Olympian opposites...

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© Jim Sillavan 2012, from The Guardian 030112

The pursuit of gold, Olympic style vs. the perils of money. Another unfortunate 'opposite' in the Euro-zone this week that jumps out of the page: unemployment levels in Spain increased even further to record levels and stands at a horrendous 22%; in Germany, unemployment is at its lowest level since reunification, 6.8% [Link]. Also, just for info, "USD7.6 trillion of debt issued by the world's largest economies will mature this year, putting a major strain on the financial markets." Some things in life are bad...

Olympian opposites...

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© Jim Sillavan 2012, from The Guardian 030112

The pursuit of gold, Olympic style vs. the perils of money. Another unfortunate 'opposite' in the Euro-zone this week that jumps out of the page: unemployment levels in Spain increased even further to record levels and stands at a horrendous 22%; in Germany, unemployment is at its lowest level since reunification, 6.8% [Link]. Also, just for info, "USD7.6 trillion of debt issued by the world's largest economies will mature this year, putting a major strain on the financial markets." Some things in life are bad...

Optimistic overture...

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...or maybe not. Just to prove that I am not all mean and blinkered 'right-wing' ideologue I would like to say well done to ex Treasury Minister Liam Byrne who has made an honest assessment in decrying the UK's bloated welfare state; Byrne has been honest before you may recall ("There's No Money Left").



"For [Beveridge], 'idleness' was an evil every bit as insidious as disease or squalor."... "He would have wanted reform that was tough-minded, and asked everyone to work hard to find a job."..."He never foresaw unearned support as desirable."... "Unemployment benefit after a certain period should be conditional upon attendance at a work or training centre"... "something for something".



Referring to the Beveridge Report, 70 years on: the gist of the report was to counter five 'Giant Evils', these were Want, Disease, Ignorance, Squalor and Idleness. Now, almost 15 years have passed since Frank Field, the former Labour welfare reform minister was asked by Tony Blair to "think the unthinkable"...he did and was then side-lined and discarded; Liam, is this a rerun?



I would like to remind people that the committee for the Beveridge report was a cross party effort from the then wartime Coalition government. Also, other things that seem to be forgotten 'in the mists of time': "While the Liberal Party and the Conservative Party quickly adopted Beveridge's proposals, the Labour Party was slow to follow. Labour leaders opposed Beveridge's idea of a National Health Service run through local health centres and regional hospital administrations, preferring a state-run body. [ref:Beveridge, Power and Influence.]

Optimistic overture...

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...or maybe not. Just to prove that I am not all mean and blinkered 'right-wing' ideologue I would like to say well done to ex Treasury Minister Liam Byrne who has made an honest assessment in decrying the UK's bloated welfare state; Byrne has been honest before you may recall ("There's No Money Left").

"For [Beveridge], 'idleness' was an evil every bit as insidious as disease or squalor."... "He would have wanted reform that was tough-minded, and asked everyone to work hard to find a job."..."He never foresaw unearned support as desirable."... "Unemployment benefit after a certain period should be conditional upon attendance at a work or training centre"... "something for something".

Referring to the Beveridge Report, 70 years on: the gist of the report was to counter five 'Giant Evils', these were Want, Disease, Ignorance, Squalor and Idleness. Now, almost 15 years have passed since Frank Field, the former Labour welfare reform minister was asked by Tony Blair to "think the unthinkable"...he did and was then side-lined and discarded; Liam, is this a rerun?

I would like to remind people that the committee for the Beveridge report was a cross party effort from the then wartime Coalition government. Also, other things that seem to be forgotten 'in the mists of time': "While the Liberal Party and the Conservative Party quickly adopted Beveridge's proposals, the Labour Party was slow to follow. Labour leaders opposed Beveridge's idea of a National Health Service run through local health centres and regional hospital administrations, preferring a state-run body. [ref:Beveridge, Power and Influence.]

Oncoming Ows oblectation...

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Could the start of 2012 be the gift that keeps on giving? From The Independent: "Mr Brown's private communications, along with emails belonging to a former Labour adviser and lobbyist, Derek Draper, have been identified by Scotland Yard's Operation Tuleta team as potentially hacked material.". Apparently there is no suggestion that any of the info was gained illegally and it is mainly from 2005 to 2007 so to me it suggests a new twist in the Blair vs. Brown saga.

Oncoming Ows oblectation...

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Could the start of 2012 be the gift that keeps on giving? From The Independent: "Mr Brown's private communications, along with emails belonging to a former Labour adviser and lobbyist, Derek Draper, have been identified by Scotland Yard's Operation Tuleta team as potentially hacked material.". Apparently there is no suggestion that any of the info was gained illegally and it is mainly from 2005 to 2007 so to me it suggests a new twist in the Blair vs. Brown saga.

Observer opus...

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It must be April Fools' Day already, no, we're less than 10 minutes into the New Year yet nothing will beat this all year: the most stupid headline and political attack you could imagine: "Labour turns on BBC over 'pro-coalition coverage'" [Link] LMAO!

Observer opus...

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It must be April Fools' Day already, no, we're less than 10 minutes into the New Year yet nothing will beat this all year: the most stupid headline and political attack you could imagine: "Labour turns on BBC over 'pro-coalition coverage'" [Link] LMAO!