I won't bore you with the details but a lot of water has passed under the bridge since March when I last posted. A lot has happened in the real world too - EP elections, scandal, sleeze and and corruption at Westminster, the near collapse of the Brown regime - only to liva and fight another day yet again. What is it with that guy? Is he bomb-proof?
Anyway, I will post more fully my thoughts on these matters. For now, we may be expecting a new visitor. Alex, if you choose to use this forum, please post to this thread or follow the links to my email account - whichever suits you better.
Sunday 14 June 2009
Wednesday 4 March 2009
The Plot Thickens . .
There is a sub-text emerging from the exchanges on Mark Mardell's Euro blog which, I think, is worthy of attention. Normally eminently reasonable people like Menedemus have found common cause with the likes of Marcus Aurelius II and that interesting but somewhat slavish adherent to the federal ideal, Jukka Rohilla. It is something I cannot question because I have not been backward in coming forward with the same theory - that democracy in the UK is all but dead and buried.
You will be unsurprised that I came to that conclusion a while back but it does start to become disturbing when people with such divergent views find the one area on which they can agree is the end of British democracy. They are of course talking about the future of Britain within - or possibly outside - the EU and that, for all it's importance, is a very specific issue and one which is unlikely to be a deciding factor in foreseeable elections. Nevertheless, the point is a good one. Since Europe is a cross party issue (you will find your fair share of enthusiasts in the Tories and sceptics in Labour), no one party with a snowball's hope in hell of being elected is going to venture onto that territory. Which, of course means that the debate will never be had. Except for one thing - there are millions out there champing at the bit for the debate to be had and not a few of us who are becoming so disenchanted with the endless arguments that it would almost be worth ending up on the losing side just as long as we can get the battle done and dusted.
The irony is that you have on the one side, those who dismiss the EU as a bureaucratic and undemocratic irrelevance and are quite happy to ignore the democratic deficit within the UK in order to further their cause and on the other, those who are despairing of what they see as an increasingly isolationist tendency and would cheerfully sign up for just about anything. Ironic also that both quarters cite the democratic credentials of the EU as an excuse to studiously ignore the developing crisis in blighty.
My own position is too well rehearsed for me to feign disinterest but one thing I will say to both sides in equal measure is that arguing the toss about the democratic deficit in Europe while your own democracy lies bleeding is an unforgivable act of betrayal. How you can lambaste those who mortgage your children s' future while you are cheerfully giving it away is beyond me.
You will be unsurprised that I came to that conclusion a while back but it does start to become disturbing when people with such divergent views find the one area on which they can agree is the end of British democracy. They are of course talking about the future of Britain within - or possibly outside - the EU and that, for all it's importance, is a very specific issue and one which is unlikely to be a deciding factor in foreseeable elections. Nevertheless, the point is a good one. Since Europe is a cross party issue (you will find your fair share of enthusiasts in the Tories and sceptics in Labour), no one party with a snowball's hope in hell of being elected is going to venture onto that territory. Which, of course means that the debate will never be had. Except for one thing - there are millions out there champing at the bit for the debate to be had and not a few of us who are becoming so disenchanted with the endless arguments that it would almost be worth ending up on the losing side just as long as we can get the battle done and dusted.
The irony is that you have on the one side, those who dismiss the EU as a bureaucratic and undemocratic irrelevance and are quite happy to ignore the democratic deficit within the UK in order to further their cause and on the other, those who are despairing of what they see as an increasingly isolationist tendency and would cheerfully sign up for just about anything. Ironic also that both quarters cite the democratic credentials of the EU as an excuse to studiously ignore the developing crisis in blighty.
My own position is too well rehearsed for me to feign disinterest but one thing I will say to both sides in equal measure is that arguing the toss about the democratic deficit in Europe while your own democracy lies bleeding is an unforgivable act of betrayal. How you can lambaste those who mortgage your children s' future while you are cheerfully giving it away is beyond me.
Wednesday 4 February 2009
Opening Shots
It's pleasing to see some interest. Thank you.
As suggested, I have written some ideas and nicked some web space from a site I manage for now. You can read it HERE. If it develops into something bigger, I will consider building a proper site for it, but for now, feel free to comment on this blog.
Keep it coming people - it is all grist to the mill.
As suggested, I have written some ideas and nicked some web space from a site I manage for now. You can read it HERE. If it develops into something bigger, I will consider building a proper site for it, but for now, feel free to comment on this blog.
Keep it coming people - it is all grist to the mill.
Timely Reminder . . .
Our friend, oldnat from the BBC blogs, has gently reminded me of my original intentions when starting this blog. Thank you.
Back in the summer, there were a number of people on Crick's column who became engaged with the idea of designing a modern constitution for the UK. Naturally there were many ideas but the one thing upon which we were all agreed was that the present model is not working properly, does not serve the people well and - above all - is neither modern nor democratic. Events have moved on with the advent of the credit crisis, the resulting downturn of the economy and the inevitable fallout with ill-suited bedfellows cosying up to promote protectionist ideas - including some which are dangerously close to racist - at a time when we should be forward looking. If we cannot mend the economic crisis overnight - and we cannot - we may at least use the time productively to design a concept which will serve us better, more transparently and equitably. For my part, I have been increasingly diverted by discussions on Mark Mardell's Europe Blog.
