Our extravagant Home Secretary believes that we must have a society that accepts ‘common values’. Anyone who doesn’t accept these ‘common values’ is an extremist and therefore a threat and a potential terrorist. Continue reading Ryeview – April 2009
Politicians have a great ability to face both ways at the same time. This is usually achieved by the skilful use of smoke and mirrors. I am able to inform the Gazette and Herald readers that after the smoking ban this feat is still achieved by mirrors alone. Continue reading Ryeview – March 2009
My Ryeview was going to be about gardens and wildlife. In Ryedale it is not yet Spring. It is the annual pantomime season. Every year politicians say they need to keep the Council tax down. Then they increase it by; more than the increase in the state pension, more than the wage increase for council workers and of course more than inflation. Continue reading Ryeview – February 2009
Poverty is not a crime it just produces a lot of victims. People who are poor are punished at school, employment and where they live. Books, computers, music lessons, and opportunities to study are much less in most poor households than they are among the well off. This means that children from poor households are disadvantaged before, during and after their school years. Continue reading Ryeview – January 2009
To misquote Alastair Campbell ‘I don’t do religion’. Despite that, I think there are many morals, ethics, philosophies and blueprints that should be the bases for the human race to live together. If my memory is correct, Jesus threw the money lenders out of the temple. Most religions reject materialism and the pursuit of wealth. Continue reading Ryeview – December 2008
The nationalization of the banks was proposed by Michael Foot in ‘the longest suicide note in history’ – the 1983 general election address. Those who opposed the public ownership have made us all pay billions of pounds to the banks in obscene profits. Not to mention the massive bonuses of the ‘spivs’. Continue reading Ryeview – November 2008
Heads they win. Tails we lose. How the financial system works is clear. If it makes vast amounts of money it is in private hands and the market will control it. If it is collapsing it is put into public ownership (aka Nationalization) and guess who will pay the bill. The USA has become the new public ownership centre of the world. Ken Clarke, the ex Tory Chancellor, said after the recent series of collapses “I weep for the ‘American Taxpayer’” Continue reading Ryeview – October 2008
At long last and no doubt at great expense, a report has been produced showing the factors that reduce life expectancy. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) the causes are: poor education, bad housing, junk food and lack of healthy transport. These result in people living only a few miles apart having vastly differing life expectancies. In two parts of Glasgow, the life expectancy of a baby differs by 28 years. Continue reading Ryeview – September 2008
People in public life are often accused of jumping on a bandwagon. The National Farmers Union (NFU) appears to make a habit of doing it. Unfortunately for the NFU, the bandwagon is often travelling in the wrong direction. A couple of years ago they championed the benefits of biofuels. This has resulted in farmers growing food to fill the fuel tank. Meanwhile, millions go short of food and the price of food rockets. GM is another ‘cause’ that they still back despite the lack of any logic, evidence or public support. The latest bandwagon is to call for a slaughter of badgers. Continue reading Ryeview – August 2008
MPs have given themselves a less than inflation pay rise (2.25%); in their case, a mere £1,350 per year. Meanwhile, local government workers have received a ‘final offer’ of 2.45%. A council worker on £15,000 will receive an increase of £368. The MP has a cut in luxuries while the council worker has a cut in basics. Energy cost increases, at over £500 per household in 2008, obliterate the pay increase. Continue reading Ryeview – July 2008