Thursday, September 21, 2006
Alan Johnson in a op-ed for the Guardian http://politics.guardian.co.uk/publicservices/comment/0,,1877205,00.html argues that the Labour spin machine has been successful in moving the centre ground of politics to the Left and that this should be it's greatest achievement, which David Cameron is flattering by imitation. Let's be straight about 2 things, firstly moving the centre of politics to the left is NOT good, and secondly, we Conservatives are not following!
Since 1997 there has been a marked shift in society as a consequence of "leftism". Political correctness is rife. Cherie Blair was questioned under legislation she herself makes her living out of as a Human Rights lawyer when she playfully tapped a 17 year old on the shoulder during a press conference. The school system is failing 40, 000 children who are in schools wherer the success rate of gaining 5 GCSEs is at 1% in spite of the dumbing down of the exam system so that they have no realistic hope of finding a job. Quotas that control every facet of life are handed out from central government. The public sector payroll has exlpoded with hundereds of thousands of jobs being created by NDPB's, quangos, boards, many of which duplicate each other or are functionally useless so that almost 40% of those in emlpoyment draw their salaries from the state or local government. Europe is gaining ever more power over British citizens as even this week our Government stealthily intends to hand over the court system without proper public debate. Our armed forces are over-stretched and under-equipped fighting expeditionary conflicts all over the world while foreign issues such as Zimbabwe, where we ought to be involved, are left ignored. Thought crimes are more heinous than real crimes.
In his piece Mr Johnson argues that standards have risen, yet the CBI now suggests that many school leavers are unemployable. More and more students are getting Grade A's through an ever more lax and coursework based exam system that no longer requires geunine knowledge or the ability to read, write, punctuate, and express an opinion based in original thouhgt. It isn't the children's fault, they only study the syllabus that teachers are required to teach. What they end up with is a clutch of exam passes in this "there's no such thing as second place, we are all winners here" world of education before being thrown out into the cut and thrust world of work and survival. Equally with more and more students being sucked up into the Higher Education sector that are not necessarily equipped to be there, many are coming out of newly created second rate "universities" with degress that will only get them as far as a job in a call centre, and with suffocated debt to boot. Education, Edjukashun, Edksn!
Mr Johnson also talks about the "success" of dragging people into state dependency at an earlier age through Sure Start. It's always been the leftist agenda to make people so dependant on the state they are scared to stand on their own two feet and thus reject the state, and the controls the state wishes to impose on our lives. Make us scared of others in the trumped up "war on terror" (I've often wondered how it is one can actually wage war on an abstract noun, but that is a thought crime in today's state) and we become so dependant on the state that we walk mesmorised into ID cards that we are required to carry at all times or face a hefty fine for non-compliance. We don't like the idea, but the state provides so we must please the state.
What we Conservatives are offering is freedom of choice. The ability to openly express views and opinions without the fear of being monitored or silenced under "anti-terror legislation". heckle our conferences if you will, you won't be dragged out as Labour supporters have found to their cost! We want to promote community values where welfare comes from the local community not handed out a la Oliver Twist. No thank you sir, I won't have another! We want to enable people to use their enterprise to get on in life by prepapring them through a robust education system and an open market to explore ideas and be creative and reap the rewards of their endeavour, not have them sequeezed by the burden of taxation. But we want to provide the framework for them to do it resopnsibly.
What Mr Johnson doesn't want to admit is that every time Labour persuade the electorate to experiemnt with leftism, the people sooner or later reject it. His is a last ditch plea against the better judgement of an electorare that he knows deep down is about to ditch Labour no matter who they annoint to succed Blair.
Since 1997 there has been a marked shift in society as a consequence of "leftism". Political correctness is rife. Cherie Blair was questioned under legislation she herself makes her living out of as a Human Rights lawyer when she playfully tapped a 17 year old on the shoulder during a press conference. The school system is failing 40, 000 children who are in schools wherer the success rate of gaining 5 GCSEs is at 1% in spite of the dumbing down of the exam system so that they have no realistic hope of finding a job. Quotas that control every facet of life are handed out from central government. The public sector payroll has exlpoded with hundereds of thousands of jobs being created by NDPB's, quangos, boards, many of which duplicate each other or are functionally useless so that almost 40% of those in emlpoyment draw their salaries from the state or local government. Europe is gaining ever more power over British citizens as even this week our Government stealthily intends to hand over the court system without proper public debate. Our armed forces are over-stretched and under-equipped fighting expeditionary conflicts all over the world while foreign issues such as Zimbabwe, where we ought to be involved, are left ignored. Thought crimes are more heinous than real crimes.
