in cricket.
The pleasure of watching Test Match cricket, with the sound turned off and the radio on was inestimable.
In the 1940s, he went to South Africa and condemned the apartheid policy. When filling in an immigration form, which required him to declare his race, he wrote "human".
He was a humanitarian and great Liberal standing as a parliamentary candidate for Epping in 1955 and 1959.
The man's mellifulous tones were the sound of summer when I was growing up. He had a wonderfully poetic phraseology and had marvellous gift for evoking magical moments in cricket.
The pleasure of watching Test Match cricket, with the sound turned off and the radio on was inestimable.
In the 1940s, he went to South Africa and condemned the apartheid policy. When filling in an immigration form, which required him to declare his race, he wrote "human".
He was a humanitarian and great Liberal standing as a parliamentary candidate for Epping in 1955 and 1959.
Tuesday, 23 February 2010
23-F - El pueblo unido, jamás será vencido!
Thirty years ago today, I was glued to the TV watching the Nine O'clock News on the Beeb reporting the attempted coup in Spain.
Later, on Newsnight, Peter Snow described the earlier events when a group of armed Guardia Civil stormed the Cortes, their leader, Antonio Tejero, waving a pistol about and telling 350 MPs to sit down.
One of three MPs to openly defy the gun-wielding goons, Santiago Carrillo (leader of the Communists) just sat in his chair smoking a cigarette.
The whole event was over by dawn the following morning when the plotters realised they had no support, after King Juan Carlos had gone on air to denounce the coup and urging the maintenance of law and the continuance of the democratically elected government.
But it showed how fragile a bloom democracy was, and how with the help of other Western European countries (later, through the European Union) it could be nurtured and strengthened.
Oh and Tejero? He got 15 years.
El pueblo unido, jamás será vencido! The people united will never be defeated!
Later, on Newsnight, Peter Snow described the earlier events when a group of armed Guardia Civil stormed the Cortes, their leader, Antonio Tejero, waving a pistol about and telling 350 MPs to sit down.
One of three MPs to openly defy the gun-wielding goons, Santiago Carrillo (leader of the Communists) just sat in his chair smoking a cigarette.
The whole event was over by dawn the following morning when the plotters realised they had no support, after King Juan Carlos had gone on air to denounce the coup and urging the maintenance of law and the continuance of the democratically elected government.
But it showed how fragile a bloom democracy was, and how with the help of other Western European countries (later, through the European Union) it could be nurtured and strengthened.
Oh and Tejero? He got 15 years.
El pueblo unido, jamás será vencido! The people united will never be defeated!
Friday, 19 February 2010
The Government must not pander to homophobia and ignorance
The Government’s decision to allow faith schools to teach sex education "in a way that reflects the school’s religious character", is an unwelcome and undesirable turn of events.
Labour has already given an opt-out from sex and relationship education up to age 15. This move will further dilute the information that all young people should be entitled to, before they reach the age of consent.
State-funded schools must not put their own spin on sex and relationship education.
The Government must not pander to homophobia or to those who want young people kept in ignorance.
Labour has already given an opt-out from sex and relationship education up to age 15. This move will further dilute the information that all young people should be entitled to, before they reach the age of consent.
State-funded schools must not put their own spin on sex and relationship education.
The Government must not pander to homophobia or to those who want young people kept in ignorance.
Wednesday, 17 February 2010
Dort wo man Bücher verbrennt, verbrennt man auch am Ende Menschen
Heliocentrism vs. Geocentrism
Nowadays, when we hear of religious intolerance, most folk tend to think of Islam, forgetting that Christianity and Judaism among others have not had a terribly glorious past (or present) in their acceptance of heterodoxy.
On this day in 1600, the astronomer Giordano Bruno, was burned at the stake by the Inquisition after being found guilty of heresy.
Inspired by Copernicus, he argued for an infinite universe, with our sun as merely one of an infinite number of independent heavenly bodies. Something that we now take for granted.
Science offers us as much awe and wonderment as any religion ever can, as the espousal of the heliocentric cosmology shows.
It is the lot of humankind to forever be seeking answers to “unknowable” questions, which is why immutable dogma and superstition will always lose out to science and enlightenment.
On this day in 1600, the astronomer Giordano Bruno, was burned at the stake by the Inquisition after being found guilty of heresy.
Inspired by Copernicus, he argued for an infinite universe, with our sun as merely one of an infinite number of independent heavenly bodies. Something that we now take for granted.