In the next few days, I will focus some of my ideas into a document and post a link here. These will not form a proposal as such. Merely a template, if you will, of what might be in order that others may comment constructively. If I may be pedantic for a moment, I have no wish to moderate the blog so please do not use it as a forum for hurling abuse. If that starts, I will have to make like Auntie and become Big Brother, if you see what I mean. I don't want to be doing that.
One other thing. As most of you know, I am an expat living in Hungary. Now I know some people will ask what the hell all this has to do with me and why I simply do not get on with my new life. The answer to that is twofold. I am still a citizen and a passport holder, a net contributor to HM Treasury and I have a vote. On the other hand, the benefit of physical distance has been an ability to view some of the issues in a more detached way. The second reason is that I am a firm believer in the European project. Others will disagree and I am happy to engage in the debate but one thing is clear. Whichever way the UK goes, it remains a big player on the European stage and what you or we decide will have a big impact throughout Europe.
Feel free to make suggestions:-)
Back in the summer, there were a number of people on Crick's column who became engaged with the idea of designing a modern constitution for the UK. Naturally there were many ideas but the one thing upon which we were all agreed was that the present model is not working properly, does not serve the people well and - above all - is neither modern nor democratic. Events have moved on with the advent of the credit crisis, the resulting downturn of the economy and the inevitable fallout with ill-suited bedfellows cosying up to promote protectionist ideas - including some which are dangerously close to racist - at a time when we should be forward looking. If we cannot mend the economic crisis overnight - and we cannot - we may at least use the time productively to design a concept which will serve us better, more transparently and equitably. For my part, I have been increasingly diverted by discussions on Mark Mardell's Europe Blog.
In the next few days, I will focus some of my ideas into a document and post a link here. These will not form a proposal as such. Merely a template, if you will, of what might be in order that others may comment constructively. If I may be pedantic for a moment, I have no wish to moderate the blog so please do not use it as a forum for hurling abuse. If that starts, I will have to make like Auntie and become Big Brother, if you see what I mean. I don't want to be doing that.
One other thing. As most of you know, I am an expat living in Hungary. Now I know some people will ask what the hell all this has to do with me and why I simply do not get on with my new life. The answer to that is twofold. I am still a citizen and a passport holder, a net contributor to HM Treasury and I have a vote. On the other hand, the benefit of physical distance has been an ability to view some of the issues in a more detached way. The second reason is that I am a firm believer in the European project. Others will disagree and I am happy to engage in the debate but one thing is clear. Whichever way the UK goes, it remains a big player on the European stage and what you or we decide will have a big impact throughout Europe.
Feel free to make suggestions:-)
Monday 12 January 2009
Update . .
I see that a Downing Street Petition has been started to object to the spying proposal without warrant. If you want to sign it you can do so HERE
Big Brother hits Rock Bottom
This from blog.wired.com on January 05, 2009
"The UK's Home Office is supporting a proposal that would allow British police or MI5 agents to hack home, office and other private computers without a warrant to intercept e-mail traffic and monitor a user's other computer activities.
The proposal, initiated by the European Union council of ministers, calls for British police to install spyware on personal computers at the request of other European nations that suspect UK residents of involvement in criminal activity".
I have long since ceased to be surprised by the total disregard the Home Office shows for personal privacy and individual rights - indeed all of government for that matter - but what is really bewildering about this is that it appears to be at the behest of the EU. I have absolutely no problem with law enforcement agents using all the technology at their disposal to track child molesters, terrorists or criminal masterminds - and this authority is only supposed to be available if the people being monitored are suspected of offences punishable by three years inside or more.
What is really deeply disturbing about this is the lack of judicial supervision. It speaks volumes about the way this has been carefully preplanned to be open to abuse. The law of conspiracy kills the three year safeguard stone dead. It is a licence to spy on anything and anybody. But far worse than that, it is a clear indication that there is one thing government fears more than anything else - accountability. Why else would the Home Office proposal bypass judicial scrutiny? Because, like the criminals they claim to be watching, the one thing they really fear is justice. When society has reached the point where government is afraid of the judiciary, it has sunk about as low as it can go.
(Read the whole piece HERE)
"The UK's Home Office is supporting a proposal that would allow British police or MI5 agents to hack home, office and other private computers without a warrant to intercept e-mail traffic and monitor a user's other computer activities.
The proposal, initiated by the European Union council of ministers, calls for British police to install spyware on personal computers at the request of other European nations that suspect UK residents of involvement in criminal activity".
I have long since ceased to be surprised by the total disregard the Home Office shows for personal privacy and individual rights - indeed all of government for that matter - but what is really bewildering about this is that it appears to be at the behest of the EU. I have absolutely no problem with law enforcement agents using all the technology at their disposal to track child molesters, terrorists or criminal masterminds - and this authority is only supposed to be available if the people being monitored are suspected of offences punishable by three years inside or more.
