In 150 words (1)

Basically, the thinking behind this post is that a lot has been going on and I'd quite like to talk about some of it but have found myself rather without the hours to spare at the moment, so as an interesting writing exercise, I'm seeing if I can condense my key thoughts into 150 words or less- quality not quantity, right? All Titles link to the main article.

So without further ado I present you the deep and brief thoughts of yours truly on:

Miliband's reforms raise more questions than answers (New Statesman)

Behold, the bright future of Labour has arrived! And if we thought Blair’s New Labour washed Red flags whiter than white, here’s Milliband, seemingly trying to expunge the Union influence from the party- suggesting a weakening of their electoral power and capping their financial clout. I can’t really see how introducing another electoral college, of non-members, is a good idea so await robust explanation.

The funding matter is more difficult- Labour and the Unions are historically inseparable- but an opportunity to choke contributions from rich individuals and in a small way diminish the clout of business in government is tempting. If State funding plays a major part too, then it does give more even footing to smaller parties- look what happened when Nick Clegg got just that in the televised debates- the election was far more interesting. Democracy could gain from this, even if it’s not great for the unions.

Only half of Britons say UK is a Christian country (Telegraph)

So George Carey is on the warpath again, using these poll results to decry the ebbing influence of Christianity over national life. It’s unfortunate that the very next thing he says cites an instance where ‘exercising Christianity’ appears to be promoting intolerance- and whatever the reasoning behind it that appearance leaves an impression.

What benefit could there be from a Christian Society? The historical precedents aren't brilliant for models of what it could be, and Carey’s plight illuminates the weaknesses of liberal society when it dissolves into different groups jealously guarding their interests- and surely one where ‘Christianity’ merely gets what it wants isn't Carey’s vision of a Christian society either. Better models would be Pilsdon and Iona- Community is bounded by faith, yet it also allows them to be open and generous, celebrating individuality (though not individualism)- they’re not sour-faced moralists. I wonder if Carey wants that either though?

Online Petition plan for Parliament to go ahead (BBC)

Public Opinion is great and with this new plan, apparently whatever hack cause or populist whim must soon, providing if it gains enough signatures, be debated in the Commons. Unaided by comparisons to the X Factor, the idea seems particularly crass and already screams ‘smokescreen!’

Cranmer posts well on the real difficulties- looking for a different angle I will complain that it will do nothing for obesity figures- once upon a time you’d go on marches, collect signatures in the street, knock on doors- fresh air and exercise! Now activism can be done from the sofa! Well no, actually.

‘Liking’ things on facebook doesn’t make you an activist and neither does this. Virtual debate is too easily removed from real life concerns, and already these petitions must have ‘eligibility’. I hope people reject this sham voice- push for more local autonomy, and when passions run high; to the streets!

----------

So there you go, I hope you enjoyed it. Now I wished a happy New Year a couple of days ago and have since failed to stop posting, however I really believe this will be the last one until January, likely early January- I couldn't squeeze the 114 Labour MPs against AV into 150 words. That though is by the by.

So to all (or should that be a forlorn any?) readers regarding this, I wish you a Happy and Prosperous New Year!

Once more unto the Barricades!

We Need "to show solidarity with the large numbers of people who are suffering as a result of government cutbacks".

We also must raise protest "on behalf of those losing their jobs, seeing their public services undermined, their hopes for higher education jeopardised, or their fears realised through the creation of what increasingly seems like a less caring, more brutalised society, and where vast bonuses form the contemptuous retort to any mention of restraint, and the black economy of the super-tax dodger is seen as a legitimate moral code"

Who could the speaker of these words possibly be? Is it an irate Len McCluskey sounding another call to arms? Is it Ed Miliband changing his mind and finally deciding to reveal his true colours as 'Red Ed'; the monster from the wild and desolate hinterlands of the left that the Tory press always knew him to be?

Well no, not exactly- it is in fact the Bishop of Blackburn, the Rt Rev Nicholas Reade.

Look at him! Look at Nicholas Reade! He clearly has 'dangerous Radical' and 'Turbulent Priest' written all over him. The clerical collar gives him away. The Full article can be found here.

