There is a striking article here by the editor of the ‘Spectator’ – that’s the current one, rather than the former one and current Prime Minister. Entitled “Sajid Javid: it’s time to tear up the old investment rules”, the piece ascertains, as though in a blinding revelation: With government able to borrow at 0.8 per… Read more
Gang culture for toffs? understanding the right wing mind – part three
Sanna Marin, the Finnish Prime minister, who I’ve referred to previously, also has another good quote: I have never thought about my age or gender. I think more about the motivations that brought me into politics. Here is somebody concerned not about her interest group (or ‘gang’), but fired up about why she wants to… Read more
The right to work less
I see the 34 year old Finnish Prime Minister, Sanna Marin, is in favour of a 4 day 24 hour working week. So far so encouraging, and for all those who suggest that it will be fine for some but no good for the ambulance service or doctors, it is worth noting that where these… Read more
‘Unleashing the potential’ of individuals entails continuing education
Yet the ‘Guardian’ reports that 3.8 million fewer people are in adult education compared to the beginning of the decade. This is of course, the inevitable result of austerity, though how spending less on education can ever represent good value for anyone, let alone a currency issuing government is quite beyond me. How much more… Read more
Rail ticket prices went down yesterday
No, not in the UK where they generally went up by 2.7% in spite of British trains’ poor timekeeping, but in Germany, where all long distance fares have gone down by 10%. In this way, more people should travel by train and the climate should be protected. … The reason is the federal government’s new… Read more
Absolute power depends on our outdated voting system
I feel obliged to point out, since I really think we must beware of our new government, that on a vote of only 44% of the actual voters, it has, as a result of our absurd voting system, been delivered power which is likely to be absolute. The old adage of absolute power corrupting is… Read more
Were the Postal Votes really up by 19%?
The ‘Herald Scotland’ has reported concerns over Conservative links to an election count firm involved in postal voting. Yet the irony seems to be that the problem in England and Wales is even worse. As AC Grayling suggests: Mere speculation, but: dodgy postal vote spike, dodgy Tory funding, Kuenssberg breaking electoral rules – what’s the… Read more
A memorial to 2019 and – regrettably – a sneaking suspicion for 2020
Best wishes and hope (albeit – personally – in increasing desperation!) for everyone who has been kind enough to read us and visit, for 2020. May we all endeavour to change the course that seems to have been set…. Read more
The competitive insecurity of money as a religion
‘Le Monde’ and also – in more detail – the ‘New York Times’ have reported on President Macron’s interesting recent efforts in West Africa. Macron has persuaded the ex French West African colonies to abolish their previous ‘CFA’ currency, requiring 50% of foreign currency reserves to be kept in the French Treasury (who knew?). A… Read more
All we can say is that at least Johnson knows who Plato is…
…whereas I’m not at all sure that Trump does. But as Johnson is so educated it makes his continual political lying even more morally contemptible than Trump’s. Of course know of him or not, the poison of disinformation is exactly the same…. Read more
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