Where Conservative minsters are dangerously out of touch

We expect Lib Dem minister to be confused about reality and woolly - after all they have self selected for that.

But Gove and Willetts are treading a dangerous line.

Here are two headlines ( one for each of them ):

Middle class to lose its grip on best state schools

Why does a Tory minister want to be a Stalinist social engineer?


What do they both have in common ? Social engineering to paper of the cracks of a disastrous education system that is maintained for the benefit of its employees ( and Unions ) and doesn't care who its lies to about exam results and achievement. ( Amazingly we have already seen govt ministers trying to defend the debased and devalued GCSE's and A levels. )

These are very worrying signs and cut to the heart of why many of us are in the Conservative party. We oppose the frankly evil socialist use of children's life chances and pawns in their war against society and rabid ideology of class hate. And quite frankly we expect a Conservative lead government to do the same.

A failure to understand the times or the circumstances

I'm just back from my hols in Scotland and was listening on the radio to the interviews over the collusion between the RUC, UK Govt and Catholic Church to prevent a Catholic Priest being handled by the criminal justice system.

Listening it strikes me that modern day commentators seem incapable of putting themselves into the mind set of 1972, and the fact that unpalatable decisions have to be made in counter insurgency campaigns ( just as they are in Afghanistan today ).

Its a shame the media ( in this case the BBC ) won't can't grow up and at least explain this.

Was the decision in 1972 right ? I don't know - but based on what I've heard I can't be sure it was wrong.

Similar decisions have been made in wars in the past, and also I would imagine in counter criminal campaigns.

The passive aggression against Pakistan is the only form of rebellion left to the majority in England - but is still mistaken

The public know they are not allowed to say anything. They may feel it - but to voice it will bring a response time from the police that those who are victims of petty crime can only dream about.

Voice your thoughts and the diversity champion manager will send you on a social cohesion and diversity awareness training event.

Big brother is watching you always.

The news is full of never ending cultural concessions and demands from what looks more and more like colonisation by a particular group who want their own laws and their restrictions placing on the indigenous majority, rather than the immigration we are all repeatedly told by the state broadcaster is good and its racist to oppose.

The undercurrent of rage is in part what keeps these stories in the media - it sells copies of the Daily Mail as surely as the 'social interest stories' sell the News of the World.

So the tragedy of the Pakistan floods provides a rare opportunity for rebellion carried out in virtual anonymity - just don't give. Its classic passive aggression and the public is quite frankly furious. The Telegraph reports giving for this disaster is way down on similar previous incidents in Haiti and the Indian Ocean Tsunami.

Like the petrol blockades its caught the political class and liberal establishment out. They hate unexpected reactions from the proles whom they think they control.

By the way change the political system along the lines Nick Clegg would like and there will be much more of this.

This is what has happened to our democracy - the people are furious, but know the state will punish them if they express it, so only withholding support is available to them.

After all David Cameron was only stating what is widely known in governing circles when he accused Pakistan of supporting terrorism - the probelm was that the people were never to be told - only to allow their sons and daughters to be slaughtered by a supposidly friendly state by their proxies in Afghanistan. The BBC is trying to blame the low giving on this admission of the truth and unwillingness to tolerate the situitation by David Cameron ( unlike David Miliband who knows its only proles dying and statecraft requires you just keep quiet about it ).

I have sympathy with these views. I understand the opportunity for passive aggression that many are taking and thought about it myself.

However lets remember the very large majority of people in Pakistan are just that - normal people. They are suffering from appalling misfortune. Our compassion should outweigh the opportunity to kick the system anonymously, that we dare not strike openly.

If your the sort of person who is able to give and normally would then you should this time also. If your a Christian remember to love even those who oppress you. Its easy to give to those you like - the challenge is not to hold back from those you don't. Ultimately, because of the suffering we can all do something about, its wrong to hold back.

The DEC appeal is here and my favoured charity is here.

Also see Bagehot here on Pakistan's image problem.

How do some Catholic politicians square their beliefs with their policies ?

Sometimes issues can be summarised in one simple question. I think the one here asked of Nancy Pelosi sums things up nicely.

It never fails to amaze me how many politicians claim faith and yet deny it with their actions.

After Summer

Hi,

This is a quick post just to say what I'm planning over the next few months ( and by posting it to make me stick to it - hasn't always worked in the past, but that's not stopping me ).

Its quite clear from my recent visit to my accountant that I'll need to work harder and in a more focused manner after the summer holdidays. ( For anyone who's a home worker with children you'll realise how futile any serious work is over summer ). So I've decided to take a blogging sabbatical starting sometime in early Sept. I need to reduce the time I spend on news surfing on the web and get some more work done ! This probably won't extend to twitter, as you've got to let the rage out from watching Question Time etc somehow.

Before I head of I've promised myself posts on the following subjects;

• The Coalition.
• The AV referendum.
• The War in Pakistan and Afghanistan ( we can now start admitting its both thanks to David Cameron's straight talking. )
• Public services.

Oh yes -

• and Trident.

Then it off to bury my head in technical stuff....

Since I'm off on my hols shortly the posts will no doubt happen in a week two's time. ( Depending on how bored I get on my travels ).

The week that was ...

So the second #SillyWeek has passed. I'll add the full list of links to the end of this post, after a little more research.

All in all my favourite was perhaps the pilot - though its also a bit alarming, perhaps only funny if you weren't in the plane at the time. It reminds me of that Russian airline pilot who crashed his plane after letting his son have a go at the stick. The last words translated along the lines "bloody kids".

Of course reality will be outperforming all our efforts anyway. However humour's an important tool we perhaps use to little, especially political bloggers. Anger and outrage often motivate, but humour convinces and changes hearts and minds. A thought for the next political year that will really kick of in Sept.

Posts spotted on #SillyWeek 2010 ( if yours is missing let me know in the comments ).

• I'm not dead !
• Obedience school
• hats it
• Why pilot's shouldn't have a sense of humour
• Arh Jim Lad ...
• Scottish beer tastes like Soylent green - Mmmm
• Reality is sillier than fiction (Bobby is that you ?)
• Trying to take a photo here !
• Poisoning pigeons in the park ( well photographing)
• Anything more silly than being in the EU
• EU public phone madness - surely not !
• Preparing John Prescott for polite company
• When catch phrase goes bad
• Nuns on the run
• Dubious
• Tool time for toasters
• The Silliness of Italian packaging
• Dodo egg omlet and climate change
• Water proof
• Cat smilies
• The compulsory silly walks
• Moon walking bird
• Cat in a hat
• Turner Veg
• Furry faces
• Contradictory signs

The last day

Today's the last day of #SillyWeek 2010.

I'll try and do a round up a bit later on Sunday. Thanks to all who have entered into the spirit of things, I hope you had fun also !

MiaS