In his piece Mr Johnson argues that standards have risen, yet the CBI now suggests that many school leavers are unemployable. More and more students are getting Grade A's through an ever more lax and coursework based exam system that no longer requires geunine knowledge or the ability to read, write, punctuate, and express an opinion based in original thouhgt. It isn't the children's fault, they only study the syllabus that teachers are required to teach. What they end up with is a clutch of exam passes in this "there's no such thing as second place, we are all winners here" world of education before being thrown out into the cut and thrust world of work and survival. Equally with more and more students being sucked up into the Higher Education sector that are not necessarily equipped to be there, many are coming out of newly created second rate "universities" with degress that will only get them as far as a job in a call centre, and with suffocated debt to boot. Education, Edjukashun, Edksn!
Mr Johnson also talks about the "success" of dragging people into state dependency at an earlier age through Sure Start. It's always been the leftist agenda to make people so dependant on the state they are scared to stand on their own two feet and thus reject the state, and the controls the state wishes to impose on our lives. Make us scared of others in the trumped up "war on terror" (I've often wondered how it is one can actually wage war on an abstract noun, but that is a thought crime in today's state) and we become so dependant on the state that we walk mesmorised into ID cards that we are required to carry at all times or face a hefty fine for non-compliance. We don't like the idea, but the state provides so we must please the state.
What we Conservatives are offering is freedom of choice. The ability to openly express views and opinions without the fear of being monitored or silenced under "anti-terror legislation". heckle our conferences if you will, you won't be dragged out as Labour supporters have found to their cost! We want to promote community values where welfare comes from the local community not handed out a la Oliver Twist. No thank you sir, I won't have another! We want to enable people to use their enterprise to get on in life by prepapring them through a robust education system and an open market to explore ideas and be creative and reap the rewards of their endeavour, not have them sequeezed by the burden of taxation. But we want to provide the framework for them to do it resopnsibly.
What Mr Johnson doesn't want to admit is that every time Labour persuade the electorate to experiemnt with leftism, the people sooner or later reject it. His is a last ditch plea against the better judgement of an electorare that he knows deep down is about to ditch Labour no matter who they annoint to succed Blair.
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
We screwed it up big time...
Honesty? From a politician? When I read the headlines "PM says "we screwed it up..."" and it went on to quote:
"We screwed it up, big time. No country in Europe has been so blatant. We obviously lied throughout the past 1 1/2 to 2 years. And meanwhile, we didn't do a thing for four years. Nothing.''
I thought... hang on, perhaps Tony BLiar has finally come clean with the Brtitish public now he's on his way out. Sadly (for us at least) he said no such thing and left a rare display of honesty from a left wing politician to Hungary's Ferenc Gyurcsany.
"We screwed it up, big time. No country in Europe has been so blatant. We obviously lied throughout the past 1 1/2 to 2 years. And meanwhile, we didn't do a thing for four years. Nothing.''
I thought... hang on, perhaps Tony BLiar has finally come clean with the Brtitish public now he's on his way out. Sadly (for us at least) he said no such thing and left a rare display of honesty from a left wing politician to Hungary's Ferenc Gyurcsany.
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Lib Dem Cynical Claim of the Week
This week the MK Lib Dems are claiming on their http://www.miltonkeynes.libdems.org.uk/news/251.html?PHPSESSID=46279a4534cc0674540c09ef059da8cf website that thanks to them Milton Keynes leads the way in environmentally friendly construction and facilities management. According to them they are making sure that all buildings comply with their (sic) "ground breaking initiative" to (according to Lid Dem leader Isobel McCall) "minimise the impact of carbon dioxide emissions on the environment, and shows the Liberal Democrat administration's commitment to putting the environment at the heart of what we do". They will do this be enforcing the following ensuring that new buildings submitted for planning approval are have :
So in other words they are claiming that they are being "ground breaking" when in fact all they are doing is enforcing the regulations that the law requires them to. They are assuming that as most people don't know how the planning process works that no-one will challenge them.
