Our New EU President and High Representative

It´s finally time to make a post on the post-Lisbon Treaty full ratification era, albeit one long overdue.

What´s the name of our new EU President again? Van Rumpey? Rumpole of the "new" Old Bailey? Oh, indeed not, damn, it´s actually Van Rompuy! How dare I begin my post with such an error and terrible example of British ignorance to the European project! Well, I might as well keep the error now; it sounds rather funny, and if we can´t keep our humour through these troubled and disturbing times, we have little else!

It has taken me some time to get over the shock of the sudden reversal of the Vaclav Klaus´s decision to fight the Lisbon Treaty. Granted, the overwhelming collective might of the 26 might have been too much, but I fear we lost a perfect and unique opportunity to expose this project for what it is. Not unless Vaclav Klaus is complicit to the project, as conspiracy theorists would claim. I won´t venture there but will try to stick to certain facts.

Let´s examine some of them. He is an ardent Euro-sceptic. He could have fought this until the day they impeached him, thereby exposing the project. Only he truly knows the reason for turning his back on his own principles. We can judge him for that hypocrisy only - in all other things he had no obligation, and thus I´ll reiterate, as I have done before, that we cannot blame Klaus for the fact that Britain has signed away even more of its sovereignty.

The deed is done. The Treaty of Lisbon amending previous Treaty texts, essentially bringing the rejected constitution into reality, comes into force on December 1st. Another sad day just around the corner - the good thing however is that being a Tuesday and close to final exams, I´ll be too busy preparing those and observing World Aids Day to worry too much about the Treaty entering into effect. I won´t need it splashed all over the papers in my face - I´ll quietly contemplate the defining moment; the death of large tracts of British political ideology and culture, in a more tranquil setting, from far far away.

Ushering in the Treaty, we saw the appointment of the new EU President and High Representative (a.k.a. Foreign Minister) yesterday. I am ready to comment on the whole saga. I am glad that those who argued for a Chairman´s role for the President as supposed to global showman won that argument. But to be honest there were evils to be had everywhere. Let´s mention them in turn:

a) By opting for a Chairman´s role for the President, this is surely, to borrow the wonderful headline from an article today in The Independent, the "path to least resistance." Typical EU strategy - condition people to getting used to the situation slowly; the big boys come later.

b) Choosing a President from a small country as supposed to a large one keeps smaller states in line. Belgium is most deserving, as the state that turned itself over to the EU from the beginning, and as the state that could become the sovereign EU if its national government continues along its current path of instability. Is it really crazy to imagine? Sovereign territory is all we need - Belgium would make the perfect Washington D.C., or Mexico D.F. This was a spontaneous thought that occurred to me late last night - and it certainly doesn´t hurt to consider all possibilities - let´s wait for the evidence to manifest itself.

c) The new EU President is a federalist - it couldn´t have been otherwise.

d) France and Germany showed that they still run the show behind the scenes. They got their man, unlike when they didn´t get their Belgian man Verhofstadt to succeed Prodi as Commission President in 2004.

d) The British position - Blair was impossible in the end because the UK is not a member of the Euro or Schengen area. What I find most curious is that there appears to have been the eternal assumption that one of the two jobs would go to the British. Why was this so? If the two jobs are to be shared between small and large states, why were contenders from other large countries not ever taken seriously? The British media spoke a foregone conclusion, and they were right to do so.

I personally believe that the perfect way to keep a Euro-sceptic nation glued to the EU project, especially when one considers the likely entrance of a Euro-sceptic British government in 2010, to be to appoint one of its countrymen to the heart of the project. Europhiles are now rejoicing at the increased British influence and voice at the heart of the EU; I actually see a woman who is committed to upholding the EUROPEAN interest, and shall not answer to any national government. Let´s not forget this overriding fact please. There is no such thing as national influence in Brussels - this can only come from the European Council composed of national leaders. Chairing the meetings of foreign ministers, she won´t be able to increase Britain´s influence - her job will be to influence Foreign Secretaries to the EUROPEAN interest. Point made. The glue is only one way - no increased voice gluing the EU to Britain, but plenty of glue keeping us from wrestling power back from Brussels without a tougher fight. The fact that she is Labour through and through makes the incoming Conservative government´s relationship with the EU even more challenging.

