Give a little respect

Sorry I haven't posted in like.. a year, I've had an impossible amount of work and dissertation writing and still to do!

Just a quick post about the way politicians act.

I was watching some videos of PMQs and debates in the European Parliament, and was struck by the hypocrisy of politicians.

Back when Gordon Brown was PM he regularly got a verbal beating in the House of Commons, Even though I don't think he was the best PM, I feel sorry and ashamed at how MPs act in the chamber and continue to act today.

Even though Brown lef the country in a terrible state, I feel sorry for anyone who, in their work place gets shouted and jeered at to the point of shaking. Come on guys (& girls), a bit of professionalism and decorum in the workplace please.

If you want to see what I'm talking about, just youtube Prime Minister's Questions.

I called them hypocrites also, because they think its perfectly fine (maybe even expected) to act like baboons in work, but then when members of the public who are blatantly bigoted, or rude, they dodge around them and act as if they've made a valid point. For example, that Duffy woman who amazingly embarassed Gordon Brown and not herself. To be clear, what she said WAS bigoted.

Again, to see what I'm talking about, head on over to www.youtube.com

Peace.

Education... How it should be done

This post makes a number of assumptions. First, that the reader is interested in education policy, secondly that the reader is also interested in education policy in the United Kingdom and thirdly that anyone in government reads my blog!

This one is all about the education system in the UK. Now while some children have a very good experience of state education, too many do not. I was taken out of the state-school system when I was 13 and sent to an independent fee paying school. Easily, the best decision my parents and myself ever took.

But moving back to the main point of this post. Education is all in all, pretty terribly organised. The subjects taught have much to be desired also.

The things children learn in school should be to enlighten them. To empower them to learn on their own, and excel at what tasks are given to them. So basic subjects should be taught from a young age.

Firstly, Latin. Although I have never been taught this, I feel that it is necessary to see the language from which most of the languages of Europe originated. To see the interconnectivity and the meanings behind words. Rather than just seeing arbitrary letters jumbled together.

Secondly, in stead of religious education, philosophy and ethics. As Plato so optimistically wanted, political leaders who were philosophers. (Plato's Republic). Giving a solid ethical and philosophical context for our society, rather than spending hours learning what the difference is between a Minaret and an Imam. (Though this is essential to know one's a person!)

English grammar should be taught as a separate block of lessons. Poorly education people are filling the masses now who simply don't recognise the difference between "they're, their and there". It's just terrible.

Geographical locations should be intrinsically part of learning in school. Ignorance of the rest of the world cannot be tolerated.

A greater range of sports should be made available. The basics of just providing rugby/cricket/netball/rounders while encourages athleticism, can exclude those who do not like the sport, but may excel at another that is not being taught. That some children may simple slot into a passive, weak role forced upon them by rowdier, louder members of their class.

Finally, the quality of the teaching. So many students loose out on disciplines that may be their calling in life. But due to poor teaching, they fall back and think that they're too stupid to pass exams or get on in life. A personal example, where I shall name and shame (and name and praise) the respective institutions. I attended Ysgol Gyfun Ystalyfera (Ystalyfera Comprehensive School in English) and my geography teacher was infamous for all the wrong reasons. Mrs Hallsall was by far the most despised teacher by staff, students and parents. She ruined geography for me. But in 2004 after being at this school for 2 year, I moved to Christ College, Brecon. My new geography was enthusiastic and had a fantastic relationship with his students. Mr Thomas saved geography for me, and now I read it at university.

So there you have it. If anyone hears of an opening as Education Secretary or Michael Gove has had an 'accident' please let me know so I may apply to David Cameron for the job.

England Riots

David Cameron used the word "sick" of our society. He has hit the nail on the head. When these rioters started to destroy their communities and later spread to other major English cities they said they were fighting for respect. Respect from the police and higher classes. (Or more affluent/hard working people).

Utter and complete nonsense.

It was truly tragic to see my country fall into chaos with little or no police presence for 2 days. A country that I felt proud to call a safe haven, stable amid all the turmoil, violence and death that is gripping other countries.

Courtesy of the BBC

Of course the government should have fought back quicker and the politicians should have returned from their holidays sooner, however hindsight isn't a luxury we have prior to events. It was almost as though London had returned to the Blitz.

This will be David Cameron's defining point as Prime Minister of the UK, his first speech on Tuesday 9th August was a little disappointing as nothing truly was said. However, from his second speech on Wednesday, I felt that he had heard the petitions, the pages on social networking sites and seen the anger of the nation's citizens with their desire for a no nonsense, beureucratic free solution.

