"Gordon Brown is also backing United and will watch the game on television, his Downing Street spokesman confirmed."
Thursday 28 May 2009
Dang.
Thursday 21 May 2009
The next Speaker?
I haven't posted on here for a while due to exams, but I think this is a decent issue to post about.
It was right for Michael Martin to resign; he clearly saw he had lost support and jumped before he was pushed.
I'm going to support Sir Alan Haselhurst. He's had his own expenses scandal, yes, but he's strong enough to stand up for Parliament (which we've lacked with Michael Martin) and deal with those MPs who put Parliament in a bad light. He's a strong character, and that's why he should be the next Speaker.
It was right for Michael Martin to resign; he clearly saw he had lost support and jumped before he was pushed.
I'm going to support Sir Alan Haselhurst. He's had his own expenses scandal, yes, but he's strong enough to stand up for Parliament (which we've lacked with Michael Martin) and deal with those MPs who put Parliament in a bad light. He's a strong character, and that's why he should be the next Speaker.
Tuesday 12 May 2009
The Speaker must go
For too long he's been the defender of the Labour regime, ticking off MPs who ask fully legitimate questions but doesn't expect ministers to give an honest answer, or a relevant answer. He did not defend Parliament in the Damian Green case, and his behaviour towards MPs such as Kate Hoey yesterday was, to be honest, shocking.
He fails to represent or respect Parliament, and Douglas Carswell has tabled a motion of no confidence in him. I hope, for the country's sake, that it succeeds. I also like his idea of a secret ballot - this motion may end up in the hands of whips, but the election of a Speaker certainly shouldn't.
And read The Plan if you haven't already.
He fails to represent or respect Parliament, and Douglas Carswell has tabled a motion of no confidence in him. I hope, for the country's sake, that it succeeds. I also like his idea of a secret ballot - this motion may end up in the hands of whips, but the election of a Speaker certainly shouldn't.
And read The Plan if you haven't already.
Cameron is showing some leadership
We'll have to see the result of this, but it's good to see David Cameron showing some leadership in the expenses row. Gordon's ducking it, the Speaker's pathetic, and before we get the Lib Dem revelations tomorrow to know that MPs are paying their expenses back is a good sign.
I'll be the first to check that they will be paying them back.
I'll be the first to check that they will be paying them back.
Sunday 10 May 2009
The "market failure" mantra
The WJEC seems to like this "market failure" stuff. In fact, I had to do a whole question on their specimen paper about carbon emissions and relate it back to economics. And I resisted the urge to spell it out, simple as simple does, that market failure was utter garbage.
Why are airline passengers not paying the "full cost of their flight" at present, one of the questions asks. They obviously want a generic "it's market failure because it doesn't take into account the external cost of pollution" answer. But that's just the start. To what extent might increasing taxes on air travel reduce carbon emissions from air travel asks the next - that's hardly economics for starters, and my answer if given free rein would be that individuals should not be forced to cough up to pay some fake scientists for dodgy theory.
In fact, on the final question asking if pollution permits were the best way to reduce CO2, I wrote, within the answer, "Since it the theory is questionable the government should not get involved", obviously in a more Orwellian-taught-to-the-test way.
I had an hour's worth of questions on that.
But the point is that we get all this "market failure" stuff, generally from lefties, who say that the market has failed to allocate resources efficiently. Says who? Those who use the market, who are willing to choose the intersection of supply and demand, certainly find it efficient - that's equilibrium for you. But who says that pollution is a failure of the market? Who says that we should distort markets to implement some crazy theory? Generally those on the authoritarian left who want the government to gain more power, to implement more legislation, etc.
Why should I be forced, by a government, to pay more because they think that we're making the world warm up? The answer's simple - I shouldn't.
What is market failure? There's no such thing. It assumes markets are perfect, and they aren't. The only way a market can "fail" is when government makes it.
Why are airline passengers not paying the "full cost of their flight" at present, one of the questions asks. They obviously want a generic "it's market failure because it doesn't take into account the external cost of pollution" answer. But that's just the start. To what extent might increasing taxes on air travel reduce carbon emissions from air travel asks the next - that's hardly economics for starters, and my answer if given free rein would be that individuals should not be forced to cough up to pay some fake scientists for dodgy theory.
In fact, on the final question asking if pollution permits were the best way to reduce CO2, I wrote, within the answer, "Since it the theory is questionable the government should not get involved", obviously in a more Orwellian-taught-to-the-test way.
I had an hour's worth of questions on that.
But the point is that we get all this "market failure" stuff, generally from lefties, who say that the market has failed to allocate resources efficiently. Says who? Those who use the market, who are willing to choose the intersection of supply and demand, certainly find it efficient - that's equilibrium for you. But who says that pollution is a failure of the market? Who says that we should distort markets to implement some crazy theory? Generally those on the authoritarian left who want the government to gain more power, to implement more legislation, etc.
Why should I be forced, by a government, to pay more because they think that we're making the world warm up? The answer's simple - I shouldn't.
What is market failure? There's no such thing. It assumes markets are perfect, and they aren't. The only way a market can "fail" is when government makes it.
Saturday 9 May 2009
Ban paintball? Seriously?
Germany is moving to outlaw paintball and laser-quest following the recent school shootings, saying they glamourise violence.
That is incorrect. Combat games are not about the violence, they are about the skill and teamwork (and having played laserquest yesterday, I can tell you it is certainly the case) - and have no relation to a psycho shooting 15 people dead. In fact combat games might even keep potential killers away from using real guns if there is an alternative they won't get locked up for.