Science offers us as much awe and wonderment as any religion ever can, as the espousal of the heliocentric cosmology shows.
It is the lot of humankind to forever be seeking answers to “unknowable” questions, which is why immutable dogma and superstition will always lose out to science and enlightenment.
Tuesday, 16 February 2010
Tories out of touch with the real world
The Tories have recently claimed that more than half of all girls in deprived areas fall pregnant before their 18th birthday.
The claim is at best inept and at worst, totally bonkers.
The Tories are so out of touch with family life in Britain that they believe over half of teenage girls in the poorest areas fall pregnant, our town and cities are more like The Wire, and that folk will get married for a few extra quid.
If they really believe Britain is like this, it’s amazing that Tory MPs can pluck up the courage to leave their mansions.
"They should lower their drawbridges, spend less time tending their moats and duck houses, and join the rest of us in the real world", so said Danny Alexander, and I totally agree with him.
The claim is at best inept and at worst, totally bonkers.
The Tories are so out of touch with family life in Britain that they believe over half of teenage girls in the poorest areas fall pregnant, our town and cities are more like The Wire, and that folk will get married for a few extra quid.
If they really believe Britain is like this, it’s amazing that Tory MPs can pluck up the courage to leave their mansions.
"They should lower their drawbridges, spend less time tending their moats and duck houses, and join the rest of us in the real world", so said Danny Alexander, and I totally agree with him.
Monday, 15 February 2010
Gong Hei Fat Choi
Happy Chinese New Year, year of the Metal Tiger.
We're off to Chinatown in Manchester for lunch later today for some dim sum. Yum Yum!
Another thing to commemorate today is the formal use of the term The Labour Party on this day in 1906 by MPs of the Labour Representation Committee.
An interesting footnote was the election of Keir Hardie, as Chairman of the PLP, by one vote over David Shackleton, "The Lancashire Giant".
We're off to Chinatown in Manchester for lunch later today for some dim sum. Yum Yum!
Another thing to commemorate today is the formal use of the term The Labour Party on this day in 1906 by MPs of the Labour Representation Committee.
An interesting footnote was the election of Keir Hardie, as Chairman of the PLP, by one vote over David Shackleton, "The Lancashire Giant".
Sunday, 14 February 2010
The BNP the long slide to oblivion
In his early stand-up routines Woody Allen had a skit which went something along the lines of, "We were married by a Reform rabbi in Long Island. A VERY Reform rabbi. A Nazi".
Which brings me to the BNP and their constitution on which they are voting today. Apparently it is to vote to lift the ban on membership on "non-indigenous Caucasians".
They have lined up a sadly-deluded Sikh "Uncle Tom" by the name of Rajinder Singh "the honour of becoming the first ethnic minority member".
Of course, there is the entryist option as practiced by the Militant tendency and the Labour party in the 1970s and early 1980s, namely that thousands of people from various ethnic minorities apply to join en masse and then take over the BNP from within.
Better yet, for that same thousands to apply for jobs with the BNP here and especially in Brussels and when refused to take them to employment and industrial tribunals.
A bit of mischief-making in politics can only help show how odious and ultimately ridiculous the British Nazi Party is.
Which brings me to the BNP and their constitution on which they are voting today. Apparently it is to vote to lift the ban on membership on "non-indigenous Caucasians".
They have lined up a sadly-deluded Sikh "Uncle Tom" by the name of Rajinder Singh "the honour of becoming the first ethnic minority member".
Of course, there is the entryist option as practiced by the Militant tendency and the Labour party in the 1970s and early 1980s, namely that thousands of people from various ethnic minorities apply to join en masse and then take over the BNP from within.
Better yet, for that same thousands to apply for jobs with the BNP here and especially in Brussels and when refused to take them to employment and industrial tribunals.
A bit of mischief-making in politics can only help show how odious and ultimately ridiculous the British Nazi Party is.
Saturday, 13 February 2010
Greece, Liberty, and Democracy
One of my favourite films is "Z" directed by Costa Gavras, starring Yves Montand, Jean-Louis Trintignant, and Irene Papas based on the book of the same name by Vassilis Vassilikos.
It tells the story of the toppling of the democratic government in Greece. A liberal politician (Montand) is murdered at an anti-nuclear demo, the right- wing military and the police try to cover up the murder and their complicity in it.