The truly magical phenomenon that has occured and inspired me that I am not part of the lost generation is the strength and will of community action to stop and clear up the destruction.

Courtesy of the BBC

This reaction and community spirit is exactly what David Cameron was talking about with his Big Society plan. A shame that such a horrible event had to occur for the real Britain to emerge, nonetheless, this day. I am proud to be British.

Oink Oink Americaaaa

I was recently chatting to an American friend over Messenger and started talking about politics. I described the whole public spending cuts that are occurring here in the United Kingdom, and the protests against it.

The conversation then turned to public spending in the United States as she explained that the US government would subsidies foreign nationals who wish to attend university in America. To this I was a little bit shocked at the scale of debt that is upon the shoulders of the American tax payer, and with relation to the increase in tuition fees of undergraduates here in the UK.

She went on to explain that America has a long list of spending on things that would "normally" (i.e. necessary spending of tax revenue). Given the scale of the austerity measures and the subsequent contraction of the economy by 5% in the UK, I found myself "jealous" of the funding provided by the US government.

This sort of spending by the US government is commonly referred to as "Pork Barrel Spending". Here are some examples that my American friend referenced:

• $107,000 to study the sex life of the Japanese quail. $1.2 million to study the breeding habits of the woodchuck. $150,000 to study the Hatfield-McCoy feud. $84,000 to find out why people fall in love. $1 million to study why people don't ride bikes to work. $19 million to examine gas emissions from cow flatulence. $144,000 to see if pigeons follow human economic laws. Funds to study the cause of rudeness on tennis courts and examine smiling patterns in bowling alleys. $219,000 to teach college students how to watch television. $2 million to construct an ancient Hawaiian canoe. $20 million for a demonstration project to build wooden bridges. $160,000 to study if you can hex an opponent by drawing an X on his chest. $100,000 to study how to avoid falling spacecraft. $16,000 to study the operation of the komungo, a Korean stringed instrument. $1 million to preserve a sewer in Trenton, NJ, as a historic monument. $6,000 for a document on Worcestershire sauce. $10,000 to study the effect of naval communications on a bull's potency. $100,000 to research soybean-based ink. $1 million for a Seafood Consumer Center. $57,000 spent by the Executive Branch for gold-embossed playing cards on Air Force Two. TOTAL = $45,980,000 (http://www.areddy.net/mscott/porkabs.html)

With a national debt of $14,081,064,000,000 as of 4.10pm GMT Thursday 27th Jan 2011, and increasing every second, it seems ludicrous how such spending can be tolerated.

No need for a conclusion, it speaks for itself.

Green Green Green

Global Warming

Climate Change

Fossil Fuels

Renewable Energy

Sustainable Society

These crop up almost hourly in the world's news papers and websites. Depending where the media source is from and who is writing it, it can be a little biased in a number of ways relating to the topics listed above. If anything, we have become a little sick of the horror stories, the rash claims of, anything really to do with anything environmental. It seems there was an initial hype of environmentalism, as with many things, we get sick of it. "Too much of a good [or bad?] thing".

Anyway, moving on to the point of this blog. I would like to establish some of my beliefs with regards to this subject:

1. Global warming is occurring
• Both natural and anthropocentric
2. Climate change is natural and occurs in cycles over a millions of years
3. Fossil fuels are finite, and diminishing rapidly
4. Fossil fuels and it's pollutants are also poisonous to any environment
5. Renewable energy is vital but not the only other option
6. Sustainability is the key to the future

Now bearing this in mind, there are a considerable number of hurdles with regards to getting things done in this world. Lengthy bureaucratic procedures; magnificent power wielding oil companies and the most important, the fact that humans as a race can't look beyond the immediate. Even though global warming is occurring, the fact that the UK has had a very cold winter means that the majority will think that global warming is not happening and we're all okay. No. Just no.

The thing is, whether or not you 'believe' in global warming and all these issues. The continued use of dirty, poison emitting fuels is not justified in any sense.

It is difficult for politicians to agree and spend money on achieving a sustainable society because the electorate like to see immediate action. They cannot look to the future, and see what benefits will come when patience is used. But all it takes is one, determined, un-egotistical person to push these through and stick to them for the right future to be achieved.

For the first of my many environmentl orientated blogs to come, this should set a foundation for future blogs to go into detail in subjects such as technological advancements, political changes or scientific discoveries.

For the time being, remember, Green is Good.

Don't Ask Don't Tell

Capitol Building, Washington D.C., United States of America:

The US Senate voted to repeal the US Military policy, 'don't ask, don't tell'. I am not that tuned up in American politics, however, it is my understanding that this policy is in reference to US soldiers openly serving in the military as gay. 

