GTA Westminster

 This is quite good. Shame the BNP made it.

(From their blog post 'The Old Parties: A Nest of Thieving Criminals' - no discernible acknowledgement that most of their candidates have criminal records)

Noam Chomsky on...

... the need not to ridicule Tea Party demonstrators who have the wrong answers but genuine grievances, where the latent energy from the public enthusiasm for Obama08 may go, the silent heroism of those that stand in oppression's way, and a bit of Black Flag (amongst other things).

We can't go on like this...

MAN FILES FOR DIVORCE VIA BILLBOARD POSTER CAMPAIGN
Aggressive arbitration likely as devastated wife reportedly owns half of Yorkshire.

Cameron to outline his arms/aid mishmash

The FT has just broken the news that David Cameron will use his speech at Chatham House tomorrow to tell us his plans to redirect DfID funds into what looks on first glance like a resurrection of the Colonial Office, at least at the top level. He will call it a "stabilisation and restructure force" overseen by a new National Security Council.

First impression: on the one hand we all know how tragically ineffective the effort to achieve development goals with military action has been during the last decade. Perhaps because these goals weren't really at the forefront of decision makers' minds (ahem). Nevertheless, it does make sense to make a fresh go at this, particularly in Afghanistan, where we might need to invest another 20 years to win (we won't), something that could accelerate the death of the new world order before we have a chance to define the terms of its demise.

However the subtle repatriation of development funds is alarming, particularly as this money, although ring-fenced is surely going to be mixed up in climate adaptation, even with a healthy carbon market (far from certain!). I worry the next Government is just storing up ways to double-count.

I also worry for aid staff. In the last ten years we have witnessed what I think could be a historically significant re-blurring of the lines between the civilian and the combatant - a division many hoped would be well and truly established this century. We ourselves have been a part of this process. The shocking lack of discussion of the role of unmanned drones in massacres that have often almost been brushed under the carpet completely appalls me. Aid staff, journalists and civilians generally are at more risk than ever before. Confusing their role with that of the military could exacerbate the increased blurring of lines on the ground in a number of conflicts where the retention of aid staff is essential. Sometimes I wonder whether our Government takes the presence of international NGOs for granted in places like Afghanistan, where realistically their stretched efforts might be more productive in places that have more hope of recovery.

This is obviously a hugely significant speech and I'm really annoyed because I didn't get a ticket even though I'm a Chatham Houser and got in touch as soon as they became available.

Clegg's evaporating policies, and why they matter

What Clegg's jettisoning of party policy yesterday says about his election strategy, and the next Government's challenge.

Here is a brief roundup of policy pledges Nick Clegg’s Liberal Democrats commuted and committed to yesterday.

“Put on hold”

• Extending free childcare to all 18-month olds
• Free personal care for the elderly
• A "citizen's pension" based on residency not NI contributions
• Tuition fees to be realised not in the next Parliament but “over six years”

Retained

• Raise the starting rate of tax to £10,000
• More one-to-one tuition and small class sizes at primary school
• 10% levy on banks' profits as long as the banks are underwritten by the taxpayer
• No to the like-for-like replacement of Trident
• An end to tax credits for families on above-average incomes
• Cancelling the government's baby bonds
• A £400 cap on all public sector pay increases.
• Electoral reform
• Reduction of the number of MPs by 150

He also said he wanted a "revamped economy weaned off the fascination with the City of London" - with more emphasis on infrastructure and green technology (and the creation of a bank for infrastructure).

The move to effectively simplify their policy platform this time around makes sense politically for a number of reasons. Firstly if they are invited into coalition they will be able to demand clear reforms and more justifiably claim that they have a democratic mandate to demand them.

Secondly, although it will prove more difficult to be all things to all people on the doorsteps, an electorate that is often unaware of where any party actually stands, never mind the Liberal Democrats, might be more likely to remember signature pledges rather than a huge plethora of the ideal policies on everything. Being able to jettison spending without so much scrutiny enhances the Lib Dems’ opportunity to make more eye-catching single pledges like those retained today.

It should be noted that the move to rationalise the party’s policy platform to make it plausible in spending terms is not a new direction and has been an increasing focus of the party under Menzies Campbell and even more so under Nick Clegg (the key difference between the two being Clegg and Cable have ushered in greater ambitions to limit tax). Even so, today’s announcement will risk impassioned fissures within the Parliamentary party and beyond, where activists cherish their ability to categorically say that tuition fees will end.

However, with the election focussing on the economy there is renewed need for any party asking for the right to form a government to prove that they can handle the immense challenges facing Britain’s economy, including the £178bn deficit (12.6% of GDP). Financial markets are concerned over a hung Parliament or a Conservative party with a weak majority that is unable to take decisions that will reduce the deficit.

Where the Liberal Democrats stand on spending is now more important as there is a reasonably high chance Labour will slip into leftist partisanship as it forms a circular firing squad after the election – a situation that will result in campaigning to try to obstruct a Conservative legislative programme by the remnants of the Parliamentary Labour Party in the Commons and perhaps also in the Lords where Labour will still wield significant force. This means that whether they form a coalition or not the Lib Dems could still have significant responsibility.

A hung Parliament is politically dangerous for the Liberal Democrats. Coalition with either party (but doubtless the Conservatives if anyone) will seriously alienate their support base. On the other hand the failure to form coalition or at least some form of partnership in Parliament could result on real economic instability – not something the Liberal Democrats want to be tainted with!

CCHQ’s policy chiefs will carefully examine the pledges that the Lib Dems have retained today because they is a real possibility they will need to be realised. They will be most worried by Vince Cable’s repeated assertions that the Government’s eight year programme that would bring down the deficit to £96bn by 2013-14 should not be accelerated as the Conservatives would like, and particularly that fiscal consolidation should not begin in 2010. Notably, Cable has recently given himself some wiggle room recently by saying that “The time to start cutting the budget deficit and its speed must be decided by a series of objective tests which include the rate of recovery, the level of unemployment, the availability of credit to businesses and the government's ability to borrow in international markets on good terms.”

New Song: 'Emmy's Epic Journey' (DnB/Rock beat)

This is a foray into combining Drum'n'Bass with my guitar play.

Its about Emmy Bocaege's epic journey by boat down the Thames to Aragorn Tower in Canada Water.

Hope you like it!

Rate, comment, share, subscribe etc.

Fresh start

This is from my MySpace blog

Just thought I'd write a quick explanation of why there's not been much activity here of late:

I was burgled.

Yep, basically computer/hard drive and therefore all the music I've recorded was stolen, along with all my home studio gear.

Pretty sad, but it does mean this is a fresh start - and I do mean to create a whole new bunch of songs/articles when my new computer and rackmount gubbins arrives.

So please stay tuned...

In the meantime check out/download this song I wrote with YoungFLmusician (a.k.a. J Mogs): A J-Mogs Face: 'Cutting Loose'