Provocative Opinions
This page is primarily personal opinions about topical issues. Over the next few months, the reasoning will be disclosed in the strategies being developed on other pages in this section of the website. Further comments welcome.
The Professionals First Published 20-07-09
I have just picked up this interesting piece in The Economist of 13th June. The average tenure of a cabinet minister in the grand old days of Wilson, Heath & Co was 3.0 years. In the early years of Thatcher it went up to 3.5 years, before falling back to 2.0 years. Major and the early Blair kept the tenure at 2.5 years, but since it has dropped to under 1.5 years.
Can they possible provide professionalism and leadership? An oh, just in case the Permanent Secretaries can carry them through, let us restructure the Departments involved as well – that will keep them busy.
When the lights go out First Published 20-03-09
Many senior engineers believe that power brownouts after 2015 are now inevitable. The only question is over how long these inconveniences will be a feature of our lives. I lived through the 3 Day week and can assure any reader who has not, that it is very inconvenient and that there are no votes for the government in power at the time.
We need more power generation of ALL types authorised now!
The British Media First Published 18-07-09
They represent us – or do they? They are unelected and are only responsive to newspaper sales or viewing figures. Like today’s scientist dependent upon research funding for climate change of vaccine development, it is best to use only the most extreme projections.
Will the linking of military deaths to withdrawing tend to save or cost lives? Undoubtedly cost if the Taliban think the can drive us out by more IEDs.
I note much more moderate tone in the BBC over swine ‘flu in the last few days. Deaths are still rare and a fraction of the toll of normal flu. On the news of 20 July the presenter and medical profession finally agreed the issue had been over hyped.
On the topic of deaths did you know that more now die in hospital though hospital acquired diseases, than die on the roads?
The Healthcare Challenge First Published 18-06-09
I am privileged or had the foresight to maintain my healthcare insurance. I am grateful. But when I see the bills, I often ask myself and did once ask my provider, why they do not challenge some of the more excessive charges. Only they can contain the costs and establish realistc norms for quality care.
Tennis First Published 18-07-09
I know it is a done deal, indeed of some years, but when one locks at the 5 set epics at Wimbledon Men’s tennis and the much tamer 3 sets games of the Ladies, is equal pay really fair. Equal pay for equal work is undoubtedly fair, but for political correctness?
Pro Europe First Published 18-06-09
I am for the principles of Europe and support the suggestions made in the article “Trouble at the Polls” of The Economist of 13 June 2009. I hope that the new batch of MEPs from all countries can begin the process to rationalise the excesses and stupidities and ensure that perception of the concept improves in the voters mind. Otherwise several babies are in danger of being thrown out with the bathwater or a whole litter of puppies flushed down the loo.
The Arts First Published 16-06-09
I am not one who partakes of much of the Arts. I do believe that all children should be given a broad appreciation of our literary heritage, with fine arts and classical music. But beyond school, culture should not be funded by the State. In these more affluent days, those who attend the theatre, opera or ballet should pay the cost of producing the event. Pop and football fans do, so why should the predominately well off be subsided by the relatively poor.
David Cameron’s Comments First Published 27-05-09
It is encouraging to see that the themes on the Impact on Government Policy page are in line with what David Cameron and others have been saying. I would support, fewer MPs, fixed term parliaments, fixed timescale to the bye-election date in vacant seats and more powers devolved to the local community and with more revenue generated locally and less provided by Central Government.
MPs’ Expenses First Published 10-05-09
What could be simpler than “Receipted and Reasonable”? Even with a complex set of rules, judgment calls will still have to be made. It looks like they will choose a fixed “overnight rate”. It has the merit of being simple, but is likely to be more expensive. Will there be a graduation depending upon the distance of the member’s constituency from Westminster . It is getting more important to know how many MPs are “clean”.
The Taxpayers Alliance solution (http://www.taxpayersalliance.com/ 15 June 2009) suggests buying up the Olympic village and housing all MPs there. Really, think about it. A terrorists dream, all our MPs in one place. Whereas some people may wish to chastise them, losing a new lot of 2010 in one go during 2013 would be inconvenient. At least now they live on ordinary streets and see parts of the general population, not in a necessarily fortified enclave. And even DSS home seekers have some rights to choose where they live.
Rush to a General Election First Published 17-05-09
This is not likely to happen and would not satisfactorily solve the problem. Local parties have to have time to de-select and nominate new, clean MPs. The Local and European elections have been enough of a warning, but a sizable number of UKIP MEPs are elected it will do further harm to our reputation in Europe .
An election next year rather than this October is now more likely. See The Economist of 13 June 2009 “Reprieved” for corroboration.
Failed Motion First Published 27-05-09
It is a pity that the Parliamentary Motion to freeze the TV Licence Fee failed. The BBC does need to be reminded that its reporting is not as trusted as it once was and its other successes are due in part to the collapse of the revenue to ITV companies. Many news/current affairs programmes have become “The Presenter’s Show”. I was surprised; indeed I was shocked to see on a recent visit to the USA , adverts for non-UK companies on the “BBC Channel”.
