Category Archives: Politics
The Shape of Things to Come
I was speaking to a friend the other day about the books we read in our youth (which is oh, just a few years ago now). And in particular, those novels of a prophetic nature. My friend has just come … Continue reading
The Bonfire of the Rights…
Here in the UK we like to think of ourselves as belonging to the ‘Free World’. You’d think we’d have the freedom to burn books, for instance (so long as they belong to us, of course – burning other people’s … Continue reading
Libraries for Growth
My local library is permanently closed due to the discovery of dangerous ‘RAAC’ concrete in the building. This typifies the plight of libraries across the country. Our library system has been neglected and underfunded for decades. But the current government’s … Continue reading
Sleep Culture
Thought for the day –The opposite of ‘woke’ is ‘asleep’. It’s an age old trick of extremists. First you find a word or phrase that sums up the ideas and principles you don’t like (or that don’t suit your agenda). … Continue reading
A New Beginning?
The Labour party’s landslide victory in the general election last Thursday has been hailed as a momentous change in UK politics – a sudden and overwhelming shift away from the dark side. It’s been called ‘The end of Thatcherism’. Having … Continue reading
Coronation Chicken…
Can I open my eyes? Is it over yet – the festival of privilege?The TV has been off, I’ve been maintaining radio silence, trying to avoid the nonsense that has been going on in my name, but not with my … Continue reading
Why do we stand for the national anthem?
Double meaning intended!I’m old enough to remember the queen’s silver jubilee. That at least was tempered by some robust criticism, as a friend recently reminded me (my own memory being only marginally better than that of a goldfish) by the … Continue reading
Isn’t it our deference to religion that let the Taliban in?
Could it be that the Taliban’s greatest strength is not ruthlessness, lack of compassion, or their powerful external backers, but instead, their subservience to what they consider to be an unquestionable ideology? And surely then, the Western allies’ biggest mistake … Continue reading
Don’t Expect Us To Mourn
A famous person has died (to quote Spitting Image). The Establishment is in mourning (to mis-quote Spitting Image). And we’re all expected to mourn too; expected to bow our heads in honour of our beloved leaders. So much for living … Continue reading
Why you should consider joining the National Secular Society
On Saturday, for the first time, I attended the AGM of the National Secular society. It isn’t easy for me to get down to London, where they ‘re normally held, but this year, because of the pandemic, it was held … Continue reading
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