Remember their campaining directive: Be wicked. Act shamelessly. Stir endlessly.
- Energy efficiency by siting, design, layout and buildings' orientation to maximise sunlight and daylight, avoidance of overshadowing and passive ventilation systems.
- Landscaping or planting design that optimises screening and improves individual buildings' thermal performance. Renewable energy technologies.
- Sustainable urban drainage systems including rainwater and waste water collection and recycling.
So in other words they are claiming that they are being "ground breaking" when in fact all they are doing is enforcing the regulations that the law requires them to. They are assuming that as most people don't know how the planning process works that no-one will challenge them.
Remember their campaining directive: Be wicked. Act shamelessly. Stir endlessly.
Lib Dem campaining
The Lib Dems issue a little guide book to aid candidates in campaigning. It's as cynical as Capt Cynical after a bit of rtaining in cynicism. The worst of it is, it assumes a degree of ignorance on the part of the elctorate.
I know that most people think everyone in politics is a cynic, but honestly that isn't true! Some are, admittedly, more cynical than others, but it is rare (even for New labour spin) to exploit people's neivety the way the Lib Dems do. The crux of the Lib Dem advice on campaiging is:
Be wicked. Act shamelessly. Stir endlessly
In other words:
Cause trouble wherever you can.
Lay claim to things you haven't done by subtle deceit, innuendo, suggestion, or if all else fails just plain lie 9so long as you don't get caught).
Using one and two divert the agenda away from what you are doing or have failed to do and just keep pointing the finger in the hope no-one actually analyses your words and deeds and uncovers you.
It's best seen in their "Focus" newsletter. The Lib Dem guidance suggests that the layout should follow a corporate style that makes it look as if it has been produced by a "well intentioned amateur". They want you to think that some little Lib Dem is beavering away in hs/her garden shed producing these things. Not so. The template is "corporate", and the content has to be sanctioned centrally with constant forecasts and re-forecasts of the amount of leaflets being produced going back to lib Dem central office.
Every time I spot one of their little cynical claims I'll be sure to highlight it here!
I know that most people think everyone in politics is a cynic, but honestly that isn't true! Some are, admittedly, more cynical than others, but it is rare (even for New labour spin) to exploit people's neivety the way the Lib Dems do. The crux of the Lib Dem advice on campaiging is:
Be wicked. Act shamelessly. Stir endlessly
In other words:
Cause trouble wherever you can.
Lay claim to things you haven't done by subtle deceit, innuendo, suggestion, or if all else fails just plain lie 9so long as you don't get caught).
Using one and two divert the agenda away from what you are doing or have failed to do and just keep pointing the finger in the hope no-one actually analyses your words and deeds and uncovers you.
It's best seen in their "Focus" newsletter. The Lib Dem guidance suggests that the layout should follow a corporate style that makes it look as if it has been produced by a "well intentioned amateur". They want you to think that some little Lib Dem is beavering away in hs/her garden shed producing these things. Not so. The template is "corporate", and the content has to be sanctioned centrally with constant forecasts and re-forecasts of the amount of leaflets being produced going back to lib Dem central office.
Every time I spot one of their little cynical claims I'll be sure to highlight it here!
Monday, September 18, 2006
Mr Milburn is now about choice.
I'm always delighted to see every so often a Labour minister actually admits to sharing the reality of most people's views, even though as a Party they are too afraid to commit to it. Last week Alan Milburn gave a speech to the Institute of Directors where he challenged the New Labour project to de-centralise and devolve power to the lowest possible level in order to give people the power to exercise real choice. A nice prospect, but come on, will the power crazed "centralists" of new labour and their obsession with spin, or the old Labour Socialist die hards ever release their grip? I doubt it, and for 2 reasons. Firstly the New Labour project is riddled with spin. Let go of control from the centre and you can't exercise control over the news cycle and you can't get local authorities and QUANGOS to stay "on message". Equally the old Labour tendencies need to have centralist planning and control as the very oxygen they breathe. Deprive them of the ability to set quotas and targets and suck money out of the economy through high taxation to be re-distributed to their pet projects and the simply don't know what to do! Of course Leapards don't change their spots, so all the New Labour project amounts to is a leaner, slightly better looking, body built with Old Labour DNA.
