Writing Worth Reading
Writing Worth Reading
"Within a decade, Britain will hold a referendum on membership of the European Union – and the Yes campaign will find its arguments enfeebled by lack of exercise. Will anyone dare make the pro-EU case?"
"The Murdoch scandals are turning into a first-class disaster for the prime minister, David Cameron, and his party, while so far leaving Labour intact." It didn't have to be like this but Cameron's moral blindness has made it so
"An unabashed member of the privileged classes, he has somehow managed to win the affection of a Labour-leaning city as it endures the harshest cuts in public expenditure since World War II." How does he do it?
Murdoch has been tweaking the British government's tail over Scottish independence and is now remarkably matey with Scottish first minister, Alex Salmond. He does love to back a winner, but what is going on here? Revenge?
Interview with British political commentator Charles Moore. "Conservatives should be in favour of inequality, but they have to explain why. They should not be in favor of injustice or special treatment for the rich"
Best political speech of the century is still the valedictory given six years ago by Tony Blair. And even that was memorable mainly for a single joke. Modern fashion demands simplicity, banality, brevity, a few soundbites
Jonathan Haidt's "Righteous Mind" argues that conservatives are winning the culture wars because they have a better grasp of human nature than liberals do. Life isn't only about fairness. It's also about authority and loyalty
For a more nuanced view on Scottish independence, look away from Scottish nationalists and Anglocentrics. Turn instead to John Lloyd, who's half-Scottish, half-English and troubled by developments on both sides of the border (Reg/$)
The Scottish question. In different ways, puts both Labour and Conservatives in a difficult position. Tories must handle referendum and possible break-up of UK. But Labour faces longer term threat of exclusion from power
Scots could well vote for independence from England—if that or the status quo is the only choice offered. Most would prefer a federal relationship with England. Unionists oppose that third option, but they should rethink
Arguments about future of United Kingdom have, so far, been framed almost entirely in terms of what Scottish people want. But what about the English? Polls suggest English are keener on Scottish independence than Scots themselves
"Modernisation" is little more than set of techniques for securing, keeping power. Practitioners included Blair, Mandelson, Cameron. Worked in electoral terms; useless at tackling national problems. Looks intellectually bankrupt now
Image from Wikimedia Commons
"Men of power have not time to read; yet men who do not read are unfit for power"