What is really deeply disturbing about this is the lack of judicial supervision. It speaks volumes about the way this has been carefully preplanned to be open to abuse. The law of conspiracy kills the three year safeguard stone dead. It is a licence to spy on anything and anybody. But far worse than that, it is a clear indication that there is one thing government fears more than anything else - accountability. Why else would the Home Office proposal bypass judicial scrutiny? Because, like the criminals they claim to be watching, the one thing they really fear is justice. When society has reached the point where government is afraid of the judiciary, it has sunk about as low as it can go.
(Read the whole piece HERE)
Wednesday 7 January 2009
New Year Blues
It is seriously cold here in Budapest - and possibly about to get a whole lot colder. This is not a weather forecast. Natural gas is the fuel of choice for large numbers of people for heating. It is clean, relatively environmentally friendly and it works. Works, that is, until a bunch of idiots somewhere a long way east of here decide to play politics with it. It is interesting to see the elaborate exchanges of rhetoric between Kiev and Moscow about who is to blame but they are playing a very dangerous game indeed. Their problem is that the gas has been bought and paid for. It is fair to say that we do not particularly care who is to blame. We want it fixed and we want it fixed now. Medium term, Europe will undoubtedly seek alternative sources (Turkey has already done a deal with Iran). Long term, we will move to more credible and environmentally friendly solutions. Russia will lose business either way and if it transpires that Ukraine has been ripping off the western supply, they can wave goodbye to any credibility as a candidate for EU membership. Time, I think, for them to sort it out.
In the meantime, we observe what the good judges meant at Nuremberg when they said 'never again'. They meant never again - unless it is in the defence of Israel. The argument is that something has to be done to stop Hamas from lobbing rockets into Israel. Amen to that. What the argument does not say is that it is OK to indiscriminately target civilians in this or any other conflict. The Israelis will, of course, deny that they are doing this but the bottom line is that 40 civilians in a UN school compound do not die unnecessarily unless someone takes the decision that civilians do not matter when wider political issues are at stake. Nothing may have been learned at Nuremberg but a great deal was learned from the Nazi persecution of civilians. They learned how to do it.
Talking of the democratic process, I note that Britain's descent into mediocrity and confusion continues apace. Mr. Brown and his fellow deluded control freaks continue to believe - in the face of all evidence to the contrary - that creating a siege mentality by encouraging a climate of fear will somehow save the Union. Ironic that the one thing New Labour might just be able to claim credit for (although all the donkey work was done by the previous government) is the Northern Ireland peace agreement. Now they risk undermining the whole thing with ridiculous internal border controls. The one remaining hope for the Union is federation. I suspect the SNP is about to lead the way towards an end to the union and once that process has started, it will become unstoppable. All strength to their arm, say I. In the meantime, a cloud of uncertainty continues to hover over it's component parts - all that is except Northern Ireland where 'the future is bright, the future is orange'.
This rambling post might suggest that there is nothing much to be cheerful about for the New Year but I have hopes. A decent turnout for the EU parliamentary elections, a major breakthrough for the SNP and a new dawning in Washington might - just might - turn it all around but I am not optimistic. A general election in the UK would raise a smile though. Time to go Gordon.
Special thanks to PTTP for his greeting, warmly reciprocated
In the meantime, we observe what the good judges meant at Nuremberg when they said 'never again'. They meant never again - unless it is in the defence of Israel. The argument is that something has to be done to stop Hamas from lobbing rockets into Israel. Amen to that. What the argument does not say is that it is OK to indiscriminately target civilians in this or any other conflict. The Israelis will, of course, deny that they are doing this but the bottom line is that 40 civilians in a UN school compound do not die unnecessarily unless someone takes the decision that civilians do not matter when wider political issues are at stake. Nothing may have been learned at Nuremberg but a great deal was learned from the Nazi persecution of civilians. They learned how to do it.
Talking of the democratic process, I note that Britain's descent into mediocrity and confusion continues apace. Mr. Brown and his fellow deluded control freaks continue to believe - in the face of all evidence to the contrary - that creating a siege mentality by encouraging a climate of fear will somehow save the Union. Ironic that the one thing New Labour might just be able to claim credit for (although all the donkey work was done by the previous government) is the Northern Ireland peace agreement. Now they risk undermining the whole thing with ridiculous internal border controls. The one remaining hope for the Union is federation. I suspect the SNP is about to lead the way towards an end to the union and once that process has started, it will become unstoppable. All strength to their arm, say I. In the meantime, a cloud of uncertainty continues to hover over it's component parts - all that is except Northern Ireland where 'the future is bright, the future is orange'.
This rambling post might suggest that there is nothing much to be cheerful about for the New Year but I have hopes. A decent turnout for the EU parliamentary elections, a major breakthrough for the SNP and a new dawning in Washington might - just might - turn it all around but I am not optimistic. A general election in the UK would raise a smile though. Time to go Gordon.
Special thanks to PTTP for his greeting, warmly reciprocated
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