Vaclav Klaus, the Czech Eurosceptic President of the EU has given a speech to the Parliament, supposedly the EU's cradle of democracy.
It's about time that European integration was criticised by the President. It is not good that MEPs decide to walk out on this speech. I don't remember the eurosceptic MEPs walking out on Sarkozy, or any of the other integrationists. How ironic that when he talks about the need for opposition, that those that oppose him just walk out? When he compared the EU to the old communist states (undemocratic and elitist), the ever-so-mature federalists walked out; when he asked for tolerance, he was told to shut up.
The immaturity of the federalists strikes me, not to mention their opposition to free speech and democracy. Let's get rid of these immature fools on the 4th of June.
Thursday, 19 February 2009
Monday, 16 February 2009
Localism: about time
Since I read Daniel Hannan and Douglas Carswell's excellent book, The Plan, I've become a great supporter of localism - and it's good to see that David Cameron has adopted it to some extent as official party policy.
Taking more power from Whitehall to local referenda is certainly a welcome sign, and should concentrate power in the hands of local people as opposed to bureaucrats and civil servants who are totally isolated from the real world.
Scrapping the Infrastructure Planning Commission is another shift of power to local people - it exists very nicely for the executive to push through Heathrow expansion without a Parliamentary vote, and it's about time the local peoples' views were taken seriously.
It's now clear that the Right care more about democracy than the Left and New Labour, who have centralised power either in Whitehall or Brussels, while creating the illusion of devolution by simply creating more levels of waste in Wales and Scotland.
Taking more power from Whitehall to local referenda is certainly a welcome sign, and should concentrate power in the hands of local people as opposed to bureaucrats and civil servants who are totally isolated from the real world.
Scrapping the Infrastructure Planning Commission is another shift of power to local people - it exists very nicely for the executive to push through Heathrow expansion without a Parliamentary vote, and it's about time the local peoples' views were taken seriously.
It's now clear that the Right care more about democracy than the Left and New Labour, who have centralised power either in Whitehall or Brussels, while creating the illusion of devolution by simply creating more levels of waste in Wales and Scotland.
Sunday, 15 February 2009
Unrealistic equality
The Olympics Minister has called for "equality in the number of sports" saying it isn't fair that women can't take part in sports like heavyweight wrestling and boxing, and men synchronised swimming and rhythmic gymnastics.
The real point is that these ministers are clearly trying to pursue outdated feminism in a way that is so detached from reality. How many women box? How many men do synchronised swimming? That's the whole point. These sports are partaken by a certain sex, and not by the other. That's reality, that's life, and the Olympics shouldn't be forced to change because of it.
The real point is that these ministers are clearly trying to pursue outdated feminism in a way that is so detached from reality. How many women box? How many men do synchronised swimming? That's the whole point. These sports are partaken by a certain sex, and not by the other. That's reality, that's life, and the Olympics shouldn't be forced to change because of it.
Saturday, 14 February 2009
Geert Wilders is harmless
Yes, some may say his views are islamophobic, abhorrent and stupid. The PC brigade prefer the simpler term "racist". But he's not inciting violence. Lord Ahmed is by threatening to "mobilise 10,000 Muslims" to stop Wilders getting in the Lords.
At the end of the day, it's about free speech. Silencing someone to gain a few cheap votes doesn't work. Why should the state tell us what we can and can't say, what is offensive and what isn't? What defines offensive? Does it go as far as 1984-style renaming black coffees?
The only limit to free speech should be self-censorship, and even that should be used in moderation.
At the end of the day, it's about free speech. Silencing someone to gain a few cheap votes doesn't work. Why should the state tell us what we can and can't say, what is offensive and what isn't? What defines offensive? Does it go as far as 1984-style renaming black coffees?
The only limit to free speech should be self-censorship, and even that should be used in moderation.
Wednesday, 11 February 2009
Utter hypocrisy
We are told today that a Dutch far-right MP, Geert Wilders, has been banned from entering the UK on grounds of "public security".
