Comments on: The mood of the blogs may be the mood of the nation http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2009/02/16/the-mood-of-the-blogs-may-be-the-mood-of-the-nation/ Incisive and topical campaigns and commentary on today's issues and tomorrow's problems Thu, 24 May 2012 13:47:51 +0000 hourly 1 By: jailhouselawyer http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2009/02/16/the-mood-of-the-blogs-may-be-the-mood-of-the-nation/#comment-11394 jailhouselawyer Thu, 19 Feb 2009 21:04:26 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=2910#comment-11394 "Reply: Try reading this blog, and you will see bloggers asked me to. I was referring to bloggers to this site". Your's is not on my daily reads, and your politics is further right than I like, I only came over because Iain Dale thought you had something interesting to say. Even though I don't like his politics either, it has been on my daily reading list for ages, and I did like 18doughtystreet.com. You did not say in your post, nor provide a link to follow the source of your thought. I am not a mind reader. Certainly, blogs are coming into their own. Obama puts his victory down to the internet. We are slower over here. Having said that, the government is desperately trying to control the internet. It is a waste of taxpayers money having 10 full time staff monitoring the internet to see what is being said about them. Google Alerts are free! The biggest waste is the money spent on our prisons. If the Titan Prisons project goes ahead, people will be walking around with wheelbarrows full of almost worthless banknotes. Smaller, more manageable units, is not only cheaper but the way forward. I note from your banner "today's issues and tomorrow's problems. An issue today is that the government has failed in its responsibilities to the Convention to implement the ECtHR decision in Hirst v UK(No2). The Observer reports: "The government must give prisoners the right to vote or the next general election will be illegal under European law, ministers have been warned by parliament's influential Joint Committee on Human Rights" (9.11.2008). I think you will have to agree that this will be a problem tomorrow. It won't go away. And yet, H.M. Opposition has so far been silent on this. Do you think that the Committee of Ministers in Europe on 17-19 March 2009 are just going to fire paper clips at the UK? Members States have to abide by the Convention to be Members of the EU. In my view, the UK should tidy up its act of face being expelled like a naughty school boy at Eton or Harrow. Just a thought, don't you have to be in Europe for Economic Competitiveness to mean something in this country?. We have to play by their rules on this, over there it's Roman law not English law which prevails. Charles Falconer failed to do his homework. Labour are trying to hide his incompetence. When I studied law I took on board the influence of European law, it wasn't even around when Charles Falconer studied law. "Ignorance of the law is no excuse". Where are the Tory attack dogs? Shouldn't you be sending them into this political bear pit? “Reply: Try reading this blog, and you will see bloggers asked me to. I was referring to bloggers to this site”.

Your’s is not on my daily reads, and your politics is further right than I like, I only came over because Iain Dale thought you had something interesting to say. Even though I don’t like his politics either, it has been on my daily reading list for ages, and I did like 18doughtystreet.com. You did not say in your post, nor provide a link to follow the source of your thought. I am not a mind reader.

Certainly, blogs are coming into their own. Obama puts his victory down to the internet. We are slower over here. Having said that, the government is desperately trying to control the internet. It is a waste of taxpayers money having 10 full time staff monitoring the internet to see what is being said about them. Google Alerts are free!

The biggest waste is the money spent on our prisons. If the Titan Prisons project goes ahead, people will be walking around with wheelbarrows full of almost worthless banknotes. Smaller, more manageable units, is not only cheaper but the way forward.

I note from your banner “today’s issues and tomorrow’s problems. An issue today is that the government has failed in its responsibilities to the Convention to implement the ECtHR decision in Hirst v UK(No2). The Observer reports: “The government must give prisoners the right to vote or the next general election will be illegal under European law, ministers have been warned by parliament’s influential Joint Committee on Human Rights” (9.11.2008). I think you will have to agree that this will be a problem tomorrow. It won’t go away. And yet, H.M. Opposition has so far been silent on this. Do you think that the Committee of Ministers in Europe on 17-19 March 2009 are just going to fire paper clips at the UK? Members States have to abide by the Convention to be Members of the EU. In my view, the UK should tidy up its act of face being expelled like a naughty school boy at Eton or Harrow. Just a thought, don’t you have to be in Europe for Economic Competitiveness to mean something in this country?. We have to play by their rules on this, over there it’s Roman law not English law which prevails. Charles Falconer failed to do his homework. Labour are trying to hide his incompetence. When I studied law I took on board the influence of European law, it wasn’t even around when Charles Falconer studied law. “Ignorance of the law is no excuse”. Where are the Tory attack dogs? Shouldn’t you be sending them into this political bear pit?

