AV My vote will make a difference

Went up to North Norfolk for a bit of R&R.  The sea is still salt. 

AV, the Alternative Vote, comes up in May.  Must make a note in the diary.

Voting is a duty.  Have voted in twelve General Elections.  Ten votes were of no value.  The winning candidates were always going to win by a large majority or a landslide.  This probably explains why so many no longer bother to vote.

But voted tactically, on two occasions, in order to defeat an undesirable candidate.  Millions of skilful, diligent and thoughtful voters have probably done the same.  And, yes, millions are skilful, diligent and thoughtful.

Those who support the current FPTP 'first past the post' system, argue that only FPTP produces a clear winner.  However expert analysts say that none of the last twelve elections would have produced a different, or a substantially weaker or stronger, winner under AV.

No mainstream politician dares mention the real argument for AV.

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Cuts and Bad Behaviour

Good morning  

Moll and I are quietly enjoying spring.  Just like all those good people who walked across London to Hyde Park yesterday, all of them decent, caring but deceived.

Some of the younger ones hit the News at Ten.  I cannot really blame them.  Spring and excitement are in the air.  They are young and energetic.   They should be building not burning.

The leaders are to blame.

Bob Crow, leader of a great trade union, was on Radio 4 Any Questions. 

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Cut and Grow

 

Hi to you all

That’s been a tough day.

Note from the Welsh gang at B.H., it’s a bit chewed but here it is:

Notes for discussion with young D. .......

CUT AND GROW

Rule 1.  Think of the problem as gardening rather than engineering.  The place has been allowed to run wild for years.  Not just for the last two or three years, but throughout my time, my father’s time and my grandfather’s time, it is now the tangled undergrowth, weeds and overgrowth of a hundred years.  Spanner and micrometer are useless.  Get to work with pickaxe, spade and chainsaw.

Rule 2.  Find some things that everyone dislikes.  Old trees and shrubs, that have been there forever, that produce little, that consume much, that choke off the good new stuff, get rid of them.  Lopping and pruning is wasted time and effort.  Cut them down root and branch; burn them.  Let in light and energy.

There is, at least, one such rotten tree. 

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Prison should work

Hi to you all

Molly and me, Moll is standing.  

   

Up to Buck House a few days ago to visit the Welsh cousins, they were off in the country again, so on to H of C (House of Commons.)   
What a dog’s dinner.

That stuff about Europe is all red herring, again, red rag to a thinking Scottie (Debate on European Court of Human Rights ruling on convicted prisoner voting rights.)

Debate should have been about - PRISONS -  AIMS  -  COSTS  (Jock has done time.)

Prison costs serious bags of biscuits.   Yes, prison removes freedom.   Yes, prison punishes.  Yes, prison holds secure.   Yes, prison safeguards us outside. 


But prison should also rehabilitate. 

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Hello to You All

I come from an old Scottie enlightenment family.    Over the years and around the world the family has buried many bones, as historians amongst you will know.

(N.B.  Me taking Him for an Astronomy walk.)

I shall keep you posted

Paws4Now

Jock