Mr Milburn argued that more choice is essential, especially in education if we are to provide the means for true social mobility by way of higher school standards. Yet it was Labour that got rid of the Assisted Places scheme that enabled the brightest children from the poorest families to attend fee paying schools. It has been Labour that has set targets upon targets to be recorded with endless, mindless data that takes teachers away from concentrating on what they are there to do, namely teach. It has been Labour that has set the cultural tone in our schools away from selection, streaming, and thus teaching according to ability, just look at the sustained attacks on our few remaining Grammar Schools. I'm just not swayed by the arguments that they are devisive in a community because they select the academically more able when there are viable alternatives that can be offered to communities through proper vocational and technical training if only Labour could ditch its sacred cow that all children are created equal and must be taught to the level of the lowest common denominator. It's bigotry of the worst kind. Perhaps if Mr Prescott had tried a bit harder and passed his 11 plus he and his ilk would be less hell bent on smashing the Grammar School system like a spoilt child who's bored with his toys.
Mr Milburn is correct to muse on how likely he would be to rise from council estate to cabinet minister without good schooling. How wrong he is to pretend that Labour have ditched their ages-run bigotry against selective education. The truth is that it is a self-selected elite from some of Britain's most expensive schools that are pulling up the ladder of social mobility behind them. Remember our PM was educated at Fettes, and Dianne Abbot, that most firebrand of left-wing MPs sent her son to the City of London School, in spite of her relentless attacks on private education before her son's schooling became a matter of personal choice. Do as I say, not as I do.
Very soon we Conservatives will be campaiging to save the NHS. Bigger and fewer is better we are being told. Not if your local District General Hospital's A&E services are about to be cut in favour of a regional centre of excellence 30-something miles away it isn't! Where's the choice in that (as Hobson might have asked)?
Don't think the Lib Dems are any better! More tax, more promises, but less delivered on time and on cost. What choice do Olney and Emberton parents have when the new school campus was so obviously, and woefully, behind schedule in the face of furious denials from the Lib Dems that anything was wrong, just weeks before they announced that our children would be bussed to neighbouring schools this term? Oh, and the delays are worse than feared! When, eventually, the school does open it's doors you can bet I will be doing all I can to ensure that there will be real choice of transport (we await a decision on whether children in Emberton and Sherington will get a free shuttle bus service up and down the treacherous A509) and that parents who wish to send their children to the new school are given every opportunity to do so.
It all begins with a clear understanding of the needs of the community, effective budgeting, and good oversight of project management. Ultimately the buck for that particular fiasco has to stop with the ruling Lib Dems in council as they are trying to be all things to all people (so long as that's not Tory) and are loosing sight of what it is that they exist to deliver.
Back to national politics, what Mr Milburn's speech is really all about is attempting to tie Gordon Brown's hands before his coronation as Emperor, sorry, Prime Minister on BLiar's departure. I wouldn't trust New Labour to give me true choice as far as I could throw it. As for Mr Milburn and his cohort, the only choice I wish to see them exercise on my behalf is which way out of office they will choose to go.
Mr Milburn argued that more choice is essential, especially in education if we are to provide the means for true social mobility by way of higher school standards. Yet it was Labour that got rid of the Assisted Places scheme that enabled the brightest children from the poorest families to attend fee paying schools. It has been Labour that has set targets upon targets to be recorded with endless, mindless data that takes teachers away from concentrating on what they are there to do, namely teach. It has been Labour that has set the cultural tone in our schools away from selection, streaming, and thus teaching according to ability, just look at the sustained attacks on our few remaining Grammar Schools. I'm just not swayed by the arguments that they are devisive in a community because they select the academically more able when there are viable alternatives that can be offered to communities through proper vocational and technical training if only Labour could ditch its sacred cow that all children are created equal and must be taught to the level of the lowest common denominator. It's bigotry of the worst kind. Perhaps if Mr Prescott had tried a bit harder and passed his 11 plus he and his ilk would be less hell bent on smashing the Grammar School system like a spoilt child who's bored with his toys.