I do not support a lot of his views, but his film is quite truthful - it's about why militant Islamists have used the Koran as grounds for terrorism. Whether you agree with it or not, he should have the freedom to share his views.
A travel ban is incredibly hypocritical. For one he's an ELECTED MP of an EU country, and even though I disagree with the freedom of movement provisions of the EU, they are the law and just because this man is anti-Islam doesn't mean you can flout it. Funny that MPs want more rights in this country but want to take them away from foreign MPs who disobey the politically correct line.
There's also the small issue of the number of radical imams who preach hate and preach overthrowing the government - who aren't removed because Islam must be treated with kiddy gloves, and they can't be accused by a few idiots of being racist (despite the fact that Islam was a religion last time I checked). We also have Learco Chindamo, a permanent citizen (not just a short-term visitor) who is allowed to stay because of the human rights hysteria. THEY are the real threats to security in this country.
Not only this, but Lord Ahmed (who seems to be the only person in the country who wants Wilders to be banned from entering) has threatened to bring 10000 Muslims to protest outside the Lords if the MEETING goes ahead. Elected politician versus appointed politician? I think Lord Ahmed's threat should be investigated as a terrorist threat to be honest.
This sickens me. The government seems to be priding itself in removing opposition, be it by arresting opposition MPs, banning members of certain political parties from joining the police or not allowing a foreign MP into the country.
We were once the bastion of freedom. No longer.
I do not support a lot of his views, but his film is quite truthful - it's about why militant Islamists have used the Koran as grounds for terrorism. Whether you agree with it or not, he should have the freedom to share his views.
A travel ban is incredibly hypocritical. For one he's an ELECTED MP of an EU country, and even though I disagree with the freedom of movement provisions of the EU, they are the law and just because this man is anti-Islam doesn't mean you can flout it. Funny that MPs want more rights in this country but want to take them away from foreign MPs who disobey the politically correct line.
There's also the small issue of the number of radical imams who preach hate and preach overthrowing the government - who aren't removed because Islam must be treated with kiddy gloves, and they can't be accused by a few idiots of being racist (despite the fact that Islam was a religion last time I checked). We also have Learco Chindamo, a permanent citizen (not just a short-term visitor) who is allowed to stay because of the human rights hysteria. THEY are the real threats to security in this country.
Not only this, but Lord Ahmed (who seems to be the only person in the country who wants Wilders to be banned from entering) has threatened to bring 10000 Muslims to protest outside the Lords if the MEETING goes ahead. Elected politician versus appointed politician? I think Lord Ahmed's threat should be investigated as a terrorist threat to be honest.
This sickens me. The government seems to be priding itself in removing opposition, be it by arresting opposition MPs, banning members of certain political parties from joining the police or not allowing a foreign MP into the country.
We were once the bastion of freedom. No longer.
Sunday, 8 February 2009
It's our travel details next!
The government is now planning another Orwellian database in the name of "fighting crime, illegal immigration and terrorism" - to store all of our travel details.
I have no idea how it will fight crime, illegal immigrants come in the back of lorries so surely won't be included, and terrorists will be smart enough to avoid it.
And what happens when this gets left on a laptop in Heathrow? The terrorists will know exactly the plane to target - the one with a certain Mr Brown on it.
If I have nothing to hide, why the need for this surveillance? Perhaps if the government took our borders, police and society more seriously, these 1984-style databases wouldn't be required. It's frightening - how easy it is for the government to remove civil liberties, one by one, without people waking up to reality.
Welcome to the Big Brother state.
I have no idea how it will fight crime, illegal immigrants come in the back of lorries so surely won't be included, and terrorists will be smart enough to avoid it.
And what happens when this gets left on a laptop in Heathrow? The terrorists will know exactly the plane to target - the one with a certain Mr Brown on it.
If I have nothing to hide, why the need for this surveillance? Perhaps if the government took our borders, police and society more seriously, these 1984-style databases wouldn't be required. It's frightening - how easy it is for the government to remove civil liberties, one by one, without people waking up to reality.