It is powerful, tense, and riveting... beautifully acted, deftly directed, with a haunting soundtrack by Mikis Theodorakis.
Which brings me to the problems in Greece today and the EU's response.
Whilst many commentators are gloating over the situation and have recommended leaving Greece to sink. I'd like to remind folk who may have forgotten that it was not that long ago when Greece was under the yoke of a military dictatorship.
It was joining the European Union (then EEC) that helped to nurture, nourish, and nurse that fragile flower, democracy, in the land that gave us the word and indeed the concept.
So when Europhobes say they want us to withdraw from the EU complaining that they were duped and only wanted to join an economic market, I say that only shows the paucity of their imagination.
In fact the idea of an ever-closer union is not only exciting and attractive but vital to our national and international interests and the greater cause of freedom in an ever-globalised world.
To finish with a quote from the film, "The military banned long hair; mini-skirts; Sophocles; Tolstoy; Euripedes; smashing glasses after drinking toasts; strikes; Aristophanes; Ionesco; Sartre; The Beatles; Albee; Pinter; freedom of the press; sociology; Beckett; Dostoyevsky; Gorky; modern music; popular music; the new mathematics; and the letter "Z", which in ancient Greek means 'He is alive!'".
It tells the story of the toppling of the democratic government in Greece. A liberal politician (Montand) is murdered at an anti-nuclear demo, the right- wing military and the police try to cover up the murder and their complicity in it.
It is powerful, tense, and riveting... beautifully acted, deftly directed, with a haunting soundtrack by Mikis Theodorakis.
Which brings me to the problems in Greece today and the EU's response.
Whilst many commentators are gloating over the situation and have recommended leaving Greece to sink. I'd like to remind folk who may have forgotten that it was not that long ago when Greece was under the yoke of a military dictatorship.
It was joining the European Union (then EEC) that helped to nurture, nourish, and nurse that fragile flower, democracy, in the land that gave us the word and indeed the concept.
So when Europhobes say they want us to withdraw from the EU complaining that they were duped and only wanted to join an economic market, I say that only shows the paucity of their imagination.
In fact the idea of an ever-closer union is not only exciting and attractive but vital to our national and international interests and the greater cause of freedom in an ever-globalised world.
To finish with a quote from the film, "The military banned long hair; mini-skirts; Sophocles; Tolstoy; Euripedes; smashing glasses after drinking toasts; strikes; Aristophanes; Ionesco; Sartre; The Beatles; Albee; Pinter; freedom of the press; sociology; Beckett; Dostoyevsky; Gorky; modern music; popular music; the new mathematics; and the letter "Z", which in ancient Greek means 'He is alive!'".
Friday, 12 February 2010
Red Hand Day
Today is Red Hand Day, which seeks to draw attention to the fates of child soldiers, children who are forced to serve as soldiers in wars and armed conflicts.
The aim is to call for action against this vile practice, and to support children who suffer from this awful child abuse.
Children have been used as soldiers in armed conflicts in sub-Saharan Africa, SE Asia, and Latin America.Some quarter of a million children are being brutalised in this fashion across the globe.
The main focus of the work done by more than a hundred organisations inluding UNICEF, MSF, AI, the Red Cross & Red Crescent is to disarm, demobilise, and re-integrate these often-traumatised children.More power to their elbow.
The aim is to call for action against this vile practice, and to support children who suffer from this awful child abuse.
Children have been used as soldiers in armed conflicts in sub-Saharan Africa, SE Asia, and Latin America.Some quarter of a million children are being brutalised in this fashion across the globe.
The main focus of the work done by more than a hundred organisations inluding UNICEF, MSF, AI, the Red Cross & Red Crescent is to disarm, demobilise, and re-integrate these often-traumatised children.More power to their elbow.
Thursday, 11 February 2010
Auntie and Mandela
There's an "ad" running at present on the Beeb showing a series of vignettes with various people glued to their telly/radio watching/listening transfixed as the relevant commentary intones things like, President Kennedy being shot, Man on the moon, etc., the tagline being, “where were you when you heard the news”.
Well twenty years ago today I was in Manchester watching the box, waiting for the release of Nelson Mandela, it was running about an hour late.
When it did happen, it still seemed very surreal, but utterly awe-inspiring. After nearly three decades in prison, the man whom most people acknowledge (we hope) as the Father of the Nation was freed at last, and armed guards escorted him to a crowd of many thousands.
