Can We Wait That Long?

We’ve had the NOTW and now we’ve had the tragedy in Norway. We’re living in an economy, which has at best stalled, and depending where you live is in recession. We have a Chancellor telling us he’s doing a wonderful job and the UK is a safe haven (for whom and from what?). He also claimed he’d brought interest rates down with the only evidence being he’d reduced the interest rate being charged to Ireland for the loans he gave them. That’s the loans we can’t afford to make. Not to mention the £9.4 billion he signed away to the IMF, which is money we don’t have and which we have to borrow.

During all of this the MSM have been at their best. Very little criticism, little if any real reporting and jumping on the bandwagon galore. They have grabbed the extreme right wing link of the mass murderer in Norway and are already speaking about bringing forward additional legislation to gain the powers they deem necessary to further restrict legitimate views along with extremist views, which of course are the legitimate target.

The left wing MSM march forward emboldened by their apparent triumph over reducing Murdoch’s power whilst maintaining and developing their influence. Where is the voice of reason? Where is the voice that argues for debate? The BBC will reduce the input from AGW sceptics based on last weeks convenient and contrived report no further debate there either.

The Chancellor. The Government. Have they the slightest idea of the seriousness of the state of the UK economy? 0.2% growth in the economy is shocking, disgraceful and wasteful. The deep cuts? What deep cuts? The government continues to borrow more money.

The EU faces ruin. We have to rely on the German people, and the French to a lesser degree to wake up to the money being provided by their governments to keep the EU show on the road. They must call a halt or continue to pay into the greatest pyramid scheme ever. Who will be left holding the parcel when the music stops?

Perhaps the greatest need is for democracy to actually work. It would seem that the world has become bereft of democracy. Democracy in name only is there for us all but democracy, which allows us to feel that we have opinions, which count, and mechanisms in place which allow the majority to see their views carried but at the same time allow the minority to be able to voice their concerns.

Perhaps things will have to become much worse before they become even a little better. Can we wait that long? 

petem

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Reader's Choice

My choice today. Conductor Andre Previn. Soloist Arthur Rubinstein.

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Scotland v Norway

Oslo

Here in Scotland politicians often mention Norway, also an oil producing nation, as a successful small country and by all accounts it is.

Its economy also relies on forestry (which occupies 26% of the country) and fishing yet agriculture hardly features at all - 3% of the total area of the country in comparison with 75% in Scotland, making Scotland far more self-sufficient foodwise. Hunting is still as much of an necessity as a sport in Norway and their diet is high in venison and fish.

One of the differences between the two countries is the stable economy Norway enjoys with its oil fund creating financial security for many years to come. Wages are higher than Scotland but so is the cost of living.

Another difference is the attitude of Norway to the EU.  Norwegians have no desire to belong to the EU and are perfectly comfortably with their current arrangement of being a member of the EEA (European Economic Area).

A very recent poll reports that Norwegian opposition to joining the EU has reached a new high with almost two-thirds of voters opposing the country's accession to the bloc.  Only 25% of people were in favour with 8% being undecided.

Norwegians have twice voted against EU membership, in 1972 and 1994.

Perhaps it's time Scotland had a closer look as to why Norway continues to reject becoming an EU member. The issue is important to Scotland's future and the SNP's policy on Europe needs to be discussed openly.

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