MY WALKING TOUR (4)
I am off on my annual walking tour tomorrow, so no blogging for a while. Back in June.
Walter Blotscher
Friday, 22 May 2015
Thursday, 21 May 2015
U.K. IMMIGRATION (4)
The British Conservative Party has long had a target to reduce net migration (immigration less emigration) to under 100,000 people a year. Having just won an absolute majority at the recent general election, it can now put that policy into practice.
Unfortunately, there is one snag, albeit a big one. Net migration in 2014 was up a massive 50% on the previous year to 318,000, the largest figure for a decade. Emigration was pretty stable at 323,000, but immigration jumped sharply, to 641,000.
What is most worrying for Prime Minister David Cameron is the main reason behind this jump, namely the number of non-British nationals from the rest of the E.U. coming to Britain to work. It is precisely this issue that he would like to tackle in the proposed renegotiation of Britain's relationship with the E.U.; and precisely this issue which the rest of the E.U. (and particularly Member States from Eastern Europe) would like to remain unchanged.
Without any change in E.U. rules, it is hard to see what Mr. Cameron can do. He can't stop people emigrating to sunnier climes if they want; and he can't really stop British-based businesses from employing foreigners, if they want to do so. What is left is not much more than words.
Walter Blotscher
The British Conservative Party has long had a target to reduce net migration (immigration less emigration) to under 100,000 people a year. Having just won an absolute majority at the recent general election, it can now put that policy into practice.
Unfortunately, there is one snag, albeit a big one. Net migration in 2014 was up a massive 50% on the previous year to 318,000, the largest figure for a decade. Emigration was pretty stable at 323,000, but immigration jumped sharply, to 641,000.
What is most worrying for Prime Minister David Cameron is the main reason behind this jump, namely the number of non-British nationals from the rest of the E.U. coming to Britain to work. It is precisely this issue that he would like to tackle in the proposed renegotiation of Britain's relationship with the E.U.; and precisely this issue which the rest of the E.U. (and particularly Member States from Eastern Europe) would like to remain unchanged.
Without any change in E.U. rules, it is hard to see what Mr. Cameron can do. He can't stop people emigrating to sunnier climes if they want; and he can't really stop British-based businesses from employing foreigners, if they want to do so. What is left is not much more than words.
Walter Blotscher
Tuesday, 19 May 2015
A SILLY LAW
The Danish Government, like many others, has long been worried about the possibility (not documented, as far as I know) of rampant knife crime. So, about 10 years ago, it introduced a law banning various types of knife from sale. In particular, flick or Stanley knives that can be hidden.
Politicians say that it was not intended that your average Swiss army, boy scout knife would be caught by the legislation. Unfortunately, a new court ruling has decided that they are. Any knife that can be opened "with one hand" is illegal.
So the angler with a small penknife used to cut his line is caught. The waiter with a corkscrew and small knife attachment is caught. The carpenter who uses a knife to cut his plasterboard is caught.
This is absurd. It is what comes from having politicians anxious to whip up a frenzy about (supposed) crime.
Walter Blotscher
The Danish Government, like many others, has long been worried about the possibility (not documented, as far as I know) of rampant knife crime. So, about 10 years ago, it introduced a law banning various types of knife from sale. In particular, flick or Stanley knives that can be hidden.
Politicians say that it was not intended that your average Swiss army, boy scout knife would be caught by the legislation. Unfortunately, a new court ruling has decided that they are. Any knife that can be opened "with one hand" is illegal.
So the angler with a small penknife used to cut his line is caught. The waiter with a corkscrew and small knife attachment is caught. The carpenter who uses a knife to cut his plasterboard is caught.
This is absurd. It is what comes from having politicians anxious to whip up a frenzy about (supposed) crime.
Walter Blotscher
Monday, 18 May 2015
UKIP (2)
The anti-E.U., anti-immigrant, U.K. Independence Party harvested almost 4 million votes in the recent U.K. general election, but won only one seat. Since then, it has gone into a downward spiral.
The problem is that UKIP is essentially a 1-man show, namely the blokeish Nigel Farage. He rather foolishly said that he would resign the leadership of the party if he failed to get elected to Parliament. Mr. Farage was already a member of the European Parliament, having been elected under proportional representation rules, but Britain's first-past-the-post electoral system is less forgiving. He didn't win in Thanet South, and so offered to resign. But who should (or could) replace him? A panicky party leadership begged him to stay on, but the process revealed deep splits within the party, between those who want more of Mr. Farage (i.e. a party run from the top) and those who want less (i.e. a party that listens more to those 4 million voters).
British political parties, unlike their continental counterparts tend to be "broad churches", encompassing a wide spectrum of views. However, the quid pro quo for this is that policy differences have to be debated internally, following which a united front is placed before the electorate. Parties that are seen to have disunity are punished heavily. Unless UKIP sort themselves out in a hurry, that will also be their fate.
Walter Blotscher
The anti-E.U., anti-immigrant, U.K. Independence Party harvested almost 4 million votes in the recent U.K. general election, but won only one seat. Since then, it has gone into a downward spiral.
The problem is that UKIP is essentially a 1-man show, namely the blokeish Nigel Farage. He rather foolishly said that he would resign the leadership of the party if he failed to get elected to Parliament. Mr. Farage was already a member of the European Parliament, having been elected under proportional representation rules, but Britain's first-past-the-post electoral system is less forgiving. He didn't win in Thanet South, and so offered to resign. But who should (or could) replace him? A panicky party leadership begged him to stay on, but the process revealed deep splits within the party, between those who want more of Mr. Farage (i.e. a party run from the top) and those who want less (i.e. a party that listens more to those 4 million voters).