It was a great day, and great coverage from Auntie!
I for one do not see any benefit to be gained from the (virtually) daily outpouring of bile against the Beeb from the right-wing press, for were the BBC to go, we would stand to lose so much more!
Well twenty years ago today I was in Manchester watching the box, waiting for the release of Nelson Mandela, it was running about an hour late.
When it did happen, it still seemed very surreal, but utterly awe-inspiring. After nearly three decades in prison, the man whom most people acknowledge (we hope) as the Father of the Nation was freed at last, and armed guards escorted him to a crowd of many thousands.
It was a great day, and great coverage from Auntie!
I for one do not see any benefit to be gained from the (virtually) daily outpouring of bile against the Beeb from the right-wing press, for were the BBC to go, we would stand to lose so much more!
Tuesday, 9 February 2010
Hold your Hour
Today is the anniversary of the birth of one of my favourite authors, Brendan Behan.
I first came across his work when at university, a friend gave me a copy of Borstal Boy, and a few weeks later I went to see a student production of The Hostage.
Both works are incredibly individual and I would urge anyone reading this to read both and if you get a chance to see the latter or indeed his other play The Quare Fellow.
The Hostage was written in Gaelic and Behan himself translated it into English. It shows the detention, in a teeming Dublin house of ill repute, of a craftless cockney British conscript seized by the IRA as a hostage pending the scheduled execution in Belfast of an unseen IRA volunteer.
The hostage falls in love with the maid who promises not to forget him. In the end, the hostage dies accidentally during a bungled Gardai raid, shot by the police.
The main themes of the play are innocence and power, the arbitrary nature of authority, and the human cost of war.
I first came across his work when at university, a friend gave me a copy of Borstal Boy, and a few weeks later I went to see a student production of The Hostage.
Both works are incredibly individual and I would urge anyone reading this to read both and if you get a chance to see the latter or indeed his other play The Quare Fellow.
The Hostage was written in Gaelic and Behan himself translated it into English. It shows the detention, in a teeming Dublin house of ill repute, of a craftless cockney British conscript seized by the IRA as a hostage pending the scheduled execution in Belfast of an unseen IRA volunteer.
The hostage falls in love with the maid who promises not to forget him. In the end, the hostage dies accidentally during a bungled Gardai raid, shot by the police.
The main themes of the play are innocence and power, the arbitrary nature of authority, and the human cost of war.
Monday, 8 February 2010
£63bn PFI bill for the NHS
The NHS is facing a £63bn bill for PFI hospitals which are only worth a fraction of that.
The NHS still owes £58bn on more than a hundred PFI contracts over the next three decades, and will have to pay back more than £7bn in PFI payments over the next Parliament alone (2010-2015).
This is the disastrous reality of Labour’s managemant of the NHS. We’re in one of the most difficult financial periods in the NHS’s history and this Government’s legacy will be a mountain of debt. Despite the huge sums of money we owe for these hospitals, many will never end up in public hands. Hospitals all over the country are mortgaged to the hilt and there are serious concerns that these repayments will lead to cuts in vital services.
We need a new approach to public services in this country. By setting up an infrastructure bank we Lib Dems will ensure that key projects get access to the funding they need to revitalise our economy.
We Lib Dems will change how the NHS works so that patients come first and money goes further.
The NHS still owes £58bn on more than a hundred PFI contracts over the next three decades, and will have to pay back more than £7bn in PFI payments over the next Parliament alone (2010-2015).
This is the disastrous reality of Labour’s managemant of the NHS. We’re in one of the most difficult financial periods in the NHS’s history and this Government’s legacy will be a mountain of debt. Despite the huge sums of money we owe for these hospitals, many will never end up in public hands. Hospitals all over the country are mortgaged to the hilt and there are serious concerns that these repayments will lead to cuts in vital services.
We need a new approach to public services in this country. By setting up an infrastructure bank we Lib Dems will ensure that key projects get access to the funding they need to revitalise our economy.
We Lib Dems will change how the NHS works so that patients come first and money goes further.
Saturday, 6 February 2010
Britain not "broken" - Tories wrong again
In this week's Economist there are two powerful pieces, "It has become fashionable to say that British society is in a mess and getting worse. It isn’t" and "Crime, family break-up, drunks and drugs: the Conservatives, and apparently plenty of voters, think that Britain has a “broken society”. Does the claim stand up?" that well and truly scotch the Tories' dangerously seductive narrative of "Broken Britain" and go on to argue that in fact it could be a calamitous misdiagnosis of the state of affairs.
