What's the Story in Dalamory » politics

Catching up

freda — Tue, 10 May 2011 16:03:43 +0000

The good weather has been replaced by typical Scottish spring weather: big black clouds, thunderplumps and brief periods of sunshine. And at the same time there have been two seismic shifts in the world: the death of Osama bin Laden and the newly elected Scottish National Party government in the Scottish Parliament. They might not sound like similar events, but in my head they are.

Terrorism has been a major theme in my lifetime: in places like Aden, Israel, Northern Ireland and here in the UK as the results of political protests work themselves out in wanton acts of violence. There seems to be little in the way of progress; even in the Irish situation there is a resurgence of yet another “new” IRA. And the fear of Islamic extremism is going to be with us for many years to come. I just don’t get the mindset, despite trying to read up on the background of those who perpetrate acts of terrorism, and reading novels which seek to explain ideas of a new state or order as being more important than the individual.

To say that the SNP success in Scotland is of a similar order is tantamount to claiming that there is a coming revolution in the “world” I inhabit. The drive away from other mainline political parties towards a party that by its very existence purports to favour self-government for Scotland, as well as the very real possibility of promoting separatism from the UK feels like a passive revolution. The Prime Minister of Britain is tight-lipped in his assertion that such a break-up must not happen, and it left me wondering why he is so passionate about the status quo.

In truth, I tend towards federalism for the whole of the United Kingdom – with each major region having the same degree of control, and a common policy for issues such as defence and justice. But maybe that would simply cost more and spawn ever-increasing layers of government.

There now – I have been thinking a lot over my few days’ absence. People who read blogs fall into two main categories in my experience: 1) those who want a change from the diet of daily gloom and doom that tends to assault the airwaves from the media; and 2) those who are looking for a change from it.

What has surprised me so much these past few days as I have pondered a blog post, is that my head is so full of what the media wants to fill it with. So, instead of blogging the bright green velvet of spring trees and early moss, I find myself needing to splatt out my scrambled view of world events. That way, at least I get space in my head for some more pleasant thoughts.

Has anyone else ever had a week like that? And what do you think of the way our heads get filled up with stuff over which we have little or no control?

PS – Misty says I’ve to get over myself!

More Posh

freda — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 11:18:07 +0000

As a quick adjunct to previous post, here is a link from Guido’s blog showing a newspaper article about the early days of Jacob Rees-Mogg, a Tory MP.

Posh and posher

freda — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 07:47:34 +0000

The BBC Programme Posh and Posher, screened on last night’s TV was a blistering indictment of our educational system and the reasons for the narrowing of the world of politics in the UK to a privileged and wealthy elite.

I have mentioned the fact that I went to a Grammar School in the 1950s and early 60s……. I sort of regret now that I referred to it as “posh,” for if Andrew Neil’s commentary shows anything, it is that the “posh” he speaks of, means being part of, or comfortable with an “aristocracy”- an “old boys’ network” (even if you are a girl) and have obtained your degree from Oxford or Cambridge universities, preferably in their PPE course (politics, philosphy and economics.) Apart from the fact that this worries me because of its narrowness, as a country we are kidding ourselves that a descent into a them/us mentality is anything other than dangerous. The cuts that are being applied to the lives of ordinary people, poor people and the vulnerable are vicious and will come back to bite the coalition government. A government that delivers them with such sanctimonious, hand-wringing pleas, that as it is not their fault, it must be that of Labour. They seem to forget or ignore the world-wide recession and banking crisis. (I’ll have a go at the bankers another day.)

The position in Scotland is slightly different in that the Scottish Parliament comprises in the main MSPs who have got there on ability and dedication – at least that is what I like to think. Because of the system of voting the electorate can vote for whichever party they favour and the seats are divided up amongst them. This creates a system whereby politicians have to work together to achieve goals and make policy.

The problems overall with the UK – and of course Scotland is still part of the UK – are to do with the narrowing of the field from which politicians emerge. This means that economic policy, fiscal authority, defence and foreign policy are overwhelmingly decided by those who have been educated predominantly in the English public schools system. There are fewer Scottish fee-paying schools, but again they tend to produce the type of candidate that is favoured in modern politics. This is happening in the three main parties. Other routes to a career in politics through local activism or trades unions are being marginalised.

One section of the programme showed an interview with a young man who was working in an independently funded youth club in one of the Glasgow Housing Schemes. He spoke articulately about the gulf that exists between our politicians and the people living in Easterhouse. A founder member of the club told of the gulfs that education, poverty and bad housing cause. Education has to be the answer and somewhere, somehow people will start to realise that a meritocracy and a passion for justice will fuel a country of which we can all feel proud.

At the moment I almost wish I was several years younger so that I could construct the barricades. I can only hope that somewhere young people are so incensed that they decide to fight back.

The younger generation

freda — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 17:53:06 +0000

Following the Labour Party leadership election, won by Ed Milliband, I have suddenly woken up to the fact that our country is now governed and led by a generation of 40 somethings. It is quite a thought, especially when we grew up used to the idea of politicians and leaders being into their senior years. Vince Cable, (Business Secretary) who is my age, seems very old in comparison with most of the rest of them.

I cannot decide whether all of this is a good thing or a bad thing, I only know that it makes me uncomfortable to see older and wiser heads shunted to the sidelines. It recently became clear that I no longer embrace change with the enthusiasm I once did, so perhaps it means that I am almost past it. (Please note the “almost”) Come to think of it, Barack Obama, President of the US is not yet 50. This younger generation business is happening everywhere.