I believe overall that this is a Franco-German ploy to walk the path of least resistance, and to keep the British in line with a plum job. But to close this blog entry quite pointedly there are two remaining things to say - both are linked to this annoying concept known as democracy - but I´m sorry, it must be mentioned. First of all, there is now an unelected Commission, unelected President of the EU Council and an unelected High Representative with responsibility for an "External Action Service" as well as security policy. Do we need any more evidence of the loss of democracy in this project? My mind keeps going back to a comment I read earlier that to be undemocratic, the EU must in turn make its constituent states behave as such - well I think we´ve seen plenty of that since the rejection of the EU Constitution in 2005.

Finally, I´m going to quote from the book immediately turned upside-down and to my left side sitting on the desk. Entitled "The Great Deception: Can the European Union survive?" by Christopher Booker and Richard North, on page 543, in relation to the successful agreement of a European Constitution text, it is stated:

"These hundreds of pages wove the recipe for a system of government as complex as any the world has ever seen. It´s real ingenuity, as had been the case since the launch of the ´project´ half a century before, lay in the extent to which it left all the outward institutions of national governments in place, while hollowing them out from within. It was a system of government which, while preserving some of the outward forms of democratic accountability, through the presence at its centre of elected politicians and through the European Parliament, was in fact almost wholly unaccountable to the peoples in whose name it would be claiming to act."

The new European Constitution enters into effect on December 1st.

Thanks for reading.

Diana.......

If there's someone who knows how to cheer me up, bring light into one's spirit, and help me to refocus when those moments are necessary, it must be Diana. I have two of them in my life, but it is of just one that I speak today. She reminds me of where I have been, where I am, and where I am yet to go.

She tells me that I am powerful, my mind is strong, and don't let emotions rule logic. How she knows the root of my being. Have I become like an open book? Am I easy to read?

I am writing this as I listen to her wisdom and advice......."if you got the brains, use them........" She reminds me of why I am here........She tells me I am going to be involved in something big.........and there are indeed significant moments to come.....the moment of a new consciousness. That's why this blog is called "The Joy of Being."

Support Vaclav Klaus - say no to the Lisbon Treaty!

Have spent the past couple of hours this evening reading about the Lisbon Treaty Developments. What a joy to see a facebook group and an online petition - sign me up! We must show our support to President Klaus during this most tense and extremely challenging sitution.

The fact is Ireland said no - that is democracy. The fact is that most EU member states know that their populations would reject it. So avoid a referendum by doing a re-package - all whilst distracted and running to hide under the economic crisis umbrella.

Support Vaclav Klaus!!

Lisbon Treaty Developments

After hearing the Irish vote yes to the Lisbon Treaty on October 02nd, we are now seeing some very interesting developments in Europe.

The final country that needs to ratify the treaty for it to come into effect is the Czech Republic. Its Parliament has already ratified the document, but the President, Vaclav Klaus, is against the treaty and does not want to sign. Without his signature it cannot come into effect in any of the 27 countries.

This is a tense political situation because he is now facing pressure from the entire EU to sign - and there are reports that the Czech Government may force him out of office to enable the treaty to come into effect! This is absolutely incredible and the sheer thought that the EU would go to this level to get this document ratified sets an extremely dangerous precedent indeed. In actual fact, the very THOUGHT of it is as bad as the deed itself. Will the EU just not take no for an answer?

I am essentially pro-European but overall a sceptic. However I feel my Eurosceptecism barometer rising by the day and I don't know if I am beginning to advocate withdrawing from the Union altogether. I still feel that this would be extreme, however not too out of proportion with those extreme thoughts we hear coming out of Brussels today, as the Czech Prime Minister is "summoned" to Brussels for the second time in seven days.

I have been reading a host of articles today, and from what I can gauge I would like to congratulate President Klaus in his resolve. He wants to stand firm against this treaty and I believe that he is trying his very best to stall for time until a British referendum is possible. President, I thank you on behalf of the British people desperate for a vote on this issue, and for exposing this tyranny in the mainstream.