They go on to conclude that, "Britain has a crunched economy, an out-of-control deficit and plenty of social problems; but it is not 'broken'".
Lib Dems like me concur wholeheartedly.
They go on to conclude that, "Britain has a crunched economy, an out-of-control deficit and plenty of social problems; but it is not 'broken'".
Lib Dems like me concur wholeheartedly.
Friday, 5 February 2010
BoJo - More Rigoletto than Feste
In my previous post, I said that Boris Johnson was acting the Court Jester at the Court of King Cameron.
I should clarify and say that I had in mind Rigoletto (although I am no way suggesting that he is capable of hiring an assassin to murder his master), rather than Feste in Twelfth Night, a jester "wise enough to play the fool".
Of course my favourite court jester was the film of the same name starring Danny Kaye: The chalice from the palace have the pellet with the poison? No, the pellet with the poison's in the vessel with the pestle.
I should clarify and say that I had in mind Rigoletto (although I am no way suggesting that he is capable of hiring an assassin to murder his master), rather than Feste in Twelfth Night, a jester "wise enough to play the fool".
Of course my favourite court jester was the film of the same name starring Danny Kaye: The chalice from the palace have the pellet with the poison? No, the pellet with the poison's in the vessel with the pestle.
BoJo - More Rigoletto than Feste
In my previous post, I said that Boris Johnson was acting the Court Jester at the Court of King Cameron.
I should clarify and say that I had in mind Rigoletto (although I am no way suggesting that he is capable of hiring an assassin to murder his master), rather than Feste in Twelfth Night, a jester "wise enough to play the fool".
Tories: Soft on Crime - Soft in the head
As a sitting magistrate, I generally do not like to comment on "Crime and Punishment" issues.
I do not want in anyway to compromise (or give the impression) my impartiality and independence.
However, figures put out by the Tory Shadow Home Secretary alleging that violent crime had risen sharply under Labour, and their subsequent rebuttal by Sir Michael Scholar (chair of the UK Statistics Authority), I feel, needs a comment.
I don't mind when politicians get it wrong, we all do, but by giving an exaggerated picture of the "growth" of violent crime up and down the country, they are playing fast and loose with the public's feeling of security and safety, and indeed wrongly worsening their perception of "broken Britain", for party political gain.
Which brings me to a story about BoJo (Mayor of London, Court Jester to the Court of King Cameron) wanting to cut the number of police officers by 500-ish in the capital, despite him campaigning for election on making crime-fighting his top priority.
This would be the first major cut in police numbers in London since policing was devolved a decade ago.
You simply cannot have the wannabe Tory Home Secretary stoking up people's fears about violent crime on the one hand, and the most powerful elected Tory reducing police numbers on the other.
They are a shambles, and should not be allowed to to ru(i)n the country after the next general election.
I do not want in anyway to compromise (or give the impression) my impartiality and independence.
However, figures put out by the Tory Shadow Home Secretary alleging that violent crime had risen sharply under Labour, and their subsequent rebuttal by Sir Michael Scholar (chair of the UK Statistics Authority), I feel, needs a comment.
I don't mind when politicians get it wrong, we all do, but by giving an exaggerated picture of the "growth" of violent crime up and down the country, they are playing fast and loose with the public's feeling of security and safety, and indeed wrongly worsening their perception of "broken Britain", for party political gain.
Which brings me to a story about BoJo (Mayor of London, Court Jester to the Court of King Cameron) wanting to cut the number of police officers by 500-ish in the capital, despite him campaigning for election on making crime-fighting his top priority.
This would be the first major cut in police numbers in London since policing was devolved a decade ago.
You simply cannot have the wannabe Tory Home Secretary stoking up people's fears about violent crime on the one hand, and the most powerful elected Tory reducing police numbers on the other.
They are a shambles, and should not be allowed to to ru(i)n the country after the next general election.
Thursday, 4 February 2010
Spending cuts should be based on economic indicators, not Tory dogma
The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) has produced a report today saying that there is still massive uncertainty over the outlook for the British economy.
It is critical that the Government has a plan to tackle the public finances which is flexible enough to adapt to the changing economic situation.
The IFS rightly points out that cutting spending further this year would be extremely dangerous given the weakness of the economy.
Not surprisingly, the Tories are now desperately trying to play down their desire to do just that.
