INCOMPETENT EUROPE?

When I was a lad the "Continent" was the word we used to describe  European countries "over the Channel." Frankly, as kids, we always felt a cut above them. Maybe the proximity of the Second World War ( to be re-christened I understand as The European Civil War !!) had something to do with it. Then in the sixties the word "Europe" crept in big time. Gradually the U.K. started a rather unwilling closer association with things European. They were spurred on by Ted Heath whose other great love was playing his organ. As time went by there was even a phase when new-born Eurocrats started mumbling about a United States of Europe !!  And then we began to hear more and more about the Eurozone.

Well ,as I have blogged before, the Eurozone seems now about to fall apart; and whatever the reasons, the consequence today is reflected by the currency.  And the rest of Europe could be dragged down with it whether or not they use the rapidly devaluing currency.

Can we really understand what's going on ?  Of course we can.  It's the same old story of politicians, bureaucracy, and incompetence. How for example is Europe organised? Well it isn't.

There are a load of countries in Europe. Some of the countries are members of the European Union, formerly the European Community and itself formerly the European Economic Community, and some of them are members of the Eurozone. Now some of the European countries are not actually members of the Eurozone but use its currency ( i.e Andorra, Montenegro, and Kosovo). And some European countries are not members of the Eurozone but are members of the European Union. Some countries, the clever ones, don't belong to either.  I could go on......It's a buggers muddle. 


So many of the poorer European countries will benefit when (maybe if) the Euro collapses and countries return to their original national currencies. The stronger economies will suffer in the short term. Perhaps that is equitable. 

IMMIGRANTS, TRAVELLERS, AND CROOKS

Immigrants Travellers and Crooks? Difficult subjects to discuss in U.K. without falling foul of some law or other - and so easy of course to become a victim of that horrendously bumbling and sometimes apparently crass, European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). But I want to write about these Groups anyway. 

My intention is to be absolutely considerate.....oh and by the way I use the word "Travellers" because I have an uncomfortable feeling that to refer to them as "Gypsies", however fondly, might get me into serious trouble.  Likewise I use the word "Immigrants" (to the U.K.) whilst noting that they are often called "Emigrants" (from their country of origin) as a safer option when it comes to potential referrals to the ECHR.  Would "Migrant" be even safer I wonder?  Finally I settle upon the word "Crook" in the hope that it is still a reasonable description of someone breaking the law and will not therefore  turn me into one.

You come across loads of people who have an intense dislike of Immigrants and Travellers and Crooks.  But nowadays it's routine for such categories to claim the dislike is discrimination and to muster support from the liberal-minded sorts peppering life and government in the U.K. just now.  And in a surprising number of cases which go the whole hog, it seems they are correct !!  Which, of course,  is why I perceive many  decisions of the ECHR as bumbling and crass.

Travellers occupying land without planning permission, or immigrants making their way into the country by hiding in lorries are acting illegally.  

That's why people grow a dislike of such people.  It's not discrimination because of who they are, it's a dislike of their illegal activities.

    

CABINET LEAKS AND THE LIBERAL DEMOCRATS

A few days ago I commented on the leaks coming out of the Cabinet.  Now leaks from committee-participating-"also ran"-parliamentarians are one thing; leaks from the Cabinet quite another.

I get the definite impression that our Liberal representatives are getting far too big for their tiny  boots. Cast your minds back to the recent budget.  How many leaks ?  It doesn't take long to deduce that leaks came from Liberal, not Conservative sources.  Any suggestion that such leaks emanated from the Civil Service are preposterous of course. No it looks as if it was someone of Liberal persuasion.

The Liberal character came out again this morning as I listened to a Liberal fellow interviewed by the lefty BBC.  Words to the effect that you can't blame the Liberals for preventing the Conservatives achieving  Conservative manifesto pledges.  Well of course you can't.! But what was the point in saying that?  The Conservative manifesto, and the liberal manifesto, have nothing to do with what's going on just now.  What should matter is in the coalition agreement.  But this particular Liberal fellow was still hung up on political differences between the parties.

Well maybe that's understandable.  But let's get back to the Cabinet and leaks.  When honour  certainly meant something in politics Cabinet discussions, decisions, responsibility, confidentiality and above all loyalty, were things absolutely respected by the participants. Labour and Conservative governments understood what loyalty was required for the benefit of good governance and to benefit of the country overall.  Maybe Liberals, bless them, have been out of  any serious loop for so long they don't really get what Cabinet responsibility is all about; it's as if they have no real idea how to behave.   Or maybe Liberal Cabinet members feel their overall responsibility is still to their party and not to the coalition government?   If so, like the school snitch, it means  they are not to be trusted. 

Watch out David Cameron!! If my furtive imagination is correct you need to sideline such fellows.  At the very least invite them for a discussion in the headmaster's study;  maybe give them a bloody good caning.  If you don't they will drag you down and perhaps even destroy your party.  It's not worth taking such risks.  

COLLAPSE OF THE EURO AND THE EUROZONE

I can't help thinking this is the calm before the storm.  Have you noticed there is almost a news blackout on the struggling European countries and their economies? It's almost as though Greece, Portugal, Italy, Ireland, and Spain no longer have any financial problems !! Ponder this for a moment.  Is it all too good to be true?

True there are some parts of Europe where confidence is returning.  But therein lies the problem. Now is the time the stronger countries of the Eurozone could contemplate "pulling up the ladder."  They will see a way forward for themselves but not for their weaker Eurozone partners.  How strong Eurozone loyalty when really put to the test ?

No this is the calm before the storm.  What form of storm might well be the issue.  Watch this space.

SILENCE IS GOLDEN ?

I've just read about this "anechoic chamber" at Orfield Laboratories in the USA.  It's a chamber said to be 99.9% sound absorbent.  So far as I can deduce after 45minutes you will turn into a  wobbling jelly, a shadow of your former self,  able to hear only those sounds emanating from within.  By all accounts your ears will adapt to the lack of usual cacophony to such an extent that quite soon all you hear is your heartbeat, or maybe your stomach gurgling.  Heaven forbid that you cough or get the overpowering urge to pass wind.  And if the two are concomitant there's no telling what might happen. A disorientating experience if nothing else.  Hallucinations for sure.

Who uses this room?  Well NASA do - but then they would wouldn't they?  But of more fascination are the manufacturers using it for formal product testing. Things like checking out the sounds of switches on car dashboards, heart valves, and the display on cellphones (uh??). Harley-Davidson are said to use the room when trying to make their motorbikes quieter!!  Yeah right !  Well I'm not convinced.  A Harley can already reduce observers to wobbling jelly status without an anechoic chamber  and who in their right mind would want to hear themselves fart above the unique Harley sound? 

No I think rooms of this type, if not actually the Orfield Labs room, could be far more useful.  What about the need to check out the stories of suspected terrorists, illegal immigrants or other miscreants? 

"Do have a seat old chap.  We'll be with you shortly."  

I want one of these rooms at home. It could be what the Brits call "the front room." So when the unsolicited salesman, religious fanatic, politician, nosy neighbour, whatever, appears at the door he can be welcomed, shown to the front room, and told to wait a bit while you get him a drink.  Then what?  Of course !! Lock the bugger in and return with a nice cup of coffee 45 minutes later.