Welcome to the Big Brother state.
Thursday, 5 February 2009
Savers have been stabbed in the back
The Bank of England has reduced interest rates to 1% - so chances are savers will get no interest on their money, pensioners will struggle and the pound will depreciate even further.
And I have no doubt that banks will not pass the rate cut on to homeowners, mortgages will still cost the same amount, and loans will have the same amount of interest.
Their decisions have made it even harder to be responsible and save money, as I've said before meaning that there is a potential that they will not have to go on the dole. I've said it before and will say it again - encourage people to save from a young age, get them to build up their deposits and private savings can replace welfare benefits.
And I have no doubt that banks will not pass the rate cut on to homeowners, mortgages will still cost the same amount, and loans will have the same amount of interest.
Their decisions have made it even harder to be responsible and save money, as I've said before meaning that there is a potential that they will not have to go on the dole. I've said it before and will say it again - encourage people to save from a young age, get them to build up their deposits and private savings can replace welfare benefits.
Tuesday, 3 February 2009
Why does a bit of snow bring the country to a halt?
It could be worse. It could be a couple of foot of snow, but no, 5 inches odd brought London buses to a halt yesterday.
Why weren't the gritters out? Why did the H&S fascists stop the buses running, as I'm sure they did (the drivers probably all had snowball fights anyway)? What I found the most ironic was that the Circle Line, which I believe is completely underground, was one of the lines completely closed.
Excuse for a day off as far as I can see. I used it as an excuse to take the day of school, but that's the point. When the snow comes, on the rare occasions, we all want to have a snowball fight and go sledging. And I don't blame anyone.
Why weren't the gritters out? Why did the H&S fascists stop the buses running, as I'm sure they did (the drivers probably all had snowball fights anyway)? What I found the most ironic was that the Circle Line, which I believe is completely underground, was one of the lines completely closed.
Excuse for a day off as far as I can see. I used it as an excuse to take the day of school, but that's the point. When the snow comes, on the rare occasions, we all want to have a snowball fight and go sledging. And I don't blame anyone.
Monday, 2 February 2009
Snow, snow, snow
Yet none of it is settling here in Newport.
I'm optimistic that it will overnight, and we shall see.
Looks like London got a nice dumping of it though.
I'm optimistic that it will overnight, and we shall see.
Looks like London got a nice dumping of it though.
Sunday, 1 February 2009
"Stop the extreme right"? No, they're just scared of it.
Various papers have been telling me that it's the usual anti-BNP protests from Labour et al ahead of the elections.
The reason is that Labour haven't served those they are supposed to represent, so the voters move to the BNP who they think will represent them more. Clearly they are very misguided (let's go back to the 1930s Germany) and don't know what's in store for them.
The BNP's manifesto has some very good policies, but also some incredibly bad ones - I can't agree on them in the economy or on race. Many of these policies means that they are wooing Labour voters - and Labour are scared of this.
Perhaps if we had a government that served the people, and gave the British jobs first before importing workers. I'm beginning to loathe the EU (and its freedom of movement of labour policy especially) more by the day.
I burnt a few cocktail stick EU flags earlier. I will not stand around watching children indoctrinated. I was naive once, then I found out the truth about the EU.
The reason is that Labour haven't served those they are supposed to represent, so the voters move to the BNP who they think will represent them more. Clearly they are very misguided (let's go back to the 1930s Germany) and don't know what's in store for them.
The BNP's manifesto has some very good policies, but also some incredibly bad ones - I can't agree on them in the economy or on race. Many of these policies means that they are wooing Labour voters - and Labour are scared of this.
Perhaps if we had a government that served the people, and gave the British jobs first before importing workers. I'm beginning to loathe the EU (and its freedom of movement of labour policy especially) more by the day.
I burnt a few cocktail stick EU flags earlier. I will not stand around watching children indoctrinated. I was naive once, then I found out the truth about the EU.
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