Diagnosis before Treatment

When we consult our doctor with a problem we reasonably expect that the doctor will listen to our problem, make a diagnosis and recommend some treatment - in that order.
Politicians are less rational. My prime minister has decided to turn over our healthcare system. He has a clear set of proposals but has offered not one word of a diagnosis. Like all party politicians he knows all the answers before even asking what the question is. This one is however a bit unlucky. His chief adviser went to a meeting of private investors and extolled the major profits to be made from the changes. Now we know what the prime minister's diagnosis is - his pals are not making enough from our healthcare system. How creaming off more for them helps me get better care or value for money is not clear.

Party Politics are Dangerous.

We have reflected before on the evils of party politics. Till now it seemed that such activities could do little harm. Politicians amble about changing this and that but the people who actually get things done keep on getting things done. To an extent that is still true but to my concern I woke up yesterday morning to discover that my countrymen have elected to government a political party who are intent on destroying my country! Now it may not come to that but there is a real risk.  The people who get things done may yet restrain the unthinking party ideologues and life will go on. But perhaps not. Party politicians are people who have failed to find a role in getting things done and who yet can pose dangers to the rest of us. We need to re-engineer the system to correct this dangerous situation.

Twittering Celebrations

So the twittering classes of Egypt have got a result - of sorts - and we in the west are all hoop de doo! Here's the problem: what comes next? The demonstrators showed that they were from a class which had acquired resources despite Mubarak's rule. If he was as portrayed they are surely a minority. If they were a majority then where was the huge problem?  What about the actual majority who were unable to advance their position because of Mubarak's rule. Who will lead them and what will be their priorities? Will we yet see the twittering minority retreat to a Cairo Green Zone surrounded by a defensive shield such as we have in Baghdad or Kabul? I think it less than likely that the American or NATO armies will be on hand to protect them.

Elected Police Commissioners

In the UK we are to have Elected Police Commissioners who will have powers to hire and fire Chief Constables! Candidates can (presumably will?) seek election on party political platforms! Knowledgeable experienced police officers are to be controlled by ignorant and ill informed politicians. As if the dead hand of political parties had not spread far enough we are now going to hand control of yet another key service to these unrepresentative minorities. Who is supposed to benefit from this nonsense?

The Lockerbie Bomber?

Is he?
Maybe and Maybe not. He was convicted yet doubts remain and even some of the victims families seem to believe he is innocent.
And yet we have the unedifying spectacle of  ill informed politicians astride the Atlantic condemning equally ill informed politicians in Scotland for having released him on compassionate grounds.
What is clear is that the man is terminally ill and where he is is largely irrelevant.
One day we may learn the truth - or maybe not!
In contrast it must be remembered that we do know who brought down the Iranian airliner!

Election Time

Here we are in a general election. No national focus apart from the leaders debates watched by a minority. Winners will be as ever individuals unfit to govern having long ago sold their intellect to a political party and lost the capacity to consider issues on their merits. Looks like this time we wont get a clear party majority. Might be good, damaging the party system. Some want PR as a means to never having a clear majority. American system of two indistinguishable parties (although the Republicans at times do seem to be wandering off) seems attractive.

Tiger’s Troubles

So Tiger Woods is in a bit of bother. He behaved badly. Many of us do at times. Many prominent public figures behave badly and we grin and shrug and life goes on. But not Tiger! The shutters come down the media snarl the sponsors withdraw. Couldn’t possibly be associated with such a person! Not the usual response! I wonder why. Is it that Tiger is a golfer? Hardly that. Is it because he has a beautiful blonde wife? Surely not. Try to spot what the difference is with Tiger. Go on. You’ve got it! Tiger is a black man, successful beyond compare in a quintessentially exclusive white sport and his wife is white. Racism lives. We should all be ashamed.