Blood from a stone: An email to Labour HQ (From The Argus)

spot on Steve.
you wont get a reply frome these people, they are all too busy trying to figure out how they can milk the system more before the game is up for all of them in May or is it March or maybe April.

Treating your remarks as being genuine --- even if your 'complaints' were valid, the LP responded appropriately to you. The MPs do not dictate the interpretation and application of the legal system in this country, either singly or as a body, and the only appropriate answer was the one you got. Why don't you send similar emails to the other parties -- you'll get the same reply. If, as a consequence, you then decide 'parliamentary democracy' is a sham (which is EXACTLY what I would claim) then you won't be voting for any of them, anyway!

I was recently at the British Library in Collingdale reading some early copies of 'The Times'. There was a particularly sad news item on the front page describing a five year old boy who was given the opportunity to address the witnessing crowd before he was hanged in London; he insisted he was not angry with those who had sentenced him -- he was guilty (he had stolen a cake from a shop) and deserved to be hanged. Albeit, the juvenile crime is indeed worse in the case of Bulger -- but you would clearly be happier to return to medieval times. The absurdities of the application of the Law are real in many respects, but not related to a political party, per se. The current hostility of many Islamic followers in indeed the result of British policy -- for two centuries the British, French and Americans have been gassing, bombing and invading Arab lands; that they feel hostility and resentment is hardly surprising ... their lands have been invaded and destroyed (most recently on the basis of lies and misrepresentations -- try following the current Chilcot enquiry for an inkling of the reasons why). Fortunately, with all its many faults, there is more freedom of speech in the UK than in most lands -- 'freedom of speech' means freedom for those with whom you MOST disagree. If you think Britain wouldn't have credit problems under Tory or Lib Dem governments, then dream on Steve.

Looking forward to seeing the replies to all your questions from Tories and Lib Dems --- on this site!

Anubis, are the political parties not the ones who pass legislation, thereby being responsible for the laws they pass? Can they not pass motions to amend parts of the law that are not up to task as common sense dictates?

I have indeed sent the same questions (although phrased in a manner of 'what will you do to rectify these issues') to the other 2 big parties and one thing that is fair to point out is that Labour are the only ones who have replied thus far.

May I also point out that I never said I condone the death penalty for children and hanging a child for bakery related misdemeanors is crass, heavy handed and wrong; but i certainly don't believe that Bulger's killers should be protected to such a degree as the rest of us could never expect (shy of murdering people ourselves and thus getting a new life in a beautiful country at tax payers expense).
Also I appreciate freedom of speech is a wonderful gift, and I certainly come from the Voltaire school of thought in this respect. British colonialism was a black stain on our past and the current strife in the middle east is most definately a false war. We shouldn't be there, full stop. However if I were to air anti-nationalist/ant
i-Islamic statements in countries like Afganistan (during the Taliban reign) I could expect to have my home confiscated and any benefits stopped post haste (this would be a best case senario too). If the hate clerics don't like the moral standing of this country or take issue with 'Britishness' then maybe relocation to a more sympathetic nation would be in order? After all would you have remained in Nazi Germany during the war if you took issue with Nazi-ism? I think not. For example, if Britain became a facsist or religiously led state I would leave asap.

As to the fiscal issue, I don't pretend to know the answers and I doubt that the Tories or Lib Dems could rescue us from the mire we are lumbered with for the next decade at least. But am I wrong or did Big Gord ask the world to follow our lead out of recession? Why are we the last out of it if our 'way' was so wonderful? Politicians are accountable to the people who elect them - asking for clarification is my right as a citizen and they should be able to provide this clarification. If they don't like it they shouldn't stand for public office.

All that aside Anubis, I appreciate your time taken to comment and you are quite right in requesting a balanced blog by involving the other political players (I will be updating this blog as and when I recieve more/any correspondence from ALL parties).

A few clarifications related to what we have both written --- No, it is It It is NOT true the 'political parties' drafted and passed the laws; the government does that, admittedly involving representatives from ALL major parties --- and quite a few 'outsiders' with experiences and skills to offer. And yes, of course laws can be and are regularly 'amended' or 're-written'. The more important aspect that I believe we are discussing is the application of legislation, which, to a large extent is in the hands of the legal profession, who apply themselves to interpreting and instituting the said laws (the 'boffin' who 'made' this computer is not directly involved in what I choose to use it for, what I write on it.)

Perhaps the point I'm making will be better perceived if we look at the rather LESS contentious legislation, say, related to the dropping of street litter. Such laws have been strengthened in recent years -- yet just look at any street today --- anywhere. Have you considered writing to the political parties, demanding to know what they are doing about our 'litter-filled' environment -- remind them 'they passed the laws' (in your view) so what are they going to do about the fact the laws are 'not working'?

There was no suggestion from either of us you were in favour of re-introducing capital punishment -- I was using my illustration to partially address your apparent desire to solve the problems, like that of the James Bulger case, in terms of 'punishment'. Personally, I don't believe punishment, per se, has ever worked. Maybe we might look for solutions elsewhere?

