Politicians are not held in very high regard these days. But, then, I suppose that has always been the case. When I look at those governing us — and other countries as well — it is not surprising that we are in such a mess. At present, the House of Commons is on Easter holiday so we are provided only with news about holiday jaunts or background stories — number one at the moment is the revelations about the sordid activities of the Liberal MP, the late Cyril Smith. I always found his huge size revolting enough in itself but to discover on top of that that he was a serial paedophile makes it all a lot worse; and then to find that his activities were covered up time and again over many years by police and.local and national politicians is sickening. It makes the odd behaviour of the former Liberal Party leader Jeremy Thorpe seem quite benign.and normal even. Yet, even so, there are many other countries where the behaviour of politicians is worse, many wallowing in corruption. I have worries that some of our politicians are deteriorating in competence and moral fibre; not all of them; but too many are rather obviously working entirely in the best interests of themselves. This coalition government has been in office for four years and yet they have done nothing to tackle major issues that concern the people. Bankers are still paying themselves ridiculous amounts of money and nothing is done. Are they really serious in suggesting that no one will do those investment banker jobs unless they are paid millions every year? Do they really think that directors at the Co-op need to be paid millions — even as the organisation chalks up the biggest annual losses in its entire history and almost sinks to the virge of collapse? Do CEOs need to be paid one hundred times [or more] than the average employee?
There is a European election for MEPs next month and there is a wide assumption that the polls may be topped by UKIP, a party that, with few local councillors and no MPs, whatever their faults, is committed to withdrawing from the EU. David Cameron promises us an In/Out referendum, following renegotiation of our membership terms — a referendum which he seems to be trying to avoid. Ed Miliband and Ed Balls seem to have no policies, lack credibility and are anxious to avoid even a suggestion of an EU referendum. The 100% pro-EU Lib-Dems will be annihilated. How the nationalist parties will get on is still a mystery — although they will probably do OK because they are "none of the above".
Meanwhile, the newspapers tell us that David Cameron is wearing the wrong shoes — on holiday in the Canaries. And in addition to the sartorial faux pas, he ignored advice not to swim in the seas and has been stung by an aggressive jelly fish. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are touring down-under with Baby George who appears to be getting very podgy and it has been noted that William has had to relax his belt a notch as he too gains weight.
The present government is claiming credit for the improving the British economy. This is fair enough, I suppose, but there are still many things wrong and the recovery is financed with yet more debt — private and public. Interest rates are held artificially low so that the government can borrow money at low interest rates to finance payment of the interest charges on its own every increasing debts. House prices are rising again — particularly in London and the south-east — and this is made worse with the government's Right to Buy scheme that helps people borrow more.
I despair of the situation of young people who go to university — in many cases studying useless subjects — and come away with huge debts, then struggle to find a job, cannot afford to buy a house and pay high rents to live in a house or flat that has been removed from the house purchasing market by someone relatively well-off who needs to become rich. We need to build at least 250,000 new houses/flats every year. Why is this apparently impossible?
Why will it take 26 years to build a high speed railway to Manchester? It is a distance of 200 miles. In 25 years, the Victorians built 10,000 miles!! Is such railway the best use of £50 billion of public money? And if this railway does ever get built, who will build it and supply the rolling stock? I sincerely hope that the country that was the birthplace of railways can manage to do it without foreign suppliers and contractors. Soon, we will go ahead with fracking and release the vast gas reserves under our country — but now, apparently, we lack the expertise to exploit these deposits and will need foreign assistance. What is wrong with this country? I suppose everything started with Margaret Thatcher and her execution of our manufacturing industries. We need to make things that the world wants to buy. We are quite capable of doing it if we have the necessary leadership. Only then will we be able to balance the books and provide the services which we require.
Why will it take 26 years to build a high speed railway to Manchester? It is a distance of 200 miles. In 25 years, the Victorians built 10,000 miles!! Is such railway the best use of £50 billion of public money? And if this railway does ever get built, who will build it and supply the rolling stock? I sincerely hope that the country that was the birthplace of railways can manage to do it without foreign suppliers and contractors. Soon, we will go ahead with fracking and release the vast gas reserves under our country — but now, apparently, we lack the expertise to exploit these deposits and will need foreign assistance. What is wrong with this country? I suppose everything started with Margaret Thatcher and her execution of our manufacturing industries. We need to make things that the world wants to buy. We are quite capable of doing it if we have the necessary leadership. Only then will we be able to balance the books and provide the services which we require.
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