I also see the BBC reports the average knee-jerk reaction of banning guns/certain types of guns/etc. Guns don't kill people, people kill people - you have to get to the root cause with gun laws, and that is the people who might kill, and the reasons why, e.g. gangland USA.
That is incorrect. Combat games are not about the violence, they are about the skill and teamwork (and having played laserquest yesterday, I can tell you it is certainly the case) - and have no relation to a psycho shooting 15 people dead. In fact combat games might even keep potential killers away from using real guns if there is an alternative they won't get locked up for.
I also see the BBC reports the average knee-jerk reaction of banning guns/certain types of guns/etc. Guns don't kill people, people kill people - you have to get to the root cause with gun laws, and that is the people who might kill, and the reasons why, e.g. gangland USA.
Thursday 7 May 2009
John Major says it how it is
In an article for the Telegraph, John Major sets out the differences between his government and Brown's government.
It's striking because of the utter truth - in the 80s and 90s the Tories built up a strong economy, especially on the supply-side, and got inflation under control; they did put unpopular policies in place and lost the election in 1997 because of it.
Both are/were weak leaders not totally in control of their party, and that's probably the only similarity (and both were Europhiles, which brought down Major's government).
No soundbites, just real politics.
It's striking because of the utter truth - in the 80s and 90s the Tories built up a strong economy, especially on the supply-side, and got inflation under control; they did put unpopular policies in place and lost the election in 1997 because of it.
Both are/were weak leaders not totally in control of their party, and that's probably the only similarity (and both were Europhiles, which brought down Major's government).
No soundbites, just real politics.
Wednesday 6 May 2009
Cameron electoral broadcast
The electoral broadcast did impress me, straight to the point.
"Bust open the monopoly" - nice! Along with many others, but that one does stick in my head. As long as this is substance and not just words, he's impressing me more and more.
What I need to see to fully convince me is Cameron in power; the policy is going the right way, but I need action to back up the words - and it's pretty simple, if he doesn't live up to it, I won't vote for him again in 2014 (ish).
"Bust open the monopoly" - nice! Along with many others, but that one does stick in my head. As long as this is substance and not just words, he's impressing me more and more.
What I need to see to fully convince me is Cameron in power; the policy is going the right way, but I need action to back up the words - and it's pretty simple, if he doesn't live up to it, I won't vote for him again in 2014 (ish).
ID Cards
Manchester residents can voluntarily sign up for ID cards, according to the BBC.
I've seen "queue up" used on various blogs. Let's be honest, there won't be any queues, there will just be a few nutters, people trying to look cool, and Labour MPs signing up. £60 to hand over my details for them to lose? Give it a break. I'll be renewing my passport asap at the end of the year when my current one expires.
The BBC is obsessed with the cost issue, which is a problem, but far more important is the civil liberties issue. Pilots have been forced to have an ID card for an airside pass - how long until I have to have an ID card for a driving licence, or a gym card, or to buy a chocolate bar in the shop? They aren't voluntary at all. I'd also rather not having a government following me around, a government that inherently gives itself more and more power.
ID cards should be scrapped now, or at least postponed until after the next election (if the Tories win they'll be scrapped, and Labour will have a mandate if they somehow manage to win).
I've seen "queue up" used on various blogs. Let's be honest, there won't be any queues, there will just be a few nutters, people trying to look cool, and Labour MPs signing up. £60 to hand over my details for them to lose? Give it a break. I'll be renewing my passport asap at the end of the year when my current one expires.
The BBC is obsessed with the cost issue, which is a problem, but far more important is the civil liberties issue. Pilots have been forced to have an ID card for an airside pass - how long until I have to have an ID card for a driving licence, or a gym card, or to buy a chocolate bar in the shop? They aren't voluntary at all. I'd also rather not having a government following me around, a government that inherently gives itself more and more power.
ID cards should be scrapped now, or at least postponed until after the next election (if the Tories win they'll be scrapped, and Labour will have a mandate if they somehow manage to win).
Sunday 3 May 2009
30 years
I don't remember Margaret Thatcher, and neither did I see before her, but I certainly see her legacy and how it's been destroyed.
The socialist myths that she brought this country to its knees - it's hard to bring a country at its knees to its knees! By defeating the trade unions that had made the nationalised companies so inefficient (not that they aren't inherently inefficient) she made this country great once again.
Disposable income has doubled since 1979, far more people own cars, living standards are up, etc etc.
And now we have to do it all over again. Now Brown's hopeless borrowing has put this country in a poor state, and it's about time we trusted the market and capitalism to raise us back up to the respected position we should have in the world.
Thatcher wasn't perfect by any means; she centralised far too much and snooped too much, as well as the social decline; but her economic policies had us in good stead.
The socialist myths that she brought this country to its knees - it's hard to bring a country at its knees to its knees! By defeating the trade unions that had made the nationalised companies so inefficient (not that they aren't inherently inefficient) she made this country great once again.
Disposable income has doubled since 1979, far more people own cars, living standards are up, etc etc.
And now we have to do it all over again. Now Brown's hopeless borrowing has put this country in a poor state, and it's about time we trusted the market and capitalism to raise us back up to the respected position we should have in the world.
Thatcher wasn't perfect by any means; she centralised far too much and snooped too much, as well as the social decline; but her economic policies had us in good stead.
RIP Jack Kemp
I share many views with Jack Kemp - low taxation is the basic one, but I do also like supply-side reform, and also disagree with abortion.
Although I could say many bad things about American Football, he was certainly a man who restored America in the Reagan years and will certainly be missed in the current circumstances.
Although I could say many bad things about American Football, he was certainly a man who restored America in the Reagan years and will certainly be missed in the current circumstances.
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