How should we judge someone's words? By intent, by effect, or what? How much does unintended offence matter? Also, LILY ALLEN and TWERKING and EATING IRISH BABIES. I do therefore humbly offer it to public consideration that of the hundred and twenty thousand children already computed, twenty thousand may be reserved for breed, whereof only … Continue reading Did globalisation kill satire? And is that for the best?
Category: Bit of politics
THINGS MIGRANTS SAY IN POLITE CONVERSATION (WHICH ARE TRUE): "Hello, new friend-of-friend. [if person notes ethnicity in conversation] Yes, I do like it here, thank you. Yes, I’m intending to stay here. Yup, the weather is great and the people are friendly. No, haha, fair, I’m probably still gonna support my home country team against … Continue reading Locals are from Earth; migrants are from Venus, Mars, Alpha Centauri, wherever
In the lead-up to the 2010 UK general election, many civil libertarians of my acquaintance (not solely Screaming Loony Privatise The Army Libertarians, but people of all economic stripes who believe that broadly, trials are a good thing and torture is a bad thing) were suggesting that for all a putative Tory government's likely failings, … Continue reading The importance of framing
The simple fact of the matter is that capitalist democracy, for all its crippling limitations, has been immeasurably less oppressive and a lot more democratic than any communist regime, whatever the latter's achievements in economic, social and other fields. - notorious communist Ralph Miliband. Hat tip to @durrant_james on the Twitters.
I an a civilised gentleman with a fine reputation; my father has a reputation as a smart bastard who stirs up shit. He also introduced me to the delightful and amazing Kirstie MacColl and by proxy, Johnny Marr. I feel the need to stick up my dad's Trayvon commentary, because it needs a home. This … Continue reading Bands of distinctions
Eurovision is massive in Australia, probably more so than it is in much of Europe - despite the fact that there aren't any Australian participants, we don't get to vote, and it's shown on time-delay. Which is odd. Of course, its importance is symbolic. Eurovision was first shown in Australia in 1983, which was exactly … Continue reading Quick and unoriginal Eurovision thought
Wasn't going to blog on the demise of the most important British political figure since Winston, but since everyone else has and this blog is being archived by the British Library (I know, right - nobody tell them I'm Strine now), I thought I'd stick this originally-an-FB-comment line up there. I grew up in the … Continue reading Because you’re all desperate for JB’s views on Maggie
Tony Blair was selected to win elections for the Labour party, by giving good PR face and convincing people that Labour wasn't terrifyingly left-wing any more, despite being way to the right of most activists and MPs. David Cameron was selected to win elections for the Tory party, by giving good PR face and convincing … Continue reading PR leaders and their downfalls
If you like nerdy dissections of UK by-election results based on over-analysis of post-election opinion polling, combined with random abuse directed at almost everybody involved (but especially UKIP, because obviously), then you'll probably like my latest piece at Liberal Conspiracy.
On the Church of England female bishops rejection, the saddest thing is that the C of E: was created by a woman (Henry VIII's Church rejected the authority of the Pope, but remained Catholic in doctrine; it was Elizabeth I who turned it into a solidly Protestant church after Mary I's attempt at Catholic, erm, … Continue reading Laity ladies kybosh wicked elite’s plan for equality