Mr Milburn is correct to muse on how likely he would be to rise from council estate to cabinet minister without good schooling. How wrong he is to pretend that Labour have ditched their ages-run bigotry against selective education. The truth is that it is a self-selected elite from some of Britain's most expensive schools that are pulling up the ladder of social mobility behind them. Remember our PM was educated at Fettes, and Dianne Abbot, that most firebrand of left-wing MPs sent her son to the City of London School, in spite of her relentless attacks on private education before her son's schooling became a matter of personal choice. Do as I say, not as I do.
Very soon we Conservatives will be campaiging to save the NHS. Bigger and fewer is better we are being told. Not if your local District General Hospital's A&E services are about to be cut in favour of a regional centre of excellence 30-something miles away it isn't! Where's the choice in that (as Hobson might have asked)?
Don't think the Lib Dems are any better! More tax, more promises, but less delivered on time and on cost. What choice do Olney and Emberton parents have when the new school campus was so obviously, and woefully, behind schedule in the face of furious denials from the Lib Dems that anything was wrong, just weeks before they announced that our children would be bussed to neighbouring schools this term? Oh, and the delays are worse than feared! When, eventually, the school does open it's doors you can bet I will be doing all I can to ensure that there will be real choice of transport (we await a decision on whether children in Emberton and Sherington will get a free shuttle bus service up and down the treacherous A509) and that parents who wish to send their children to the new school are given every opportunity to do so.
It all begins with a clear understanding of the needs of the community, effective budgeting, and good oversight of project management. Ultimately the buck for that particular fiasco has to stop with the ruling Lib Dems in council as they are trying to be all things to all people (so long as that's not Tory) and are loosing sight of what it is that they exist to deliver.
Back to national politics, what Mr Milburn's speech is really all about is attempting to tie Gordon Brown's hands before his coronation as Emperor, sorry, Prime Minister on BLiar's departure. I wouldn't trust New Labour to give me true choice as far as I could throw it. As for Mr Milburn and his cohort, the only choice I wish to see them exercise on my behalf is which way out of office they will choose to go.
The Rules
There aren't many really, but anyone wishing to contribute is requested to observe the following few rules:
1. This is an open blog, and I don't use restricted reading lists. To that end the whole world sees what I write. Some of the entries you may agree with, some of it not, but this blog is about expounding my views and opinions. I reserve the absolute right to moderate comments and responses as I see fit.
2. Disagree with me by all means. As anyone who knows me will tell you I enjoy a good debate, however I won't tolerate inciteful language, bad manners, baiting, abuse, or general bad behaviour.
3. I have a full time job, a young family, and I'm standing for election, so I won't always be able to respond to posts promptly, but I'll try. Please don't take it as a sign of rudeness on my part if I can't respond quickly it's just life has a habit of getting in the way.
4. I'm a slightly right of centre Conservative and I'm not offended by the term "Tory", in fact I quite revel in being labelled as one. Funnily enough, I'm also passionate about the countryside, the environment, and local communities. Despite what detractors may tell you, that isn't mutually exclusive.
5. I type quickly, so please excuse the odd spelling mistake, grammatical error, or typo and I'll extend you the same curtesy.
Most of all though I hope you enjoy this blog, and I hope to see people returning every so often for the odd debate or discussion.
Keith
1. This is an open blog, and I don't use restricted reading lists. To that end the whole world sees what I write. Some of the entries you may agree with, some of it not, but this blog is about expounding my views and opinions. I reserve the absolute right to moderate comments and responses as I see fit.
2. Disagree with me by all means. As anyone who knows me will tell you I enjoy a good debate, however I won't tolerate inciteful language, bad manners, baiting, abuse, or general bad behaviour.
3. I have a full time job, a young family, and I'm standing for election, so I won't always be able to respond to posts promptly, but I'll try. Please don't take it as a sign of rudeness on my part if I can't respond quickly it's just life has a habit of getting in the way.
4. I'm a slightly right of centre Conservative and I'm not offended by the term "Tory", in fact I quite revel in being labelled as one. Funnily enough, I'm also passionate about the countryside, the environment, and local communities. Despite what detractors may tell you, that isn't mutually exclusive.
5. I type quickly, so please excuse the odd spelling mistake, grammatical error, or typo and I'll extend you the same curtesy.
Most of all though I hope you enjoy this blog, and I hope to see people returning every so often for the odd debate or discussion.
Keith