In today's newspapers we learn currently, in this country, there are an estimated 1.7 million youngsters living in poverty (as defined by government) -- specifically, kids who every day do not have enough food to eat, do not possess a warm coat, etc., etc. We've been reading about two of these kids during the last fortnight; they have been 'on trial' for torturing two other, younger kids. Yet we live in a country that over the centuries has been involved in more wars than probably any other country; wars usually fought many thousands of miles from the UK (and, of course, ALWAYS the other nation's fault!) Now were (for the third time) in Afghanistan (a country that shares a border with China and her 1,400 million people!). At the moment we probably spend something like about £10 million every minute producing weapons -- while nearly two million of our youngsters are inadequately fed and clothed. Don't you think there must be something amiss with the social system in which we all live?

Glad you are all in favour of 'free speech' ... although I'm not too sure how that fits with your allegiance to the late Voltaire. I'm aware of the legend that he claimed something like "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it", but Voltaire never said anything of the kind -- he didn't believe in complete freedom of expression and he would never have defended anything "to the death" -- the expression actually originated (in a footnote!) long after his death, in an essay by British writer, E Beatrice Hall, "The Friends of Voltaire' (1906) -- the essay, in fact, describes the ban that had been placed on a book by Enlightenment writer, Helveticus; Voltaire SUPPORTED the ban !!! if you are interested to 'dig deeper' on this topic, try, as a starter, looking at the editorial on Voltaire in the 'Times Higher Education Supplement', 3 May 1996.

I do not wish to expand on the Taliban, nor say anything regarding Islam (except to oppose ALL religions with equal fervour) ... but I believe you should appreciate the Taliban (and Bin Laden) enjoy enormous support in the Arab countries ... in spite of continuing government propaganda relling us we need 100,000 troops, armed with modern weapons and massive land and air support, to defeat a tiny minority of 'fanatics'; we heard similar tales from the Pentagon vis-a-vis Vietnam for many years, troop concentrations there eventually exceeded 500,000 -- yet the Americans, like the French before them, were totally routed.

Final point. Just because a person comes to Britain from elsewhere (and takes British citizenship because he or she feels 'more comfortable' here than elsewhere), that person is not obliged to refrain from criticizing the existing status quo, where believed justified. On occasions, I have actively involved myself in British 'politics' (although neither member nor supporter of any 'party') -- and that's as it should be -- that's what democracy is all about. (It would be equally true were I to become a Muslim!) The many freedoms we enjoy in this country were not handed to the people 'from above' by enlightened politicians -- they were fought for at great cost over several centuries ... perhaps starting with the overthrow and execution of a royal tyrant. The battle for democracy still continues --- although largely 'a symbol', the 'head of state' remains an unelected monarch, symbolizing a whole structure of unelected 'powers behind the throne' ... to say nothing of the dysfunctional family of social security scroungers belonging to her.
Replacing her with an elected 'head of state' may not ensure full democracy will immediately follow -- but so long as people accept the current situation, there can be no solution to the more pressing problems of everyday life.

I've said much too much. Of course I don't 'have all the answers' any more than you do. Wouldn't it be great if a few others 'out there' threw in their two-pennies worth -- preferably sparing us mindless insults that sometimes rush forward in print, given the slightest provacation ......

Anubis, thankyou for your recommendation re: The Times article on Voltaire. I was unaware the quote wasn't directly attributable to the man. How disappointing.

I am glad that you aren't a religious nut and disapprove of all religion (honestly I could tell - the intellect in your writing generally precludes those of religious fervour - oops now thats another sect I have annoyed!)
My favourite analogy for religion was penned by the late, great Douglas Adams:
'Imagine a sentient puddle who wakes up one morning and thinks, "This is an interesting world I find myself in—an interesting hole I find myself in—fits me rather neatly, doesn't it? In fact it fits me staggeringly well, must have been made to have me in it!" - that quote always makes me smile.

Those statistics on child poverty are truly shocking, in this day and age too. Why is the government (or the law, or whoever is accountable!) not doing enough? You may believe I am just waggling my finger in vain with the above correspondence, seeking to accuse an impotent collection of civil servants, but the truth is that I care deeply for the country of my birth (UK - ok not England specifically - but the difference is unimportant). I would love to see the 'little' things (internal affairs) put right, but I fear that given our international politic, the home affairs are far from being considered, let alone rectified.
As to this war mongering, yes we are a country of meddling swine, but we aren't the first. I have been reading up on the pelopponesian wars recently (sorry for spelling by the way - very tired at the mo).
The Athenian's and Persian's spent untold lives carving out their empires in the east long before any semblance of a British Empire. The question is 'have we learned anything from this time?'. Not a thing (apart from the boundless wealth generated by a sea-bourne empire such as Athens). You have to admire Alcibiades though, necessity guided him and he acted when appropriate. He made difficult choices and made them for the benefit of his people (when they weren't sentancing him to death for the privillege) within the confines of democracy and the rule of law. I believe this is called 'balls', something lacking in this current administration.
You don't need to sell the abolition of Monarchy to me (being Welsh we generally don't see the point either - since the end of the Tudor reign we haven't had much say anyway) as you wouldn't need to sell it to the commonwealth. Those Aussie's REALLY dislike having an unelected head of state (or so I'm told by one of the Times' online bloggers - he is a republican though...).

Finally it would be great if others threw their tuppence in (constructively), you never know; the smallest oceans still get big, big waves...

That nutters like yourself are allowed to rant their half baked ideas and uneducated points of view is proof enough we live in a liberal society. You will no doubt get the Government you deserve.And God help you and your request for benefits should the Conservatives get in. Hark! I hear a Fox Horn!.....TALLY HO!