Klaus has also given us Brits the assurance that no election will now be called before the law demands it in May/June 2010, so no nasty early election calls from Brown to try and ride high on a brief wave of fake popularity.

However, us Brits need to heed Kalus's words when he said that it is unfair to expect him to do something when we had our chance and did nothing. He is right - we should have protested against this more vigorously.....to the point of forcing a vote of no-confidence in the Government! Why not? If so many are against it, why didn't we show it?

Two of the three articles I am referencing below to finish today's post are in Spanish, and one in English. The first discusses the background to the whole Klaus-stalling-the-Lisbon-Treaty-issue. The second look at the possibilities for B-liar to be President. Finally, the third references a VERY INTERESTING telegraph article written in June, where even the Irish Commissioner (who admitted in 2008 that he had never read the Treaty) said that given the chance, most countries would reject Lisbon. How much more do I need to say?

End of post, and may I stop banging my keyboard in frustration at this wholesale destruction of British democracy, and democracy in general........

1) How Klaus is stalling the Lisbon Treaty - Good luck!

2) B-Liar to be President?

3) Even the Commissioner knows that everybody would say NO!

The Gloves Come Off - Lisbon Treaty

The gloves come off in this unwinding story............two things are disturbing - first, how the pressure comes from Paris and Berlin more than anywhere else........second, talk of impeachment because he won't sign? I really hope that is not true.....the EU continues to show its ways.



EU Bully tactics yet again - click here.

Lisbon Treaty SECOND Vote October 2009...

I am blogging rather late on the whole Lisbon Treaty issue.

Aside from being busy, I wanted to give myself some time to absorb various perspectives from the press, as well as decide for myself my position given the vast range of commentary available.

However, the blatant fact is that I haven't been able to blog because I feel truly sickened by what's going on. Previous posts on the Lisbon Treaty remain consistent with this one - I am essentially against anything that puts substantial powers into the hands of the unelected. I feel that given British history, and its pivotal moments such as 1649 and the absolutist-wannabe James II in 1688, and the civil war and subsequent Bill of Rights in 1689, that RIGHTS evolved for good reason.

I have felt proud of the notion and idea that a Brit instinctively knows his or her rights - although that does not always mean literally. We have been comfortable with the idea that we didn't need our rights written down, documented, and in our face - rather offensive was the idea for anyone to tell us our rights - we just "instinctively" knew.

And so the question of rights yet again becomes a pertinent one. The Lisbon Treaty, with respect to my limited knowledge and understanding, (because I am not a lawyer) does indeed appear to seriously threaten what we consider to be fundamental English/British freedoms. I am worried for the future of trial by jury and presumed innocence until proven guilty, especially when coupled with some of the dranconian measures now in place across our wonderful democratic "EU" - NOT to even mention the attack on our own civil liberties from this Labour government.

I see here my most passionate political issues delicately intertwined. For the EU with the kind of powers it will assume under Lisbon is an attack on the British understanding and culture of civil liberties. On the one hand, I do blame the EU establishment. Their increasing political and economic power over this country does certainly bear fruit. However, the blame must be apportioned on the British government/political establishment, and the vast swathes of Euro-cash in which they swim. To cash in traditions that were justly fought for, could, as one newspaper put it today (05/10/09) be the "ultimate betrayal in history." However, I would beg to differ, and cite the complete destruction of civilisations (such as the Aztecs by the Spanish) as far more of a disastrous event. However, with the impact of Lisbon still unknown, I may well change my mind in the near future to come.

Casting my mind to the Irish, I don't wholly blame them. They made the decision that they wanted to. What saddens me is how they were completely manipulated into doing so. Crisis, burned economically into their hearts, threats of EU money running dry, scare tactics and horror stories - and the biased-ness of the entire media and political establishments - all perfectly combined into one nasty cocktail of scaremongering and fear tactics. And it worked perfectly - after all, what better way to control a country if not through economics? Make a crisis, and reap the rewards, depending on where you sit in the power triangle.

