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Posts Tagged ‘A United Kingdom’

The Euro Crisis has thrown up an amusing spectacle, a British Conservative Government urging the Euro countries to “ever closer union”. On the one hand with so much of UK trade bound up with the Euro Zone, it is obvious that it is not in the UK’s best interests that the Euro should fail and therefore if tighter economic integration of the Euro Zone countries is the “answer” to it not doing so, then so be it.

Perhaps from a UK perspective, we are finally reaching a “tipping point” with regard to our relationship with the EU whereby without too much effort, we in the UK can move on our way quite naturally without having to make a “Big Decision”, like being an island race, many decisions are made for us already, same as if we were a “Continental Country”.

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Obviously with the recent riots, one can expect an awful lot of chair squirming and finger pointing as people try to avoid any blame. Although I can ridicule politicians as easily as the next person, I was delighted with both David Cameron and Ed Miliband albeit for different reasons.

Cameron for avoiding that all too familiar “We will hold a Public Enquiry” so much beloved of all Governments caught out by unexpected events and wanting to kick things into the long grass plus for Miliband him accepting that some degree of blame is attached to the Labour years in Office for the attitudes that seem to have taken root so, well done to both of them.

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There are three stories that I want to connect together or, reflect on in this blog, the Student Riots and Gilmour, The Tottenham Riots and Black People and finally, the Financial Crisis and in my view what ties them altogether is combination of things, a totally unrealistic collection of mindsets, expectations or lack of and the here and now.

If you believe that ideas can change this World, now more than ever newer and better ideas are needed is my view. In one sense and although they are certainly of very different scales, what strikes me strongest about all them is the pettiness and foolishness that encompasses all three, there are no grand themes to be seen in any of them.

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Over the weekend in The Independent, they obviously had a crisis of confidence in the whole “EU Project” which is hilarious, being British always requires the necessity of being at least mildly sceptical, even of those things of which you might approve. In the case of the EU, it has not been anything of which any person of right mind would give unqualified support to. http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/leading-articles/leading-article-europes-crisis-of-legitimacy-2332710.html

What made it all rather funnier was an article from the one time Minister for Europe, Denis MacShane who fitted the job in between the various ups and downs of his personal life. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/denis-macshane-slash-and-burn-less-brussels-better-europe-2332659.html

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Actually, Prince Philip is not Greek, born in Crete yes but his family was of Danish origins. There was on the BBC a rather splendid programme on his life and times, “The Duke at 90″, well worth watching.

There are not words enough to celebrate this most splendid man on his 90th birthday except to say, a Very Happy Birthday and thanks for great service to Queen and Country. In addition, greatest thanks for never being “politically correct” and having an obvious great sense of humour, you have always been a total tonic for the majority of us, long may you continue to be so otherwise we will be stuck with the mealy mouthed of this world.

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As I start to write this, not quite all the results of last night’s Local, Celtic National and AV Referendum results are in but way more than sufficient to describe the outcomes and the shape of the “story” if not complete in every detail.

The most obvious headlines focus on just how much of a kicking the LibDems got, how lightly the Conservatives got off and that for the first time the SNP have a majority in the Scottish Parliament. The story for Labour is hardly worth bothering with and as Ed Miliband is such a daft looking bloke, I didn’t want to spoil my banner picture by including him in it.

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Well with all the fuss in the run up to the Royal Wedding on Friday, there are bound to be a fair selection of malcontent s and grumpy naysayers on display. There was a Baghot colum in the Economist on just such a note: http://www.economist.com/node/18584926

I don’t know why these people bother, it might be just because they like to moan a lot about anything be it X Factor, Royalty, Coronation Street, Football, Cricket, Tennis, MP’s Expenses… For the terminally grumpy, the list is endless, there will always be something to moan about to keep them “happy” !

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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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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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