Wind Farms First Published 27-05-09
The BBC only showed once the comments of a Cambridge Professor that you would need an area the size of Wales to provide wind power to the country – that is assuming it is blowing strong enough but not too strongly. So the rump of the interview portrayed him with no reservation on wind power. Though he was still allowed to say we would need “many nuclears” as well.
DNA Database First Published 07-05-09
If you do not commit any crime, what have we to fear – why all the fuss? Are the Courts still over-protecting the perpetrators? The database is also a deterrent to those who may be tempted to commit crime.
English ONLY spoken (1) First Published 06-05-09
With the undoubted help of our American cousins, English is the pre-eminent commercial language of the world.
It is deluded to dilute its position in any way.
English ONLY spoken (2) First Published 15-05-09
Reality TV about cops, with variants on many channels, palls after a time. But the newish programme on the UK Border Agency is interesting up to now, although it may get repetitive. Clearly non-English speakers visiting their families for a finite holiday have to be allowed in without English. The programme appears to show that entry points now are well controlled. It is out in the streets that it all goes pear shaped. They raid a place with a dozen illegals and then after a Court appearance 10 of them are bound over to appear again and just abscond. More worrying because they may be more dangerous are the absconding of those let out on licence. Points for MPs when they get their mind back on their day job after the 12 week summer break.
English ONLY spoken (3) First Published 20-03-09
The brave trader of Sri Lankan origin has shown the way on the need for immigrants to have reasonable competence in the English language.
Protest on British jobs for British workers, although not applied to footballers, cannot succeed as many workers have the right to come here through the EU nor would some of our native workers wish to do such jobs as are on offer. But when we have increasing unemployment and stresses on the public purse, why spend millions on translation into multiple languages. Competence in English should be a requirement to stay here.
The government asking for £50 more on the Visa implies a right to support in their native language to each person who pays. And how much will be lost in administration as it passes through each of the agencies involved to the Local Authorities who have to provide the service?
English NOT always spoken (here (4) First Published 14-06-09
A brilliant programme on the Singer of the World from Cardiff , BBC2 14 June 2009. But it has to have everything in Welsh and English, fine if the English taxpayer is not paying for the preservation of Welsh and Gaelic.
I turned to the English Democratic Party for sustenance, but it is a poor imitation of UKIP, for England rather than Britain and absolutely against Europe with a horrible to navigate website.
Fear & Greed First Published 26-04-09
Recently 2000 scientists met in Copenhagen to discuss Climate Change. I suppose most of them flew there. Most would also depending on their future research grants (and livelihood) on making ever more dramatic predictions of impending doom to frighten the governments and population of the world.
South Pacific First Published 14-06-09
A nice programme series which showed in its first episode that volcanoes that created most of the islands are also their greatest threat to extinction, as the land rises and falls in a never-ending cycle. But in the latest BBC2 14 June 2009 it is predictably man’s fishing that is causing the problem. Contradictory and confusing sums the series up. At the first pass they pilloried the rod and line fishers (on a factory scale) but then they turned out to be the good guys as did the long net fishers, provided that they were bird friendly. Tuna the main fish at issue. I do my best to preserve the species, as I find its meat dry and uninteresting so do not consume it. No-one can approve sharks fine being cut off and the animal then tossed back into the sea.
Tuvalu an island of 12,000 people but nowhere higher than 5 metres, may succumb. A tragedy, but do not forget Canute.
The 10 Bob Note First Published 26-04-09
On my recent return from the USA my taxi driver said that the £5 note is to be phased out. I hope not! The USA still has the ubiquitous $1 note. How can they manage it when the Euro and £ cannot?
Innovation in Snooker First Published 06-05-09
The recently completed World Championship produced some wonderful games. One wonders when key shots are spoilt by an erratic movement of the cue ball, is there not some modern replacement for chalk. By its nature it is bound to leave hard flakes. What modern non slip material can replace it or the tip?
The Price of Alcohol First Published 20-03-09
The Economist www.economist.com had a timely article on page 39 of the March 7th edition.
Deaths from alcohol in Scotland are 3 times more than England . It is granted that Scotland ’s are on the way down and England ’s on the way up. But the Chief Medical Officers findings do need a much more holistic analysis.
Changing light bulbs First Published 26-04-09
Prior to a recent AGM of a company that I chair I wanted to prepare of the expected question on our now brightly lit garage, albeit with low wattage bulbs. It proved very difficult to get specifics off the Internet. Entries say that the long life bulbs are much more economic, but by how much? How much do they cost to run? What are their life-cycle costs? Late in 2008, I recall the National Trust replaced 70,000 unbroken bulbs. Was this economic? Did they account for the labour involved or were they “free volunteers”. Many of the accepted recycling polices are actually detrimental to the environment.
Too quick to criticise ourselves First Published 26-04-09
T5 was clearly a disastrous start up, but it is now the best airport terminal. I have just journeyed from T5 and back to T5 via 5 US airports and T5, despite it size is well ahead of them all, especially in the security channels.
The snow this year also heaped criticism on those who manage Britain ’s occasional snow falls. In previous years, I have been in Oslo , Boston ( Mass. ) and LA on the first day of snow and all three cities were in total chaos for 24 hours.