Posts

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CLIMATE CRISIS

Kerry needsd to tell the Chinese to act now to cut emissions. The arguement put forward by China about historic emmissions is just not valid in the present crisis. They are correct that the west gained an early advantage by burning coal, oil and gas, but the crisis is here, and now, and every country needs to face it.

Right wing politicians across Europe with nationalist agendas also need to look closely at their use of the climate crisis in culture wars and anti-woke measures. History will not be kind to them.

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ECONOMICS

Obviously not a science but several things have been pointed out recently. First that giving public sector workers a 10% pay rise would have little effect on inflation as the cost of teachers, nurses, doctors, etc. are not passed on.

The second was new to me, and is verified by Bank Of England documents. That is that if the extra money printed is used to increase productivity and health it is not inflationary. I admit that I do not understand the printing money bit! But it would seem, if the 2 pieces of information are true, that a new government could invest in the NHS and education, new green infrastructure and projects without it being inflationary. Maybe Starmer understands this, and also realises that it is beyond the comprehension of many voters (especially the older, no university education, ones!). Abolishing the 2 child benefit would produce no discernable benefit to society. Increasing child nursery places would.

Just folding the dough to make baguettes!

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WHAT IS THE POINT

of politicians? The seas are at record high temperatures, Greece and Spaon have huge fires, temperatures in China exceed 50C and in southern Europe and the USA heat warnings are issued. And our government is passing laws to make it illegql to walk slowly with prison sentences. It is like Westminster and certainly Downing Street have become lunatic asylums! There is no hope of a vaccine or a quick fix to solve the problem, and the jabbering idiots do nothing, except allow water companies to fill rivers and the seas with shit in case we thought we could get a quick cooling dip. It is CRIMINAL INEPTITUDE.

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SEA TEMPERATURES

Forget the “Heat bomb” in Mediterranean Europe, it is the unprecedented sea temperatures that are of the greatest concern together with the lowest amount of Antarctic sea ice ever recorded. Whilst I am super critical of this government for just about everything, Starmer’s Labour Party is looking to be no better when it comes to climate change. Starmer talks about economic growth at every opportunity. Even with greater emphasis on green investment ‘Growth’ equals more CO2 and other pollutants in the atmosphere. Surely a Labour Party should be talking about greater social equity? There is enough wealth in society for everyone to be more than comfortable. Public sector pay should be pegged to a multiple of the basic wage in the sector – the arguement that Council leaders are responsible for a multi million 3 business does not hold up when most of the expenditure has been sub-contracted. How many in the health service earn more than the PM? University leaders are on ridiculous money. Of they are that good let them move to the private sector and increase efficiency there! Increase in applicants in the private sector should also reduce top wages?

Could Labour also reduce the tax allowance on share dealing? A ‘Robin Hood Tax’ on transactions in the city would also help public sectors.

Elon Musk entering the electricty generation market and Dale Vince starting an airline – both could disrupt the status quo for the sectors involved to the benfit of the environment

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WEATHER

Southern Europe reaches temperatures of 48C, over 100 million Ameriacns are faced with temperature warnings next week with temperatures in the 40C’s. India and China are also. facing record temperatures.

Whilst the UK is experiencing a run of depressions bringing rain to most parts, I would love to know what the government plans are for a heat wave? With COVID everything was reactive rather than proactive! Will we have to wait for bodies to be piled up outside hospitals before action is taken. What plans are there for street sprays, opening up museums and libraries with air con. Or will the government give inflated grants to friends who purport to set up electric fan companies? What plans are there to limit petrol/deisel engines? What plans to support fire and ambulance services?

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ENVIRONMENT VERSUS CULTURE WAR

With no policies and no clue Shapps tries the culture war thinbg on Labour stating that they are funded by “Just stop oil”. Whilst this is a blatant lie that any 10 year old would spot, it goers down well with the deranged readers of the media trash. Already they have claimed that supporting green energy would add hundreds to energy bills. Tjey never mention the cost of not supporting it. The UK is one of the most gas reliant countries in Europe and therefore one of the most susceptable to price fluctuations (and we have seen how the free market for mortgages has impacted on many). Allowing easier planning for onshore wind would be an immediate benefit.

All new housing should be fitted with south facing solar panels and double insolation.

All urban areas should have a tree planting policy to amealorate future temperature fluctuations. Water companies should provide discounts for water butts, car parks should be latticed to encourage infiltration, and where appropriate be covered with solar panels.

And I repeat my call for news programmes to include a section on the climate crisis and daily updates on proportion of green energy produced every day. How aboutr a “Tomorrow’s Green World” similar to the 1970’s innovation programme.

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ECONOMICS

So Rachel Reeves says that labour will build a strong economy. In my opinion we have a strong, if distorted economy altready. Unemployment is low, the stock market buoyant, the pound strong against other currencies. We have a huge debt and balance of payments deficit. Tjhe natiral environment is suffering enough, as are the poor. What is needed is a realignment of economic policy into sustainable growth, more equitable distribution of resources. A radical rethink of a Britain that benefits ALL its inhabitants is needed. Labour did this after WW2 – can it do it again?

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THE LIVE TO WORK PARTY

So Sunak wants to limit numbers on “low value degrees”. Who will decide on these degrees? Some pompous Old Etonian no doubt! Will this list include economics which has been found to have caused chaos to the economy and lives of many. Given that the jobs available today include many that did not exist 20 years ago this would seem to be a terribly short sighted approach. Why is it ok to interfere with market economics in education but not in the financial sector. maybe the idea will be to get potential students to enlist for zero hours contracts in care homes and pick fruit and vegetables? They really do not care about people – just profit! Ghis compounds Gove’s outburst against the 4 day week experiment, rather than Dorries zero hours work for £70 grand contract with the Conservative Party.

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JOHNSON -PHONE

He says he cannot remember his access code for the phone. I do not believe him. The access code is not loke a rarely used password, but a code used many times a day. If he had a weak memory it would be written down as presumably the phone was used for importyant government business. I also find it hard to elieve that experts cannot unlock it. As the number had been known publicly for a while I am sure that the Chinese or Israeli security had hacked it – ask them. Or demand the phones of all the relevant people who would have had communications with him.

Why has his solicitor not been arrested for not handing the phone over – the deadline was 4pm last Monday.