Surely we cannot go on like this?

The Daily Telegraph reports that George Osborne told MPs that it may well be necessary for extra support to be provided by Britain to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for the global fund to help stricken governments. We read in the Mail that Barroso is calling for Member States to contribute even more to the EU bail-out fund. Ian Parker-Joseph posts on why Member States are unable to reduce their spending and Pixijade posts a most telling graphic on the state of the UK's debt.


Elsewhere, in other news, the Mail breaks the news of the findings of a report, one commissioned by a group of ten Conservative MPs, on events since Britain's subscribed to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). The report can be downloaded from here (see foot of page) and on that page will be found the names of the ten Conservative MPs concerned. The question of Britain's acceptance of the ECHR is further complicated by the European Union's intention to join the ECHR in its own right; and on that last point Open Europe has a reasonable summary here.


What the above shows is that monies forcibly extracted from us in the form of taxation is being spent by politicians without any referral to those that are providing it - which makes a case for 'referism'; that any Chancellor of the Exchequer's budget is not fully under his control - hence a loss of sovereignty; that politicians, especially Conservatives, seem to speak without engaging brain whilst also seeming to have no idea how to clear debt. What a way to run a country!


All of which also shows that a debate on the type of democracy under which we live is long overdue.

Public opinion being led astray

The despair of those of us who continually rail about the poor standard of journalism exhibited in the media is, I believe, understandable. As an example I give you the editorial in today's Daily Telegraph, from which an extracts:

"In one sense, nothing has changed. The same EU directives and regulations that Mr Cameron so rightly objected to are still looming, even though they will – thank heaven – be fought tooth and nail. The Prime Minister has chosen a course that is bound to bring hardships and indignities, especially if the new euro-bloc imposes measures that damage the single market and our financial services industry. But yesterday’s events made clear that staying on the same old course of grudging submission to the collective will would have brought exactly the same hardships and indignities – without offering Britain the golden opportunity to redefine its relationship with Europe that so many in this country have wanted for so long."

Exactly how will EU directives and regulations be 'fought tooth and nail when 17 member states comprise a majority when voting as a caucus, which they surely must do; and when that euro-bloc will impose measures that damage this nation  which they surely will do?

When reading the letters column in the same newspaper, it is little wonder that those writing appear to have been duped as a result of the 'faux journalism' to which they respond. In support of this assertion Pixijade writes that it is a shame that 99% of the media are refusing to question the PM’s side of the story; and that his version of the events suit him quite nicely, thanks very much; no referendum, no repatriation, and a heroes welcome home. On that last point Charles Moore, in his op-ed piece in today's Daily Telegraph, writes that this is as a result of everything becoming clear to Cameron's cool mind, in that he could stave off a referendum, hold together his Coalition and win over his party. It is a great pity that Moore could not be honest and add the words "whilst retaining his own position of power and patronage". Reverting to the letters, it should be noted that at least one writer - Christopher Healy of North Ferriby - East Yorkshire, has homed in on a major problem when he asks: "Now whose aircraft carrier do we use?"

Matters are not helped when Douglas Carswell writes that we now need to make sure that the small print hammered out between now and March is not fudged - and that the new architecture to be put in place for the rest of Euroland does not emesh us. And just how are we supposed to do that? Perhaps Carswell has another 'Plan' up his sleeve - one we can but hope is a damn site better than his first attempt. Nor is it helped by the BBC allowing Heseltine to escape without any form of censure for misquoting Winston Churchill, noted here by Norman Tebbit.

To remount an ongoing hobbyhorse, of course if we had 'Referism' and 'Direct Democracy' our political elite would not be able to lie to us or ignore the wishes of the people, thus relegating us to the position of serfs - but I digress..........

Political claptrap

Today seems most noticeable for statements being made that undermine the over-all argument being put forward either by an evident lack of knowledge about that which is written, or a statement that has been made without apparent forethought for the contradiction that is contained therein.

John Redwood, writing about the euro 'devouring governments' and that democracy relies on the consent of the governed, proceeds to then state:

"If they do not allow sensible democratic opposition and proper consultation of the people affected by their one size fits all policy, people will find other ways of dissenting."

to which the question has to be put to John Redwood: Is that not the level of democracy we presently have in the UK, one whereby a majority of 650 people decide a 'one size fits all policy' and then imposes that on the population? Is not the use of referenda the only true and proper 'consultation process' of seeking the people's views? It is no wonder that our politicians today, both national and local, are such advocates for 'representative democracy' as it allows them to represent their own views regardless of those of their electorates.

We then have Ed Miliband, writing in the Observer, stating that:

"There is a crisis of concern for millions of people about the biggest issue of our time: the gap between their values and the way our country is run...........many of those who earn the most, exercise great power, enjoy enormous privilege – in the City and elsewhere – do so with values that are out of kilter with almost everyone else."

to which one can only say that it is about time he - and other politicians - acknowledged the fact that when complaining about the gap between 'values', the biggest gap is between the people and politicians. Accepting Miliband does insert the words 'and elsewhere', he fails to accept that 'the biggest gap' cannot be resolved whilst politicians, those who are supposed to set an example, continue to exercise great power - power they should not possess - and enjoy enormous privilege.

Richard North, EU Referendum, correctly puts Frederick Forsyth 'back in his box' for misleading the readers of the Express. For those who wish to understand why Cameron's faux intention to repatriate powers can never happen should read the link (9th paragraph) Richard provides to a previous article. While I dare to disagree with Richard in his assertion that the EU is not a problem in that it results in foreign domination by our membership, I most heartily agree with him that the problem is our own Parliament and those who inhabit it, consequently sort that out and the EU problem is then resolved. Which rather neatly leads me back to my desire to change our system of democracy to one of a participatory nature.

That David Cameron is guilty of political claptrap is nicely illustrated with a coruscating article on that man by pixijade, Off With Your Head, who ends thus:

"Maybe the lacklustre performance is due to Cameron’s own faults; David Cameron edited the Big Issue in the summer he spoke of  his youth and how he “didn’t always put the effort in” and “just went through the motions, drifting along“. Some things never change, eh".

Finally, an afterthought and one that is 'off topic'. November 5th was originally celebrated as a victory over a heinous crime, one intended to restore a Catholic Monarch to the throne. I wonder how many 'celebrating' last night realised that Cameron has completed Fawkes' work without suffering any 'scaffolding effect'?