]]> By: Neil Craig http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2009/02/16/the-mood-of-the-blogs-may-be-the-mood-of-the-nation/#comment-11393 Neil Craig Wed, 18 Feb 2009 12:14:11 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=2910#comment-11393 While David is slighly gilding the lily in saying Labour would get 20% of seats under PR you are doing the reverse John in saying Labour would get a majority. Theu got 36% of the votes at the last election & under a true PR system would get 36% of seats. Granted that would still have left them the largest party but not one able to ride roughshod over something the representatives of the majority didn't like. There is a further question of how much of the Labour & Tory vote is there because people feel they have to vote that way to keep out Tory & Labour respectively. If people felt able to vote for a party they actually liked, who put forward arguments & policies that were not merely designed not to alienate the "middle ground" it might well be that few would vote for either party. While such a society would be more democratic & I think more free & adventurous I can sees why their is a Labour-Tory conspiarcy against it. Reply: My point was just to illustrate that many people did not vote - not a serious calculation. While David is slighly gilding the lily in saying Labour would get 20% of seats under PR you are doing the reverse John in saying Labour would get a majority. Theu got 36% of the votes at the last election & under a true PR system would get 36% of seats. Granted that would still have left them the largest party but not one able to ride roughshod over something the representatives of the majority didn’t like.

There is a further question of how much of the Labour & Tory vote is there because people feel they have to vote that way to keep out Tory & Labour respectively. If people felt able to vote for a party they actually liked, who put forward arguments & policies that were not merely designed not to alienate the “middle ground” it might well be that few would vote for either party. While such a society would be more democratic & I think more free & adventurous I can sees why their is a Labour-Tory conspiarcy against it.

Reply: My point was just to illustrate that many people did not vote – not a serious calculation.

]]> By: Ron Lee http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2009/02/16/the-mood-of-the-blogs-may-be-the-mood-of-the-nation/#comment-11392 Ron Lee Tue, 17 Feb 2009 17:01:55 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=2910#comment-11392 Absolutely right a widow with £20000 savings plus her pension has had her savings income reduced from £20 a week to £4 a week this added to her state pension is much lower the the governments guaranteed weekly income, and she will get no help. Why save. Her next door neighbour although she had a good job never saved, had a great time, and now enjoys a good life living off her pensions tax credit. Why save. Absolutely right a widow with £20000 savings plus her pension has had her savings income reduced from £20 a week to £4 a week this added to her state pension is much lower the the governments guaranteed weekly income, and she will get no help. Why save. Her next door neighbour although she had a good job never saved, had a great time, and now enjoys a good life living off her pensions tax credit. Why save.

]]> By: SYNTAGMA » Highlights of Political Blogs: February 17 http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2009/02/16/the-mood-of-the-blogs-may-be-the-mood-of-the-nation/#comment-11391 SYNTAGMA » Highlights of Political Blogs: February 17 Tue, 17 Feb 2009 14:40:54 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=2910#comment-11391 [...] The mood of the blogs may be the mood of the nation Most are appalled by public profligacy and waste, by the gross unfairness of job losses and more rules for the private sector, and better expenses and bonuses for the public sector. [...] [...] The mood of the blogs may be the mood of the nation Most are appalled by public profligacy and waste, by the gross unfairness of job losses and more rules for the private sector, and better expenses and bonuses for the public sector. [...]

]]> By: jim http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2009/02/16/the-mood-of-the-blogs-may-be-the-mood-of-the-nation/#comment-11390 jim Tue, 17 Feb 2009 03:46:45 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=2910#comment-11390 We are entering a period of transition when everything that people used to believe will get thrown away. Whilst people may be getting steadily more angry we still haven't had a catalyst, it's hard to say what that might be, possibly the collapse of the pound, or a rapid increase in oil prices. Both of which are likely this year. What should be clear is that everything is about to change, hopefully in a positive way, restoring liberty to the people, sweeping away the Quangocracy etc. I'll be really surprised if Gordon Brown is still alive next year. But things are going to be tough, most people aren't going to have the money to pay tax, so government is going to be cut substantially, a lot of jobs will disappear, like teaching, to be replaced by voluntary workers. have a look at what's happening in Iceland, the future is coming fast. We are entering a period of transition when everything that people used to believe will get thrown away. Whilst people may be getting steadily more angry we still haven’t had a catalyst, it’s hard to say what that might be, possibly the collapse of the pound, or a rapid increase in oil prices. Both of which are likely this year.
What should be clear is that everything is about to change, hopefully in a positive way, restoring liberty to the people, sweeping away the Quangocracy etc. I’ll be really surprised if Gordon Brown is still alive next year.
But things are going to be tough, most people aren’t going to have the money to pay tax, so government is going to be cut substantially, a lot of jobs will disappear, like teaching, to be replaced by voluntary workers. have a look at what’s happening in Iceland, the future is coming fast.

]]> By: jailhouselawyer http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2009/02/16/the-mood-of-the-blogs-may-be-the-mood-of-the-nation/#comment-11389 jailhouselawyer Tue, 17 Feb 2009 01:43:55 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=2910#comment-11389 "I have been asked to sum up the mood of the bloggers". Who asked you? Do you know how many bloggers there are in the world? Or, even just in the UK? In any event, people being people, bloggers moods will vary. Apparently, Derek Draper is claiming to be able to read people's minds being a psychotherapist. Have you got a similar qualification which enables you to read bloggers moods? Reply: Try reading this blog, and you will see bloggers asked me to. I was referring to bloggers to this site. “I have been asked to sum up the mood of the bloggers”.