I have heard many stories of general American ignorance and backwardness, be it geographically, philosophically, blatant racism etc. In the topic of sexuality, I have an understanding that the southern states are less tolerant of different sexualities, and in fact, different religions, ethnicities and the environment. As demonstrated in the Top Gear episode where Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May drove along the southern states.

The point of this however, is never, would I have ever imagined that in at least the 'western world' would there be such a discriminatory policy survive this long, and survive a whole decade of the 21st century.

The bill comfortably passed the vote of the US parliament's lower house, House of Representatives (HoR). But with the recent mid term elections and the boost in 'republicans' (the right of centre party of the US), meant uncertainty as to whether this bill would be comfortably passed in the upper chamber (Senate). Here are the results of both votes:

•  House of Representatives
• 250 in favour 

• 175 not in favour
• Senate 

•  65 in favour 

•  33 not in favour

This is no doubt good news that such a discriminatory policy was being carried out in "the free world". A big applause to President Obama, the Democrats and the few Republicans who voted for this change.

Nevertheless, 208 elected politicians voted to not change the policy. 208 blatant disregard for personal liberty and human rights. In the country where the words 'liberty' and 'freedom' are used so synonymously with 'America' and the definitions of being 'American'. This type of hypocrisy has no place in this world. Not anymore.

However, speaking of hypocrisy, one should not unload our anger upon the Republicans who voted 'nay'. This don't ask, don't tell policy was instigated by none other, Bill Clinton, US President, Democrat back in the time of Tony Blair. A policy one wouldn't think that would stem from the "left wing" party of the US.

Opponents say the repeal will scrap a good policy and will hurt the military's performance.[http://edition.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/12/18/senate.dadt/index.html?hpt=T2]

Whoever said this is obviously exceptionally stupid, and any sort of power vested in him/her should be stripped away from them, for the good of everyone.

The Republican, Senator Lindsay Graham cited a Marine Corps commandant saying it could increase casualties because of distraction. They go on to say,

But you've got to ask yourself is he crazy to say that? Is he the kind of man who would make such a chilling statement without having thought about it.

 This 'officer' in the American military to say such a serious prediction and statement and certainly, Senator Graham, this man must have thought it through. It's just that he's thinking with a bigoted, backwards, ignorant and arrogant head.

Next week, when President Obama signs the bill into law can't come soon enough for those who still, 234 years after signing of the declaration of independence, the creation of the free world, they can finally become free.

Lordy Lord

Since the exposure of MPs expenses by a leak to the Daily Telegraph in May of 2009, it has triggered  series of political changes in the United Kingdom (UK). 

Guided by organisations such as the Electoral Reform Society, there has been growing public discontent about the way things are run. Inevitably, after 13 years of the same political party in government would result in the electorate becoming somewhat 'bored' of things and so a change in government would occur. So, as soon as Gordon Brown took the reigns of Downing Street, it's no surprise that public approval of him plummeted until he was defeated in the 2010 general election.

So with the new coalition government, new parliament, political reform flows through the halls of Westminster Palace. 

This now brings me to the main point of this blog. Reformation of the House of Lords (HoL). While I wholly support that the lower chamber of parliament should be elected, and I also support a proportional system of voting as opposed to 'first past the post' (but that's another blog). I do not however, support 'democratising' the HoL. It seems to me that already, half of parliament is career driven by the elected politicians and so are bound by doing the most popular decision rather than the best decision.

Which brings me to the role the HoL is an important and integral component of the legislature of the UK. Its purpose is scrutinising bills proposed by the government ministers in the House of Commons (HoC). 

The HoL is not an elected chamber, it is however, appointed. Members of the House of Lords, or peers, may be appointed because they have attained a degree of expertise in areas useful to the effective examination of government policy, such as science, economics or public administration.

As a result, the dominance of political parties in the HoL is significantly reduced as opposed to the HoC.

We see here, that there is a high percentage of non party affiliated groups. These offer an different perspective, and vital contribution to important legislation and policies. Not only are the non political party orientated members important. The political veterans of the House of Commons and other legislative bodies of the UK play an important role, in contributing their decades of experience.

'Democracy' is an important aspect of the modern world, and spreading the word of it is actively done by the United States of America in their oh so stewarding and policing role in the world. It should be reminded that democracy is another face of utilitarianism, i.e. the greatest good for the greatest number. The problem that arises is what about the suffering minority, and in most cases, the majority do not realise what is good for them, and what they think is good for them.

The House of Lords

The House of Commons