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A crucial issue that will no be addressed by Cameron

The pictorial is taken from The Equality Trust website. Wilkinson and Picket are authors of “The Spirit Level” and describe how inequality in societies affect a broad spectrum of social and health outcomes, and as the sub-title states-why equality is good for everyone. Even people in the shires.

The graphic shows all recent governments have done nothing for equality. It is nothing to do with the colour of the team, but that they have had the same basic premise of how society should work, and who should be influential. So, despite Cameron’s concept of a “Big Society”, progress will not be made as he does not consider the influence of the “elephant in the room”-the corporate sector.

Happy governing. And now the government has been determined, we will truly see what people are made of and what their intentions are, and who in the tent pulls the strings.

The Shires have answered

I of course refer to the learned MM in Milton Keynes.

I would like to agree with what he has said, but find I can only agree with some of it-unsurprisingly.

I do not think that the UK voted for a hung parliament either, that just happens to be the outcome. The infamous commentator who seems to have made headlines for that viewpoint is the rude unprofessional woman from Sky news.

The “country” patently has not voted for for a Conservative government either, under any interpretation of the numbers, in the same way that it has not clearly voted for any recent government outright. PR is a simple slogan that hides a lot of detail. In itself, that not a reason to reject PR, it is a reason to discuss and analyse it, appreciate the compromise. To think that there is no compromise with the current methods is foolhardy. If anything the current system is designed for sheep, and desired by those with an interest predominantly in power and not finding solutions. The current system is a form of coalition-with the compromise hidden under the broad blue or red umbrellas, as demonstrated by the pro-European and anti-European wings of the blue team. The proponents of the status quo want people to see only one aspect of the team that they agree with, and follow the rest of the hidden agenda-sheep like.

I not care for Brown, and I do not think any biography is likely to ome too close to damning. This isue is not about Brown v Cameron V Clegg, though it is much simpler to treat people as sheep and portray the issues in such as fashion. The disappointment at the Conservative performance has not just been highlighed by me, but seems to have made some headlines over the weekend via disgruntled Tories. Ones from the wrong faction maybe?

Actually, watching some of the Tories being interveiwed over the weekend has reminded me why I think so many are full of arse. William Hague back to the fore-give me strength! The boy has had so many chances, has shown a lack of judgement, and looks to have sunk relations with the rest of Europe before he has even got the chance to attach an official government title.

What will happen?

Prediction here is:

  • Cam thinks he rules the roost, and offers crap deal to Clegg
  • Clegg rejects it
  • Clegg cannot support Brown
  • Brown resigns and is replaced in due course
  • Cam sets up minority goverment with the aim of toughing it out with help of Unionists
  • Cam calls further election (this year? next year? )as Conservatives are only party with the money to fight another one

Does he win the next? Do the electorate punish him for wasting their time with another election? Does he manage to get wife pregnant again for next election? Does she have better selection of maternity smocks? economy goes down the gurgler. Only source of medical research grants is via EU!

Country goes to dogs!

Cartoon courtesy of subversive left wing broadsheet in cahoots to reds under the beds spies.

Hanging on…….

Very interesting times as we watch the UK political situation unfold.

The result of the election throws up many thoughts:

  • The inability of the Conservative Party to grab the opportunity to win in the face of a deep recession brought about in large part by the incompetence of the government policy.
  • The failings of the electoral processes. Queues of voters who were denied their right to vote by lack of appropriate facilities. I thought that was just a facet of incompetent US states or African nations. Never did I think I would see it in the UK
  • The failings of the electoral system. I have been a supporter of proportional representation, and the lack of empowerment to the third party in hard to believe. Close in votes to the others, and with popular support through a willingness to more critically consider the problems facing the country, the system does not recognise their standing.
  • It is tense stuff, all so more interesting for the lack of clear constitutional rules regarding the next steps.

A final note. Jacqui Smith is no loss, and it is good that someone who has bent the system so much, can face her accusers.

I am looking forward to more coverage. At times like this, it is thankful the BBC reaches the other side of the globe.

Sweet Sixteen

Hi out there

Today is the day. I know that it is EQ’s day, but there are other considerations, such as how old it makes the parents feel.

It makes one reflect on days gone by, when things were simpler, or so it seems. Looking back to times when the children were easier to manage, and they were to be around for a long time.
In the near future things will will change again I suppose.

She had her big party at the weekend. What a weird experience that was. 24 sixteen year olds, so much noise, jumping, and screaming. Alcohol was not allowed, and we were on door control. Then we escaped to another part of the house, with occasional injections into the action.

We felt that we were not really old enough to be doing this. I can still remember all those parties in Balham, Tooting and Wandsworth.

Anyway,

Happy Birthday

St.Mary’s go national

Kiwis stranded by volcano ash crisis

By KATIE CHAPMAN – The Dominion Post

House of Travel spokeswoman Jo Wedlock said about 4500 clients had been affected. Among those stranded in London is a group of about 26 St Marys College students from Wellington who are on the school’s biennial trip to Europe and were due back this weekend.

The word from Eleanor is that they are spending the unexpected extra time going shopping, as they “had already done London” in a week. So fast these modern teenagers.

Ash Update


Just so you know, the volcano in Iceland has had an effect down in these parts.

Eleanor’s school is currently on a European trip. They are in London, having been to Rome and Paris already.

They were due back today, but the dust means that they are grounded for another five days, so are due back next weekend. I think they are pleased, well the kids at least.

Back in the saddle

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EQ was out showing her prowess again today. A duathlon, as the weather has changed and no one is oing swims now.
It was a different style of event. Only for women, and the “clientele” were a mixture of athletes, overweight and older walkers, and middle aged or older runners. The bikes on show indicated that particiaption was a stronger focus than winning.

We do not have an official time, but EQ did well, beating the minimum time set by the coach(guess who?), but not the “prize” hurdle.

Well done to her.

Dinner

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So the Hacks have now in the air on the way home.

They enjoyed the range of Wellington weather, a nail biter of a game at the stadium between the Canes and the Crusaders, as well as local rugby at the park.

Henrik out run everyone on Easter Monday around the bays. I am unsure which child won the many rounds of Nintendo.

Sara cooked up treats, and I occasionally got off my back side.

Anakiwa-in the Sounds

Last weekend we had a special trip to the sounds for a long weekend. The Hacks in the country and ready for exposure to the Quirkes. As well as drinking and eating we made some use of the outdoor opportunities. Running( the new SKINS make all the difference), cycling, swimming and other sea sports.

MG passed on his fishing wisdom to the younger generation, and with that, Isaac became a successful hunter.

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