Wednesday, October 3, 2007
My political influences
Thank you to Andy Hinton on "Wouldn't it be scarier to discover everything you believe is absolutely right?" for tagging me on my political influences.
My delay in writing this is due to giving it a lot of consideration. I came up with a list of 80 influences and anti-influences. I then realised that I was including mere heroes and anti-heroes while ignoring the "elephant in the room".
So, I'll take a deep breath and acknowledge the elephant first. Jesus is my main political influence. There, I've said it. As I say, I considered a list of 80 influences but I have read of, been reminded of, talked about or sung about the life and teachings of Jesus on virtually every day of my life except for a 8 year gap when I was an agnostic. So I can't really ignore this...to put it mildly! In essence, I would not spend time working on political causes if I was not a Christian. I would be out making more money and spending it. The main passage from the gospels I would cite as my "mantra" would be the Beatitudes - Blessed are the meek etc.
Now, a few influences hand-picked from that list of 80:
Churchill - I virtually worship the bloke's memory and have since I was a child when I visited Chartwell, his home.
Private Eye - my most regular read over the last thirty five years. It is hilarious and cutting with a passionate sense of justice.
The Liberal Democrat party - a continuous guiding light
The Guardian - I am a proud Guardianista
David Penhaligon, John Pardoe, Paddy Ashdown, Shirley Williams and David Rendel - five liberal heroes
Willie Hamilton - his book "My Queen and I" was one of the earliest political books I read (when I was about 16). I read every word of it and have been a replublican ever since.
John Maynard Keynes - his "accelerator" theory has stuck in my mind ever since I read of it thirty years ago. This man made economics natural for me.
George Orwell's Animal Farm - a brilliant work!
Cornish Methodism, Celtic christianity and my family - I am not a methodist but my grandmother was. I feel the influence of Cornish Methodism. I feel a strong affinity with Celtic Christianity - especially its connection with the elements.
Lord Donald Soper - Methodist leader and veteran public speaker - I used to watch him speak at Speaker's Corner in Hyde Park most Sundays. I think he was well into his nineties when I last saw him there. He was an exceptionally passionate, devoted and funny speaker. His pacifism was mind-blowingly strong and clear. His put downs were hilarious. I remember him saying this, once when he was heckled: "My friend here proves once again that there is nothing more dangerous than the Bible in the hands of a lunatic". He shouted this with great aplomb and had the audience in stitches, if not the heckler. The phrase, incidentally, beautifully applies to my final "anti-influence" at the bottom of this post.
The American Founding Fathers - the US constitution has to be in my top three of written works. It is awesome. Its awesomeness is amplified by the fact that we in the UK, the supposed mother of democracies, are still struglling to catch up with what the Founding Fathers decided over 200 years ago.
Anti-influences :
- the BNP and race hate generally
- the Poll Tax - more than anything else, I got involved in politics because of the poll tax. I was absolutely incensed by it because of its inequitousness to the less well-off.
- George W Bush - the monkey in the room
I think I am probably too late to tag anyone else. Sorry.
My delay in writing this is due to giving it a lot of consideration. I came up with a list of 80 influences and anti-influences. I then realised that I was including mere heroes and anti-heroes while ignoring the "elephant in the room".
So, I'll take a deep breath and acknowledge the elephant first. Jesus is my main political influence. There, I've said it. As I say, I considered a list of 80 influences but I have read of, been reminded of, talked about or sung about the life and teachings of Jesus on virtually every day of my life except for a 8 year gap when I was an agnostic. So I can't really ignore this...to put it mildly! In essence, I would not spend time working on political causes if I was not a Christian. I would be out making more money and spending it. The main passage from the gospels I would cite as my "mantra" would be the Beatitudes - Blessed are the meek etc.
Now, a few influences hand-picked from that list of 80:
Churchill - I virtually worship the bloke's memory and have since I was a child when I visited Chartwell, his home.
Private Eye - my most regular read over the last thirty five years. It is hilarious and cutting with a passionate sense of justice.
