Archive for March, 2008
Does Size/Population, Matter ?
March 9th, 2008 | 
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Although I have used the Stars & Stripes as the background symbol to Big Ben for this essay, in reality and against the background of a refusal by the House of Commons to give the public their promised referendum on the EU Constitution/Treaty, my mind is focusing on the whole concept of democracy and the relationship between size and the amount of democracy permitted.
The United States with just over 300 million and 50 States runs an effective democracy, the EU with 27 member states is a virtual dictatorship with no democracy at all. In all fairness, let me qualify or clarify that last statement for the sake of accuracy.
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You Have to Fight Ignorance…
Coming before Parliament is a Bill on Human Embryo Research and there are many and numerous aspects to this legislation some, perhaps most of which give rise to considerable concern to people of faith or personal conscience. Now although myself a Catholic and knowing that after careful thought, the “Church” is against it, I have not looked at the issue personally and in depth. There is an important point here that whilst many outside of the Catholic Church will find difficult to comprehend; “You do what the Pope tells you…” nothing is quite like that.
Jaqui Heaves Her Bosom and Sighs…
No it’s really about Identity Cards I’m afraid. The following is basically a letter that was published in the Telegraph’s Comments section and because I’ve written upon this ID Card stupidity so many times as have others far more experienced than me, it beggars all belief that anyone in our current Government has a single brain cell to share between them. It might be worth a “Baldy Ramble” at this point:
A Bad Night for British Democracy
Last night on the floor of the House of Commons, a great disgrace was played out, the farcical defeat of giving the electorate the Referendum promised by all three parties at the last General Election. Now whilst I and others would be happy to see the UK leave the “political EU”, I do not write the word “disgrace” from the perspective of a child who has failed to get his way, I write it because it is just that, the House of Commons has told the British people that it has the right to decide the matter and not them.
Parliamentary Renewal – Basic Structures – No.5
If memory serves me well, as he awaited his coronation as Leader of the Labour Party, Gordon Brown suggested that he would consider giving the right to declare war to the House of Commons rather than retain it as a former Royal Prerogative currently “owned” by the Prime Minister of the day.
This was an intellectually flabby thing to have said lacking any clear understanding of the historical context of such a power and indeed how it operates or should operate in real terms. As the number two during Blair’s various decisions to commit UK Forces to war zones, it is quite a frightening thing to hear him say that, just how bad were Cabinet relations during those times, just how disconnected from any decision making and taking responsibility was Brown ? From the serious lack of equipment our troops went in with due to no spending, far, far away it would seem.
More on the IWAR Poll
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I must admit that I am a fan of the Daily Telegraph and not just because of my political views but mainly because they are still the best media organisation by far when it comes to letting people air their views and apart from editorial oversight, will publish even if you were very obviously a paid hack from the Labour Party. Today I read a Leader they ran on the IWAR poll and responded to one of these usual suspects who wanted to pooh, pooh the whole exercise.
It was published and although it reflects much the same arguments as in my previous blog, I attach it below (in quotes), because it really does highlight further, I think, how this one issue impinges upon the need to renew our Parliamentary processes. However and whilst not one to to believe in “Conspiracy Theories” so loved of some in the US and the Middle East because “cock up” is more British, I am starting to wonder a bit about what is going on.
Will Arrogance Prevail in the Land of the Blind ?
It is perfectly clear from the private ballot conducted by IWAR – I Want a Referendum that with 420,000 ballot papers sent out in 10 parliamentary constituencies spread across the UK which returned 152,520 replies equalling a 36.2% turnout, the results should be listened to which indicates an 88% demand for the promised Referendum denied by ‘The One Eyed One’.
British Democracy in a Spiv Society – No.4
In a previous entry I questioned the concept of unending “economic growth” in a society that is increasing in age whilst decreasing in fertility. Sure, the UK because of mass immigration from the EU and beyond, is growing in population because immigrants are more ‘fertile’ than the natives but, whilst many may well become permanent UK residents, many will also move on or “back home” and particularly if UK growth declines and “back home” wages/opportunities grow.
The key problem lies in the fact that most metrics of “growth” are spurious and often only really cover market share by one company rather than actual growth in the market a classic case being mobile phones. Yes the Apple iPhone may generate sales for O2 at the expense of its competitors but the reality is that the UK mobile phone market has reached saturation, it is novelty and replacement only with precious little opportunity for any real growth.
Why Afghanistan ?
Regardless of the Press furore surrounding the “leak” that forced Prince Harry to leave the front lines in Afghanistan, I am delighted that he at least had the opportunity albeit for 10 weeks only, to put his training to the test. As with any young man who follows the profession of arms, his desire to “be in harms way” with his men and to share that experience, is both natural and laudable.
Not just in the UK but also abroad, the news has been greeted positively by most with just the “usual suspects” with their huff, puff, gripes, moans and self importance – TV News Readers like Jon Snow (I am a wanker) and other such “journalists” . But whilst one accepts that some will never be pleased by anything, it set me thinking about not just a Prince who was there but as importantly, our other sons and daughters serving in that front line.