Salmon Fishing in the Yemen

freda — Sat, 18 Sep 2010 16:48:16 +0000

Salmon Fishing in the Yemen is rather an odd title for a book. This is a debut for Paul Torday, it is an odd concept too; it was the Librarian from the Library Van who thrust it into my hands just as I had finished making my selection last month. He just said, “Go on, you’ll enjoy it.”

It really is a book about salmon fishing in the Yemen, or rather a book about how to introduce salmon fishing into the Yemen. An impossible feat? So says our anti-hero, Dr Alfred Jones, a fisheries scientist with the Dept for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. However, he becomes embroiled by multifarious means. Therein lies the parody and the humour. The backstory is about his unsatisfactory life in a lack-lustre marriage with a wife who is a high-flyer in corporate finance.

The story unfolds through a series of documents: emails, company reports, minutes of govt meetings, and investigative papers looking at the full circumstances surrounding the project. If this all sounds familiar it is intentional, and must surely resonate with the reader of every political scandal and spin expertise there has ever been.

It is funny, yes, but primarily it is quirky and unique. It evokes the charm of 84 Charing Cross Road, by Helen Hanff, perhaps because it uses a similarly understated style but updated for modern times. In essence it encompasses a much broader canvas and demands more effort by the reader.

It would probably warrant a second read and is a book I might like to have on my shelves. Interestingly it is being made into a film – I cannot imagine how that will work out. The film crew, including Ewan McGregor, flew in by seaplane for a day’s filming this week, just a few miles away.

PS – did I say it is funny?

Signs of my times

freda — Fri, 14 May 2010 10:25:49 +0000

Here is a flavour of the last 24hrs

38 emails in the inbox
Called my motor insurers – 19mins 10secs till I got to speak to a real person
Discovered I am not yet an “older person.” That is a term for someone of 85 or older.
The cat got beaten up (only slightly) again and has the scars to prove it.
My consultant doesn’t need to see me again. (Hurrah! Progress.)
Lost 0.3kgs in weight
#3 Son has reached chapter 10 of his novel
Haven’t felt sick
Watched a bit of Question Time on BBC – delighted to hear that a young, photogenic, non-white male would like to “run the country.” This was in response to a panelist who scoffed “Who wants to run the country except the public schoolboys?”
Had a haircut

So I am clearly not a numpty – am almost an Interesting Person.
What about your last 24hrs?

Where are all the women?

freda — Thu, 13 May 2010 07:18:05 +0000

It continues to be a fascinating time for British politics. Nick Clegg and David Cameron did a good job of their first double act press conference. Some of the commentators were parodying it as being like a civil partnership. It may be friendly and civil at the moment but when the going gets tough, I wonder…..?

I was saddened at the statistic that there are so far, 13 people in the new front bench team from Cameron’s old school, Eton. Says a lot really. I don’t like the idea of who you know, and the old boys’ network being seen to be real and alive today. Even worse is the shocking lack of women in cabinet and government posts so far. What about equality and a less confrontational style of politics? When things get hard will we see a return to the adversarial model? I can only hope and pray that things work out. Difficult times ahead.

Refreshing style of politics

freda — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 07:24:58 +0000

I have to admit that I admire Nick Clegg for taking yesterday off to be with his family. It is a lesson in showing how to cope with stress. One of the things that has been concerning me for years is the way that people in work are subjected to more and more pressure. Pressure to achieve and perform, whether it be to meet targets or just through sheer volume of work. A number of years ago in a study leave project, I looked at the whole problem of stress and burnout in clergy. Many of the same issues apply to lay people and one of the most important coping strategies is the concept of taking time out. It always amused me that the whole idea of a sabbath day as a time of rest was one which ministers were rarely able to achieve. In fact, local ministers and local MPs are similar in that each is a kind of known figure in the area, so time off becomes difficult to find.

The strange thing is that stress is necessary to some extent so that potential and effective methods can be reached. It is all about managing the balance between healthy working and potential burnout. I really hope for a world of political balance, where true values are axiomatic. And that is something which has been sadly missing in politics for a long time.

Politics

freda — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 17:42:21 +0000

So far, I have been rather avoiding politics – I know, it’s hard to do at the moment, but I am an expert. However, I was tempted into watching the first fifteen minutes of last night’s debate between the three leaders. It felt really engineered and over-managed, and from what I heard of comments afterwards, that was a general comment that people made. My main problem is in being able to believe the claims that the political parties make. It has seemed to me over the years, that all sorts of altruistic aims prevail, and then when a party gets into power, everything is much more difficult than they had thought.

So for now, I shall keep watching with scepticism from afar.

Election Fever

freda — Wed, 06 May 2009 21:23:21 +0000

Election fever has come to Argyll. But what I want to know, is how do certain parties latch onto prospective voters? I am a target but Him Behind the Wheel is not. I am not going to divulge the party – sufficient to say that I have a certain grudging admiration for their efforts.

What's the Story in Dalamory » politics

Catching up

Related Posts

More Posh

Related Posts

Posh and posher

Related Posts

The younger generation

Related Posts

Salmon Fishing in the Yemen

Related Posts

Signs of my times

Related Posts

Where are all the women?

Related Posts

Refreshing style of politics

Related Posts

Politics

Related Posts

Election Fever

Related Posts