The Liberal Democrat party - a continuous guiding light
The Guardian - I am a proud Guardianista
David Penhaligon, John Pardoe, Paddy Ashdown, Shirley Williams and David Rendel - five liberal heroes
Willie Hamilton - his book "My Queen and I" was one of the earliest political books I read (when I was about 16). I read every word of it and have been a replublican ever since.
John Maynard Keynes - his "accelerator" theory has stuck in my mind ever since I read of it thirty years ago. This man made economics natural for me.
George Orwell's Animal Farm - a brilliant work!
Cornish Methodism, Celtic christianity and my family - I am not a methodist but my grandmother was. I feel the influence of Cornish Methodism. I feel a strong affinity with Celtic Christianity - especially its connection with the elements.
Lord Donald Soper - Methodist leader and veteran public speaker - I used to watch him speak at Speaker's Corner in Hyde Park most Sundays. I think he was well into his nineties when I last saw him there. He was an exceptionally passionate, devoted and funny speaker. His pacifism was mind-blowingly strong and clear. His put downs were hilarious. I remember him saying this, once when he was heckled: "My friend here proves once again that there is nothing more dangerous than the Bible in the hands of a lunatic". He shouted this with great aplomb and had the audience in stitches, if not the heckler. The phrase, incidentally, beautifully applies to my final "anti-influence" at the bottom of this post.
The American Founding Fathers - the US constitution has to be in my top three of written works. It is awesome. Its awesomeness is amplified by the fact that we in the UK, the supposed mother of democracies, are still struglling to catch up with what the Founding Fathers decided over 200 years ago.
Anti-influences :
- the BNP and race hate generally
- the Poll Tax - more than anything else, I got involved in politics because of the poll tax. I was absolutely incensed by it because of its inequitousness to the less well-off.
- George W Bush - the monkey in the room
I think I am probably too late to tag anyone else. Sorry.
The Great Gordonza strikes again
Gordon Brown has a reputation for double counting, quadruple announcing and generally moving the egg-cups more than Paul Daniels.
But this one takes the biscuit. When you peel the onion layers away, his "announcement" of a "troop withdrawal" of "2,000" troops turns out to actually refer to a troop withdrawal of zero troops.
Brilliant.
But this one takes the biscuit. When you peel the onion layers away, his "announcement" of a "troop withdrawal" of "2,000" troops turns out to actually refer to a troop withdrawal of zero troops.
Brilliant.
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Battle of the Top Tips
A commenter signing themselves "A Royal Mail manager" has left this comment on one of my election fever posts:
Top Tip. The Election Date Will Be Announced During Prime Ministers Questions Next Week. The Date WILL Be November 1st 2007. The Royal Mail Has Been Tipped Off Because They Deliver All The Election Material & Of Course Polling Cards. The Royal Mail As You Will Also Be Aware Is In Talks To Prevent Continued Industrial Action Over The Next Two Weeks. Should This Industrial Action Continue Into November Then No Election Can Take Place. Therefore Watch Out For A Settlement Between The CWU And Royal Mail Management Shortly.
A Royal Mail Manager.
To allow 17 working days, the statutory period, between asking HM Queen to dissolve parliament and polling day, Gordon Brown would have to go to the Palace early on Tuesday 8th October, at the latest, for a November 1st polling day. Prime Minister's Questions are normally on Wednesdays.
LibDem Voice gives a top tip that the election will be called tomorrow for November 1st.
Things are turning out to be a battle of the top tips at the moment.
Top Tip. The Election Date Will Be Announced During Prime Ministers Questions Next Week. The Date WILL Be November 1st 2007. The Royal Mail Has Been Tipped Off Because They Deliver All The Election Material & Of Course Polling Cards. The Royal Mail As You Will Also Be Aware Is In Talks To Prevent Continued Industrial Action Over The Next Two Weeks. Should This Industrial Action Continue Into November Then No Election Can Take Place. Therefore Watch Out For A Settlement Between The CWU And Royal Mail Management Shortly.
A Royal Mail Manager.