Who asked you?

Do you know how many bloggers there are in the world? Or, even just in the UK?

In any event, people being people, bloggers moods will vary.

Apparently, Derek Draper is claiming to be able to read people’s minds being a psychotherapist. Have you got a similar qualification which enables you to read bloggers moods?

Reply: Try reading this blog, and you will see bloggers asked me to. I was referring to bloggers to this site.

]]> By: THE ESSEX BOYS http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2009/02/16/the-mood-of-the-blogs-may-be-the-mood-of-the-nation/#comment-11388 THE ESSEX BOYS Mon, 16 Feb 2009 23:04:51 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=2910#comment-11388 Well done Amanda. Actually we see a great tv program coming out of this. Perhaps JR as a leading blogger could devise the format and sell the rights! Seriously...many of us remember 'I'm backing Britain' from the 60s and others recall Peter Finch's oscar-winning performance and plaintiff cry from 'Network' in the 70s. In fact we were moved to use it in a blog at the weekend... "We're as mad as hell and we won't take it any more" We feel a combination of both evolving in Britain right now...and would love to see the mood of the moment somehow captured positively and imaginatively to shake and stir us to the core! Well done Amanda.

Actually we see a great tv program coming out of this. Perhaps JR as a leading blogger could devise the format and sell the rights!

Seriously…many of us remember ‘I’m backing Britain’ from the 60s and others recall Peter Finch’s oscar-winning performance and plaintiff cry from ‘Network’ in the 70s. In fact we were moved to use it in a blog at the weekend…

“We’re as mad as hell and we won’t take it any more”

We feel a combination of both evolving in Britain right now…and would love to see the mood of the moment somehow captured positively and imaginatively to shake and stir us to the core!

]]> By: David b http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2009/02/16/the-mood-of-the-blogs-may-be-the-mood-of-the-nation/#comment-11387 David b Mon, 16 Feb 2009 22:50:42 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=2910#comment-11387 The system of winner takes all in elections is what brings us so many of these woes. Britain would be better governed if some system of proportional representation were in place. I have voted all my life, and only once in 30 years did I ever elect anyone. And that was due to the PR system for the Scottish Parliament. It is a disgrace to call a country a democracy when so many people vote yet never see anyone who shares their views elected. Mr Brown would not be PM if the 20 odds percent of electors who voted his party in, had 20 odds percent of the seats in parliament. Reply: On your proposed form of PR large numbers of seats would be empty to represent all those who do not vote, so we would still have a Labour majority! PR does not increase turnout in the UK, and produces something worse than majority government - government by a coalition who decide to change what they promised electors in order to scramble into power. The system of winner takes all in elections is what brings us so many of these woes. Britain would be better governed if some system of proportional representation were in place. I have voted all my life, and only once in 30 years did I ever elect anyone. And that was due to the PR system for the Scottish Parliament. It is a disgrace to call a country a democracy when so many people vote yet never see anyone who shares their views elected.

Mr Brown would not be PM if the 20 odds percent of electors who voted his party in, had 20 odds percent of the seats in parliament.

Reply: On your proposed form of PR large numbers of seats would be empty to represent all those who do not vote, so we would still have a Labour majority! PR does not increase turnout in the UK, and produces something worse than majority government – government by a coalition who decide to change what they promised electors in order to scramble into power.

]]> By: mike stallard http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2009/02/16/the-mood-of-the-blogs-may-be-the-mood-of-the-nation/#comment-11386 mike stallard Mon, 16 Feb 2009 21:39:15 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=2910#comment-11386 The big question is this, surely: How representative are we on this site of the general mood of the country? And the answer is this: the country needs positive leadership ASAP from people who are listened to and who themselves listen. People who act straight and know what they are doing. That is why so many people want you, John, to be more of a Conservative voice in the shadow cabinet. Forget Jane Goody and the 13 year old (legal) rapist: people are worried about the future, about their homes, their jobs, their bank accounts...... We can do it if we are led properly. The big question is this, surely: How representative are we on this site of the general mood of the country?
And the answer is this: the country needs positive leadership ASAP from people who are listened to and who themselves listen. People who act straight and know what they are doing.
That is why so many people want you, John, to be more of a Conservative voice in the shadow cabinet.
Forget Jane Goody and the 13 year old (legal) rapist: people are worried about the future, about their homes, their jobs, their bank accounts……
We can do it if we are led properly.

]]> By: Hawkeye http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2009/02/16/the-mood-of-the-blogs-may-be-the-mood-of-the-nation/#comment-11385 Hawkeye Mon, 16 Feb 2009 20:37:10 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=2910#comment-11385 My (tory!) MP is very good and always responds promptly. I shall continue to vote for him and hopefully increase his majority. My (tory!) MP is very good and always responds promptly. I shall continue to vote for him and hopefully increase his majority.

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