British political parties, unlike their continental counterparts tend to be "broad churches", encompassing a wide spectrum of views. However, the quid pro quo for this is that policy differences have to be debated internally, following which a united front is placed before the electorate. Parties that are seen to have disunity are punished heavily. Unless UKIP sort themselves out in a hurry, that will also be their fate.
Walter Blotscher
Sunday, 17 May 2015
ICE HOCKEY (9)
Canada duly won the world championships in Prague this evening, thrashing Russia 6-1 in the final. The Canadians were all-conquering, winning all of their 7 round robin matches, plus the three in the knockout phase, and scoring a lot of goals in the process.
Canada doesn't always do well in the world championships, since they clash with the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs, which take place at the same time. On the two previous occasions when Canada played Russia in the final, in 2008 and 2009, the Russians won. And for the past five years, they have been knocked out in the quarter finals. This is in contrast to the Olympic Games, where the NHL graciously takes a break, allowing the Canadians to send their best team (they have won the last two).
However, this time a number of their top players were allowed to come, including Sidney ("Sid the Kid") Crosby, widely regarded as the world's best. In winning, Crosby became the 26th member of the Triple Gold Club, a select band of ice hockey players who have won all three of the Stanley Cup, World Championships and Olympic Games, and the first to have done so as captain. Since he is still only 27, it is quite possible that he will win a few more.
What is most dispiriting for the Russians (and other nations) is that they showed up with arguably their strongest possible line-up. They were humiliated by the Canadians' number one team at the Sochi Olympics last year, now they have been humiliated by their number two. They need a rethink.
Walter Blotscher
Canada duly won the world championships in Prague this evening, thrashing Russia 6-1 in the final. The Canadians were all-conquering, winning all of their 7 round robin matches, plus the three in the knockout phase, and scoring a lot of goals in the process.
Canada doesn't always do well in the world championships, since they clash with the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs, which take place at the same time. On the two previous occasions when Canada played Russia in the final, in 2008 and 2009, the Russians won. And for the past five years, they have been knocked out in the quarter finals. This is in contrast to the Olympic Games, where the NHL graciously takes a break, allowing the Canadians to send their best team (they have won the last two).
However, this time a number of their top players were allowed to come, including Sidney ("Sid the Kid") Crosby, widely regarded as the world's best. In winning, Crosby became the 26th member of the Triple Gold Club, a select band of ice hockey players who have won all three of the Stanley Cup, World Championships and Olympic Games, and the first to have done so as captain. Since he is still only 27, it is quite possible that he will win a few more.
What is most dispiriting for the Russians (and other nations) is that they showed up with arguably their strongest possible line-up. They were humiliated by the Canadians' number one team at the Sochi Olympics last year, now they have been humiliated by their number two. They need a rethink.
Walter Blotscher
Saturday, 16 May 2015
BURUNDI
Burundi looks like becoming yet another African country to go pear-shaped. The starting point, as so often in cases like this, is a constitution that limits the President to two 5-year terms. The problem is that the current President's first term started when he was elected by Parliament and not by a popular vote. The question then becomes "does he get that term, plus possibly two more, or is that first term one of the two?". Naturally the President (and his cronies) wants to stay on for as long as possible.
That question was put to the Constitutional Court, who ruled in favour of the first interpretation. However, it is a sign of trouble when one of the judges, who was against that ruling, fled the country, citing political pressure and fearing for his life. More importantly, a large section of the population and the army thought that the second interpretation was the correct one. Dissident officers staged a coup while the President was away in Tanzania. The coup failed, and the officers have been jailed. Some reports suggest they have been tortured.
This has all the beginnings of a renewed civil war. Does the rest of the world care? They didn't in next door Rwanda, and the result was a genocide. Could it happen again? I am not saying it will, but it is certainly possible.
Walter Blotscher
Burundi looks like becoming yet another African country to go pear-shaped. The starting point, as so often in cases like this, is a constitution that limits the President to two 5-year terms. The problem is that the current President's first term started when he was elected by Parliament and not by a popular vote. The question then becomes "does he get that term, plus possibly two more, or is that first term one of the two?". Naturally the President (and his cronies) wants to stay on for as long as possible.
That question was put to the Constitutional Court, who ruled in favour of the first interpretation. However, it is a sign of trouble when one of the judges, who was against that ruling, fled the country, citing political pressure and fearing for his life. More importantly, a large section of the population and the army thought that the second interpretation was the correct one. Dissident officers staged a coup while the President was away in Tanzania. The coup failed, and the officers have been jailed. Some reports suggest they have been tortured.
This has all the beginnings of a renewed civil war. Does the rest of the world care? They didn't in next door Rwanda, and the result was a genocide. Could it happen again? I am not saying it will, but it is certainly possible.
Walter Blotscher
Friday, 15 May 2015
MOVING HOUSE
My mother-in-law moved into her new house today. Since the whole family were gathered for Ascension Day yesterday, we all chipped in with packing, moving and cleaning. My son and I did most of the heavy lifting.
Her new house is much smaller than the old one, so it was an opportunity to get rid of a lot of stuff. I ended up with her lawnmower tractor and a hedge trimmer, which are very good things to have when you live in the country. Perhaps I should get her to move more often?
Walter Blotscher
My mother-in-law moved into her new house today. Since the whole family were gathered for Ascension Day yesterday, we all chipped in with packing, moving and cleaning. My son and I did most of the heavy lifting.
Her new house is much smaller than the old one, so it was an opportunity to get rid of a lot of stuff. I ended up with her lawnmower tractor and a hedge trimmer, which are very good things to have when you live in the country. Perhaps I should get her to move more often?
Walter Blotscher
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