When, and by how much, public spending needs to be cut must be based on economic indicators, not Tory political dogma.
It is critical that the Government has a plan to tackle the public finances which is flexible enough to adapt to the changing economic situation.
The IFS rightly points out that cutting spending further this year would be extremely dangerous given the weakness of the economy.
Not surprisingly, the Tories are now desperately trying to play down their desire to do just that.
When, and by how much, public spending needs to be cut must be based on economic indicators, not Tory political dogma.
Não se muda já como soía
And if there had been more of the world, They would have reached it.
So wrote Luís de Camões in the 16th century in the Lusiads, an epic poem celebrating the voyages of Vasco de Gama in Homeric fashion.
The Lusiads are Portugal's national epic, much in the way as Virgil's Aeneid, Ferdowi's Shahnameh, or indeed Homer's Odyssey
So wrote Luís de Camões in the 16th century in the Lusiads, an epic poem celebrating the voyages of Vasco de Gama in Homeric fashion.
The Lusiads are Portugal's national epic, much in the way as Virgil's Aeneid, Ferdowi's Shahnameh, or indeed Homer's Odyssey
Wednesday, 3 February 2010
Blowin' in the wind...
It is fifty years now since PM Harold Macmillan, at a speech in Cape Town, said, “The wind of change is blowing through this continent. Whether we like it or not, this growth of national consciousness is a political fact”.
This speech at the time, and since, has always been used as an example of the pragmatic attitude of the "modern" Conservative party.
For me however, the key phrase is "Whether we like it or not", of course, we like it!
Amandla!
This speech at the time, and since, has always been used as an example of the pragmatic attitude of the "modern" Conservative party.
For me however, the key phrase is "Whether we like it or not", of course, we like it!
Amandla!
Tuesday, 2 February 2010
The Hills Report on Equality in Britain
I really am at a loss as to explain how the Tories are going to fix this "Broken Britain" they keep banging on about.But then again, I'm not alone, it seems that they don't either.
They vacillate between Senna the Soothsayer in Up Pompeii ("Woe, Woe, and thrice Woe") and Private Frazer in Dad's Army ("We're doomed") to merrily chanting "Here we go gathering cuts in May, On a cold and frosty morning".
As we know when you have cuts in the public sector, unless done sensitively, and not swingeingly, it is those at the bottom end of society who disproportionately suffer most.
The Hills report "An Anatomy of Economic Inequality in the UK" shows that the richest 10% are more than 100 times as wealthy as the poorest 10%.
Are the Tories going to set this right? Are they heck as like. They started the trend with Mrs Thatcher.
Lib Dem policies of raising the tax threshold to £10k, and the "mansion tax" on properties over £2m will benefit four million poorer people and pensioners.
What do the Tories propose? A tax cut for the RICHEST 3,000.
Get your priorities right, eh?
They vacillate between Senna the Soothsayer in Up Pompeii ("Woe, Woe, and thrice Woe") and Private Frazer in Dad's Army ("We're doomed") to merrily chanting "Here we go gathering cuts in May, On a cold and frosty morning".
As we know when you have cuts in the public sector, unless done sensitively, and not swingeingly, it is those at the bottom end of society who disproportionately suffer most.
The Hills report "An Anatomy of Economic Inequality in the UK" shows that the richest 10% are more than 100 times as wealthy as the poorest 10%.
Are the Tories going to set this right? Are they heck as like. They started the trend with Mrs Thatcher.
Lib Dem policies of raising the tax threshold to £10k, and the "mansion tax" on properties over £2m will benefit four million poorer people and pensioners.
What do the Tories propose? A tax cut for the RICHEST 3,000.
Get your priorities right, eh?
Monday, 1 February 2010
Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution
Today marks the day when slavery was officially abolished in the United States.
President Lincoln was concerned that the Emancipation Proclamation would be seen as a temporary war measure and so the amendment was a means of guaranteeing the permanent abolition of slavery.
Section 1. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.
The US has been, is, and can be capable of achieving great things in the name of freedom, but when it gets it wrong...
Today we should celebrate!
President Lincoln was concerned that the Emancipation Proclamation would be seen as a temporary war measure and so the amendment was a means of guaranteeing the permanent abolition of slavery.
Section 1. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.
The US has been, is, and can be capable of achieving great things in the name of freedom, but when it gets it wrong...
Today we should celebrate!
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