I am really of course, supportive of stories that show the Church concerned with the poor rather than gays or women for a change, though I am though intrigued by what is meant by 'christian protest', as if it is somehow objectively different from other protests.

Perhaps he does, after all people are already quite used to Christians standing in the street shouting random slogans at them or else handing out battered-looking leaflets- This being the case, maybe we do need to sharpen our approach when it comes to protest. After a quick brainstorm I've come up with some suggestions which I humbly submit for the Bishop:

1) Possibly something like this- though with a change of words? Perhaps we should chant James 5:1-6 antiphonally? Or for the more modern worshipper of course perhaps turn it into a new four chord song involving hand-raising and a frustratingly catchy chorus?

2) Why stick to forming a mere human chain when one can form a human Rosary?

3) In the spirit of the liturgical season, when challenged by police or store-owners, insist that you were led to this point by a star and can't really move on until 'something miraculous has happened'.

Of course, the best examples of biblical, and whilst there is of course the option of writing scathing letters or overturning money tables, I think they'll be expecting that sort of thing the crafty dodgers, so instead I offer 2 of my personal favourites-

4) Marry a prostitute- give birth to children and name them things like 'Fatally Compromised' or 'Forsaken by God' (Hosea 1)

5) Lie on your left side for 390 days without turning over and on your right for 40 days, eat only bread baked using cow manure as fuel, when this period is up take a sword and cut off your hair and beard- proceed then to burn 1/3 of it, scatter 1/3 of it to the wind and with the remaining third, walk around attacking it with the sword. (Ezekiel 4, 5)

Now if that doesn't show the authorities we mean business, I don't think we will ever get the message through to the authorities. I look forward to seeing the Bishop on the warpath in the new year.

Finally I would just like to wish anyone reading this a very Merry Christmas, I hope the day itself is particularly good and happy. I would offer best wishes for the New Year, but I'm not sure if I'll find something to say before then, so maybe, maybe a Happy New Year to you as well!

A day at the races

I'm very pleased to say that despite the lack of action in my own home town of Swindon, I was able to make it to the UK Uncut Pay Day protest in Oxford instead. Though why Swindon doesn't have one when the Vodafone and Topshop shops are actually within feet of each other is a mystery. I digress however, and there seems to have been some good coverage of the day, particularly from the Daily Mail (My thanks to UK Uncut for highlighting this on Twitter)- I suppose that ultimately paying one's fair share of tax is something most people find an unobjectionable position to hold.

Alas there are no pictures to share, but there were a good handful of us down, particularly those who have been involved in the Occupied Oxford campaign. Taking rather a different tack from those who have been occupying the shops or gluing themselves to windows, we held the 'Monaco tax dodgers' grand prix' armed with cardboard racers, each sponsored by a various companies associated with tax avoidance, including Vodaphone, BHS, Barclays (my own noble steed), Boots and a few others. We then spent the next hour and a half and more perhaps racing around the high streets outside the different shops (and very occasionally into the shops s well!) chanting, handing out leaflets, and having a rather good time whilst we were at it.

It was a good day out, and was I think, only enhanced by the fact that we had to run through the snow, and contra Toby Young the onlookers (thankfully!) seemed mostly amused by our antics and interested in what we were saying- we got our message out and hopefully some people took it on board. Whilst I'm looking at that article in fact, I have to ask if some trashy consumer item is really going to advantage the poorest in our society over public services that are being cut. ("Even if this method of protest was successful and Vodafone and Top Shop ended up paying more tax, it wouldn’t be ordinary people that would benefit. On the contrary, the higher taxes would immediately be passed on to consumers in the form of higher prices. How, precisely, is that going to help “the poorest and most vulnerable”?) Cut, I hasten to add, because we're told the money must come from somewhere, but for some reason not from those most able to afford it.

The fundamental discrepancy of this of course, along with the accompanying hypocrisy of the 'we're all in this together' rhetoric of a certain coalition governemnt, is what UK Uncut is trying to highlight, and even if it does cause minor inconvenience (as any protest inevitable must) I think it is a worthwhile hue and cry to raise, and I certainly hope to join in yet more and perhaps, perhaps the message will catch on and then who knows? Maybe some of that avoided tax may find its way back to the government and channeled back to where it could really benefit the UK public most.