To allow 17 working days, the statutory period, between asking HM Queen to dissolve parliament and polling day, Gordon Brown would have to go to the Palace early on Tuesday 8th October, at the latest, for a November 1st polling day. Prime Minister's Questions are normally on Wednesdays.
LibDem Voice gives a top tip that the election will be called tomorrow for November 1st.
Things are turning out to be a battle of the top tips at the moment.
Update - Video now available for insomnia sufferers - Left wing bias on 18 Doughty Street! Shock!
Update: Last night's embarrassment (for me) is now available to review on 18 Doughty Street. Vox politix is here. Blogger TV is here.
"Does anyone actually watch this stuff?" asks an anonymous commenter about 18 Doughty Street.
Funnily enough I also asked this question of one of the staff Doughty Streeters last night. Laurence Boyce was certainly watching it. He sent in an email which was typically Laurencesque.
I resisted the temptation to volunteer to go to 18 Doughty Street for a while (yes, you can volunteer Linda (Jack), and, before you say it, the cameraperson was a lady - so that's all right then - not) because all the panels seemed to consist purely of Tories. I didn't really want to venture into the lion's den. Fortunately all the Tories were in Blackpool last night, so I got, with me on the sofa, the very interesting Mick Fealty (of Slugger O'Toole and Brassneck) and Simon Buckby (of Champollion). The programmes were very ably presented by Ben Duckworth (Vera's grandson, I presume).
The advantage of sitting next to Simon Buckby for Vox Politix was that he is more left wing than me! He said he wanted the level of inheritance tax to be increased, not decreased, and gave a reason straight out of Das Kapital! Weh-heh! Power to the People!
"Does anyone actually watch this stuff?" asks an anonymous commenter about 18 Doughty Street.
Funnily enough I also asked this question of one of the staff Doughty Streeters last night. Laurence Boyce was certainly watching it. He sent in an email which was typically Laurencesque.
I resisted the temptation to volunteer to go to 18 Doughty Street for a while (yes, you can volunteer Linda (Jack), and, before you say it, the cameraperson was a lady - so that's all right then - not) because all the panels seemed to consist purely of Tories. I didn't really want to venture into the lion's den. Fortunately all the Tories were in Blackpool last night, so I got, with me on the sofa, the very interesting Mick Fealty (of Slugger O'Toole and Brassneck) and Simon Buckby (of Champollion). The programmes were very ably presented by Ben Duckworth (Vera's grandson, I presume).
The advantage of sitting next to Simon Buckby for Vox Politix was that he is more left wing than me! He said he wanted the level of inheritance tax to be increased, not decreased, and gave a reason straight out of Das Kapital! Weh-heh! Power to the People!
Monday, October 1, 2007
The country mouse goes to the city
I have finally succumbed to the 18 Doughty Street call. I feel like the country mouse going to the city, as I have had to pack up a bag to stay overnight at a very reasonably priced hotel round the corner from Doughty Street. Well, I have been asked to be on from 9pm until 11pm, so I am darned if I am going to venture back to the depths of Berkshire at that time of night.
I have my ProPlus pills ready.
I have my ProPlus pills ready.
Could Brown stun us all with a weekend election?
James made a comment on my earlier post to this effect. It has been mentioned in passing several times in the last few weeks.
Could that old fox Brown stun us all and call an election for a weekend? Say, Saturday 27th October? Or Saturday 3rd November?
It would perhaps square the circle of potential low turnout on a Thursday in late October/early November.
But then again, am I getting far too heated and carried away? It would be a very risky, innovative move.
However, as commenter James said, would this require a change in the law and, if so, would such a change be able to be passed in time?
Blank stares all round, perhaps.
Could that old fox Brown stun us all and call an election for a weekend? Say, Saturday 27th October? Or Saturday 3rd November?
It would perhaps square the circle of potential low turnout on a Thursday in late October/early November.
But then again, am I getting far too heated and carried away? It would be a very risky, innovative move.
However, as commenter James said, would this require a change in the law and, if so, would such a change be able to be passed in time?
Blank stares all round, perhaps.
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