Category: Politics

A report by this institution suggests/ i would prefer demands ways in which we can address the poly crisis that is pushing the world towards a climate crisis, political extremism and economic and social tension. In a world riven with doomsayers, it comes up with some positive ideas. Let me know which ones you think are a bad idea! Target hours worked per year 1000; Target wage per peron £5000; share of global GDP to be spent on health and education 38%. Paying for this? Well the share of wealth owned by the 0.001% of billionaires would reduce from 6% to 0.05% – enough for them to bathe in caviar still!

Farage, with his millions of ‘gifts’ from crypto billionaires is happy to castigate migrants and minorities and basically anyone who speaks out against the ruling class by manipulating the facts and living a life of luxury. The knuckle draggers and flag shaggers should be rioting against tax evasion, exploitation, misogyny (why would they riot against themselves! Hmmm!),

In this country we could nationalise land, cut rents and everyone would be free from drudgery! The rich landowners would have to pay for their estates and allow public access to land (at presnt this is less than 10% and rivers less than 3%), the we spend on mortgages and rents would go where? Not into the rich investors oh so deep pockets!

So Farage claims to have received hundreds of emails and letters from police officers saying they were intimidated by diversity training. As a teacher for over 25 years I did not need training to stop me behaving in a racist manner! The police have come a long way since the Stephen Lawrence case – but every report has revealed that minority groups are not treated fairly – yes there is two-tier policing, just not in the way depicted by the mealy mouthed toad. The police also have elements of misogynistic and homophobic officers. In the Henry Nowak case the police made a tragic error and this should be fully investigated, As should politicians who call for ‘cold rage’ in an attempt to gain political capital and possibly riots. The police have an increasingly difficult job, and are readily criticised for failings that are beyond their control like shoplifting; however they are a bastion against anarchy and the protectors of a civil society.

Farage and Robinson spread hatred like an infection disease. With no humanity or humility themselves they wish to infect as many parts of society with their pernicious obscenities. Despite the victims family requesting that his case was explicitly not to target particular communities. Right wing wankers in the states, like little Elon Musk have commented on the case, trying to stir up disharmony – shits all of them and those who were on the streets of Southampton.

I have a problem – why have they been persecuted through history? Why did not the rich Jews arrange for mercy missions to rescue jews from Nazi Germany? Why is the media so Israel friendly when they are a state which is below North Korea as a pariah state? Is there a Jewish monopoly controlling the worlds finances?

But how can I do it?

Basically there are 2 options – try to stop the worst impacts of climate change by changing our use of fossil fuels; or we try to mitigate against the worst impacts of climate change; nn there is no ostrich option. The first option means investing in alternative energy resources – those of you bang on about China’s coal power stations can shut the fuck up – only the USA has a policy of dig/drill and burn! Yes there will be a cost to changing over 200 years of fossil fuel dependency, but the alternatives are more extreme temperatures, more and bigger floods and droughts, rising sea levels and storms, glaciers melting causing mass hunger in Asia, mass extictions of wildlife. How can I know these things – of course I bloody don’t – but then I also do not cross roads blindfolded! I do not eat food that is way past its sell by date and going mouldy! Oh the second option; to me a no starter – is there a tipping point would be my first question. Then we have to ask if the population of earth could adapt to the change? A report out last week which I mentioned before stated the need for aircon in schools, hospitals and care homes. We know that is not going to happen – the rich will get aircon whilst the poor can suffer! Was ever the case. Farage and co want to cut back on employment laws – he would probably advocate sex with employees (yes your wives and daughters, and maybe sons!) if he could retain his wealth.

Back to adaptation. I am reasonably sure that wealthy countries in the mid-latitudes could adapt – Cornwall would be the Costa Brava, even the Scottish Islands could become the archipelago of the future – but again there is no certainty – if the North Atlantic Drift current ceases the waters would be cold, and the winters brutal. Grapes are growing in the south of England with huge international acclaim, but what about wheat and potatoes? How will London and other cities cope with rising sea levels. I totally find climate deniers to be mind bogglingly stupid or avaracious money grabbing arseholes.

Oh well back to the real world – Labour are being blamed for the youth job crisis – I doubt they have helped much but this is a result of Tory austerity, with maybe a little Ukraine and Iran chucked in for flavouring, oh and an overdose of Trump (salt).

Where are the jobs that we want our youths to have? Where are the jobs that are not being done?

1stly it is my birthday toady – 73. But more importantly I want to talk about demography, a topic it seems that our politicans ignore – do they even teach Geography in Public Schools? So some stats to start with; number of babies born last year UK= 585000 (the lowest for ages; number of deaths UK = 568000; Net migration = 171000, the lowest for ages; unemployed under 25’s predicted to be 1.25 million by 2030; healthy life expectancy falling, apart from London 18.5% population is retired; average age of mothers is 31.1; % mothers born outside UK is 40.2%; fertility rate is 1.39.

So what to make of this? Fewer babies means fewer workers in the future, but a good thing if youth unemployment is rising. Or is it rising due to crap education – we really need to move away from the Victorian model of education and archaic exams. With births and deaths about equal do we need the 171000 migrants – the answer is probably as it seems the British population are not prepared to work in the fields and for zero hours contracts. We also seem to have a shortage of doctors, nurses and teachers? The last I have some experience of – is the growing prevalence of single children leading to a ‘little emperor syndrome”, parents questiioning and not supporting teachers who have a very enjoyable and rewarding, but difficult job. Schools in areas with generally young people will be forced to close, but local governments should use the opportunity to provide facilities that benefit the local community.

My friend Aaron states that he believes it is the cost of living that has caused the fall in numbers of births. I think he is wrong and heres why! 1. Couples have babies when they are settled in a relationship (generally) and have the ability to avoid pregnancy until ready. 2. We live in a world that has changed over generations. Women have to work to support the rent/mortgage. (yes this is a cost of living aspect, but I believe it to be a seperate issue). 3. Life is increasingly materialistic and socially shared. People put off parenthood until they have had their holidays, got cars, watched netflix, etc. These are cost of living aspects, but not essential – most couples wait until their late 20’s and early 30’s to have children (this will have a major impact on the statistics of children born. 4. Later births and the ability to chose, results in smaller families., not due to economics, just the desire for a smaller family 5. A higher divorce rate/ lower marriage rate also has the tendancy to delay pregnancy. And finally the birth rate declined with Covid, being at home did NOT lead to more pregnancies.

Oh and Aaron, there is no way that we are not better off than our parents – yes I have the stats to prove it! There is no way the majority of people delay childbirth for more than a few years due to financial matters (and if they do they are basically not fit to be parents). I think both Kate and I would agree that economics has very little to do with it!