Blair Crawls Back Out of the Woodwork 19th November 2008
According to the BBC Website yesterday, Tony Blair is to co-host an international forum on the world financial crisis. According to The Times, Blair is estimated to have coined ('earned' sticks in my craw) over £12m since leaving Downing Street. If this is true, one must wonder what the hell he would know about a financial crisis? On the same unctuous subject, The Telegraph, reported that one of Blair's bodyguards (and I guess he needs a lot) 'accidentally' fired his gun in Israel's Ben Gurion airport, and that earlier another had left her gun in the loo at Starbucks in Edware Road London, to be found later by a member of the public......You would think that someone with his income could afford better help! Phil, France
On the current hypocracy of the big banks 8th November 2008
The current hypocracy of the big banks overwhelms me. They have all just been bailed out with billions of taxpayers money and instructed to to give credit especially to small businesses and they are doing the opposite. There have been innumerable instances over the past couple of weeks where perfectly viable businesses such as restaurants , flower shops and small time retailers, who have always existed on an overdraft facility in the past without default, are now having their debts called in and told their businesses are 'unsafe'. It's the big banks who are unsafe. Perhaps it's time to change to the Co-Op Bank that does not seem to go in for the shenanigans of the big banks. Fraser, France
On lorries 24th October 2008
Right then - I am a reasonable man. This rant however is something that must have been in other minds before mine.... I live in the UK and use the motorways quite a bit for travelling both for work and leisure. I live in the east midlands and use the M11 and A1 frequently. Both of these roads are dual carriageways for most of their length. As far as I understand it when on a motorway HGVs are not allowed on the fast lane - fair enough. They are allowed however to overtake on the middle lane.
On the M11 and A1 this equates to the fast lane. If you consider the motorways in the UK as part of our economic engine, the financial arteries that feed our factories and shops with vital goods and services then it makes sense that these roads are used as efficiently as possible - it also might save fuel. So my rant is this - imagine two lorries on the M11, one behind the other. Both are roughly the same in terms of power and weight. On the outside lane there is a steady stream of smaller vehicles, usually cars - all passing these lorries at reasonable and not unlawful speeds. Suddenly one of the lorries decides to overtake the other. At +1mph. On a hill. The other lorry driver sees this attempt to attach his HGVirility and keeps his speed. The other lorry gradually crawls past him (hopefully).
This whole procedure might take five minutes. In the meantime a caterpillar of irritated cars and vans follows the snail race. My point is this - has anyone done the maths here? How much time is wasted by the actions of these captains of industry? Has the cost in fuel been taken into account? Have these effects been added up in terms of effects on our economy and general quality of life versus the infinitessimal benefit the lorry might gain by arriving at Doncaster two minutes early? If for example the trail of vehicles is say fifteen cars and each has two occupants - thats 30 people who cumulatively have spent 150 minutes waiting for the overtaking lorry to complete his maneouvre. Thats 30 people who are late for meetings, spending more on fuel etc etc. I suggest that lorries are constrained to let an overtaking vehicle pass with reasonable speed on such roads or not to overtake and to make a judgement about the effects on other road users as a matter of driving courtesy. Is this too much to ask? Bob , Uk
On Capitalism's detrimental effects on the environment 16th September 2008
Capitalism is affording us cheap goods and services to the detriment of the ecology of our world. I'm no veggie, but seeing the staggering statistics about the waste involved in feeding cattle; the grain they consumer, the fresh water required to feed them, the space they take up, and the greenhouse gases they emit, when there are people dying because of poverty and the polar ice caps are melting, seems a gross injustice to me. It is easy to hide behind the selfishness that capitalism brings, but we are sooner or later going to have to face up to the responsibilities of our actions against our planet since the dawn of the industrial age, and accept that we are collectively going to have to change our habits if our species is to survive. Rob Scott, Liverpool, UK
On criticism of the USA 8th September 2008
Some of the criticism of the US really makes me laugh. It's power is in it's tolerance, pluralism, and it basic liberties that allows the ENTIRE population to persue the piece of the pie. If you need an example, just think of what happens to a small business owner in Europe that fails. The poor business person will probably never get a second chance with the banks but in the US it is considered a part of the process. I know this is a fact because the bank I work for gives many business loans to European start-ups that have been turned down by everyone there. Now that's equality and the American way! Robert Thomas, US
On responsibility for solving Islamist terrorism? 4th September 2008
Radical Muslims are responsible for Islamic terrorism, yes. But what is continuously overlooked by those which are anti-muslim is the fact that the West does more to instigate Islamic terrorism than help the situation. Occupation, foreign policy, civilian deaths, economic policy, military action, etc. all lend credence and legitimize (at least in the minds of some) radical Islam as a means to stand up to what is perceived as a Bully nation/s. Yes, we have the “War on Terror” but look throughout history at our [The Wests] hand in Muslim countries with regards to the above issues, and meddling in their affairs and you will see and hopefully be able to understand why, in part, there was a galvanization in the name of radical Islam against The West. Now this is not taking into account Muslim on Muslim terrorism, or terrorism based on religion or other forms of terrorism not against the ‘evil’ West. For every action there is a reaction. Islamic terrorism didn’t just spring up out of nowhere, for no reason.
Of course, there are arguments on both sides. The whole Radical Islam wishing to take over the world thing doesn’t help at all… But honestly, what have we done to help the situation? Besides wage war and kill people? Or wage policy when its in our favor? But to say its the responsibility of an everyday Muslim to tackle terrorism and hate for others is the same as saying its up to everyday Christians to stop the Falwell-type Christia-bigotry and hate. It’s a world problem, hence it will require a world working towards a solution. Brett, UK
On the French ban on Islamic headscarves 8th August 2008
I know this topic seems to have faded from people's mind in the last year or so, but here's my rant...the French parliament voted overwhelmingly in favour of a ban on Islamic headscarves and all other overt religious symbols from state schools. Should they be banned? No! - however one looks at it, this is a breach of personal freedom. Equally, an atheist should be able to wear clothing declaring "God/Allah/Deity-of-choice doesn't exist" on the front. What is utterly unacceptable is that headscarves/skullcaps etc are allowed if one claims allegiance to a religion, but not if one just likes wearing them. Gordon, UK
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