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Archive for the ‘Reform and Change’ Category

It is still, I find surprising how a news item or story can trigger a sudden and on the surface at least, a new insight into topics I have previously expressed an opinion on. The Independents occasional correspondent in Paris wrote upon the loss of the European Unity Ideal which, you can check out for yourself: http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/john-lichfield/john-lichfield-european-unity-is-an-ideal-that-is-being-crushed-by-crude-nationalism-2273768.html

Although not his intention I am sure, it made me realise just how far and fast the ‘argument’ has moved on and at some speed since 2008…

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Here we go, the “Left Wing metropolitan classes” strike again ! Off the back of the government being advised to halt all further “ennoblements” to the House of Lords because it is “Full”, the Independent in yet another air headed Editorial, declares that it is urgent to reform the Lords… http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/leading-articles/leading-article-lords-reform-must-be-delayed-no-longer-2271056.html

I know I keep saying it but because the Editorials in the Independent are consistently so intellectually lightweight, I swear they are written by 6^th Formers on Work Experience placements. The proof will come if we get an article on saving Wales !

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The reality is that the National Health Service, rather like Education, has become a ‘Sacred Cow’ in British Politics and that ‘connection’ truly does need to be broken asap, it clouds all rational debate and discussion.

This is a truly “Difficult Area” for any Government of any political colour and the practical realities have been shrouded in pointless emotion for far too long. Yes, it is good for the present Government to have to “Present and Sell” their proposals to us the public/electorate in some detail but it is also a chance for serious debate.

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There is a very amusing article in The Economist concerning the ‘election’ of a new Hereditary Peer following the death of a former incumbent and a bit of a “must read” for those interested in the oddities of the British Constitution including it’s customs and practice : http://www.economist.com/node/18443539

In reality though, it all hinges around the rather foolish (in my opinion) and demonic desire to “Reform the Lords” without any regard to understanding the basic problem that however “quaint” the Lords may seem and therefore ripe for reform, the real obstacle to any meaningful reform lies in the House of Commons itself and that ‘problem’ has thwarted every attempt at ‘reform of the Lords’ for over 100 years. Truly, the “little darlings in the Commons” never ever learn, total dullards as they are.

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Despite the inevitable yobs that attach themselves to any sort of “Demonstration” and end up confronting the Police, last Sunday’s “No Cuts March” went off pretty well considering that possibly 250,000 people took part.

Will it make a difference ? The answer as with the “Countryside Alliance” one that attracted 400,000 opposing the Fox Hunting ban when Blair was PM, is likely NO so, one hopes everybody had a jolly day out and went home with a satisfied self righteous glow in their cheeks.

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Having recently got involved in another waste of time argument about the EU with overseas readers who commentate on the Economist discussion boards and find it impossible to understand why many in the UK want out and from there…It is all a total waste of energy.

However, the useful thing that sometimes emerges from these things is the opportunity to rationalise your own thinking and concentrate on the core reasons for why you hold the opinions you do. Sometimes, your “object”, in my case the EU, is little more than a token for the real problem, something that represents an ‘obstacle’ to solving real world problems but of itself, is probably just not that important.

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The Economist has a number of EU related articles on the Eurozone and all that load of Uncle Tom Cobbly and All stuff. http://www.economist.com/node/18333103. Although the Economist, in my opinion rather blindly, promotes the Euro and the EU as a “fundamentally good thing”despite any facts to the contrary, I quite like it as a newspaper, it is far less turgid than most and better focused than the majority of the British Media.

Whilst I feel that for psychological and the practical reasons of keeping our Politicians and Establishment more honest and bereft of excuses for bad decisions, the UK would be better off outside the EU, I really do not wish to be associated with the kind of idiotic “ranters” you get with UKIP. My reasons are pragmatic and not concerned with wrapping myself in the Union Flag.

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Once again I notice, The Independent has ‘A’ level students writing their Editorials and in this case, on the European Court of Human Rights. http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/leading-articles/leading-article-britain-should-stick-to-the-human-rights-gold-standard-2236059.html

However and hopefully, part of writing a blog like this is to consider issues and develop your own thinking on them and in this regard, I am grateful for what was a rubbish Editorial for provoking me into thinking about the “Real Issue” behind all this.

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It is interesting just how many on the Tory Right have muttered complaints that “…If only Cameron had been more right wing, we would have won a majority…” Oddly, it is matched on the Labour Party side by those that feel that their ‘salvation’ lies in being ever more “Leftie” but of these two extremes, the Labour one is more threatening to it than the right wing Tories are to Cameron.

In the end and as Blair that ultimate “Champagne Socialist” showed, success at the ballot box and jobs for Labour boys and girls, trumps supposed “party principles” every time !

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There was an interesting article by John Rentoul in the Independent on how David Cameron risks being caught between a ‘pincer movement’ by the Tory Right and the Liberal Elite over the European Court of Human Rights: http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/john-rentoul/john-rentoul-a-pincer-movement-on-no-10-2219869.html#comment-153134186

But as is often the case, it led me to think somewhat beyond the current difficulties of ‘Votes for Prisoners’ and the right for convicted people to ask to be removed from the Sex Offenders Register after a period of time, it leads me to wonder about the practical limits on political power.

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