Can I believe what I read ? Have 132 councils really paid for hundreds of union representatives? By all accounts more than £10million per annum over the last three years. Not a lot perhaps when compared to the £5 billion, yes billion, increase in the cost of Britain's new aircraft carriers. But it is certainly suggests a sickening waste of local resources. And am I to believe that the top ten such spenders are Labour-led councils ? Well yes, I am.
This is not to suggest that union representation is wasteful. Absolutely not. But why should our local taxes pay for it?
Friday, April 29, 2011
Thursday, April 28, 2011
WILD ANIMALS, PETS, AND CHICKENS.
A new journal devoted to animal ethics apparently thinks our reference to our "pets" is not a term of endearment but more an insult to the animals we love. Now I'm not denying there's some sense in there somewhere because they argue that the words we use imply the treatment we give our pets. Absolutely. Isn't that why we call them "pets"? Or is this in the same category of the criticism attached to Cameron for calling an Opposition colleague "Dear" ?
When it comes to the animals we are used to calling "wild" I understand they prefer we call them "free-ranging" or "free-living". Fair enough if it will help. But actually I've always thought of the reference to wild animals as hugely romantic and usefully informative. Take Tigers for example, or Bull Elephants. We call them wild because in the wild, or rather in the free range, they are wild. And if we meet one of these magnificent animals in the wild I doubt if our behaviour, our respect for them, and treatment of them, would change constructively if we thought of them simply as free ranging. The same applies to free-range chickens. But as I said there's some sense in there somewhere. Battery hens for example could well be referred to as innocent prisoners. With such a title would our view of the morality of keeping battery hens be modified ?
When it comes to the animals we are used to calling "wild" I understand they prefer we call them "free-ranging" or "free-living". Fair enough if it will help. But actually I've always thought of the reference to wild animals as hugely romantic and usefully informative. Take Tigers for example, or Bull Elephants. We call them wild because in the wild, or rather in the free range, they are wild. And if we meet one of these magnificent animals in the wild I doubt if our behaviour, our respect for them, and treatment of them, would change constructively if we thought of them simply as free ranging. The same applies to free-range chickens. But as I said there's some sense in there somewhere. Battery hens for example could well be referred to as innocent prisoners. With such a title would our view of the morality of keeping battery hens be modified ?
ED BALLS
Talking about people who seem to just invite a verbal smacking just have a jolly good look at our Ed. Splendid fellow no doubt; but the ever-present and sarcastic -looking smile, the adolescent-Billy Bunter-sounding voice, and an apparent refusal to make or receive any constructive comment, get right up my nose. Of course some will claim the same about our David.
On the other side of the coin, bless him, Ed tries so hard to be good in opposition having failed so miserably to be such in power. Maybe another reason why he invites, and some would say deserves, the smackings ?
But what, one wonders, would have been the reaction if the leader of the Opposition (what's his name??) had likewise actually irritated the lads and lasses on the Government benches ? Maybe one day we'll find out. But I'm not holding my breath. Does he have the skill, courage, pedigree, and personal magnetism to offend and yet still retain the moral high-ground ?
On the other side of the coin, bless him, Ed tries so hard to be good in opposition having failed so miserably to be such in power. Maybe another reason why he invites, and some would say deserves, the smackings ?
But what, one wonders, would have been the reaction if the leader of the Opposition (what's his name??) had likewise actually irritated the lads and lasses on the Government benches ? Maybe one day we'll find out. But I'm not holding my breath. Does he have the skill, courage, pedigree, and personal magnetism to offend and yet still retain the moral high-ground ?
CALM DOWN DEAR
Nice one, David !! It's not really a political point - but there's just some people around who can't help inviting a good verbal smacking. And that's the category I put Cameron's "Calm down dear " in. Looking at the faces of the Opposition front bench they seemed to invite, even welcome, such a smacking. So when it happens they should not be surprised, but take it like a man. And, in fairness, the object of the remark seemed to do just that when interviewed following the event.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
NHS WINE AND DINE
Evidently £13million spent by the NHS chiefs wining and dining. And, if its true, then no doubt they will defend the situation splendidly. But whatever the excuse, whatever they say, it's not good enough to convince me !! This may be just a tiny drop in the vast ocean of NHS expense. But it's surely a symptom of some rather deadly disease?