To reiterate, it is incredibly sad how our Irish brothers and sisters (yes, brothers - for the hostility in my eyes that is so famously stereotyped appears to me to be one-way, aimed AT the English, and yes, English not British) have given into this fear. Did we all forget the scaremongering the last time? The exposure that the Irish Commissioner in Brussels hadn't even read Lisbon? What really makes me despair in the idea of how the choice to say yes to Europe would reinforce Ireland's position in the EU, and free it of the "influence" of others - a blantant reference to the United Kingdom if there ever was one. In actual fact I concur with the idea that Ireland will become MORE irrelevant in the Union, probably labelled as the land of the Celts.

Overall, I must respect the decision of the Irish people, and if it is really true that such hostility remains towards the English, as well as the Irish political establishment, (I take Daniel Hannan's view on this) that the undemocratic EU is the only way out, then so be it. It was their choice to make, and the No camp did their best under estremely biased circumstances, with a political and media machine that they did well to survive with, let alone try to convince.

From one sad story to the next. The focus after all must be the United Kingdom. It is not the fault of the Irish that we were not granted a referendum, and anyone blaming them for our woes are terribly misguided. Grant the Irish their wish, lament the clear impact on our country, but the blame for this lies squarely with Brown. Lament the sick nature in which he turned up late to sign away the sovereignty of Parliament. Lament the shame to stand with his fellow European leaders in a photocall, where he would be standing on the side so they can airbrush him out after May 2010 from the official photo. Betrayal yes, and unforgivable.

The question becomes what to do now. David Cameron is quite rightly under pressure, and must spell out his position. But I believe that despite this pressure his approach is rational, if not extremely difficult to maintain. This really is a day-by-day battle now. Heaven knows the pressure on the Polish and Czech Presidents to sign the treaty already ratified by their Parliaments. I don't want to say the word "inev.." but the turn of events will certainly come to be historically significant. I believe that the media has highlighted the dilemma well - what will Cameron do if Lisbon is ratified in all states? It truly will become a choice of whether we stay in the EU, if Cameron wants to force a referendum.

But I believe that at heart that David is Pro-European (I believe many Tories are) but the idea of the EU (Please note, not Europe) has always been an economic one for the British, and resistance to Political Union is not unusual! So to read today about a possible change to the European Communities Act is a step in the right direction - after all, this is no different to the German approach that would require their Parliament to decide to veto EU laws coming into Germany. The problem, however, lies in practice............with EU law already established as superior, how do you override that? With Lisbon creating the mechanism to make changes without the explicit consent of member states, how do you override that? With news of an EU Common Security Policy, how do you override that? (a.k.a ID cards through the back door) With news of France and Germany wanting greater cooperation in the EU, do you just withdraw altogether and let this club be what it wants to be? Or do you sacrifice British sovereignty to maintain influence over the club? Many burning questions.

Finally, we must consider the international ramifications of Britain and Lisbon. The US is already cavorting with Russia, China and Japan - and openly talking of a G4. China and Japan talking about beginning the road to some form of Union - really? Who would they talk to in Europe? The signs are discouraging - the UK would completely be absorbed and lose international prestige and influence at the hands of an unelected EU President. Is this really in our long-term interests? Many say we should just accept the reality, but no, we create our reality with our decisions everyday, and Lisbon without proper consultation, education and a referendum decision, is plainly wrong.

I haven't even mentioned the impact on UK politics, where being governed from the Continent will surely spell the end of the Union - the Scottish and Welsh Governments may be pleased, because in line with the EU's principle of subsidiarity, they would be seen as the recognised powers in their "region" - and the UK Government an unnecessary layer of bureaucracy through which to govern - however they will just end up like Ireland - giving away power in the name of distrust of London, and becoming insignificants in somethin much bigger and more powerful than they are. However if it means that the Scots can make new songs to celebrate Europe Day in their own language - surely it's worth it?

I will stop writing on Lisbon right now, as I must return to burning the midnight oil. However I close with one thought and one interesting idea written in a national newspaper. My personal thought is that the world is awash with a history of the rise and fall of Empires - I see another one coming - why do we feel the need to consolidate, supposedly based on the common good, (or in the past by sheer imperalism and domination) just to reach critical mass, become too big, and blow apart in spectacular fashion? A thought I must invest more time in.......

The interesting idea I mentioned is that of riding on a train. We are passengers, and we were always asking questions to the conductor. He/She would always tell us where we were going, how long it might take to get there - there was a good relationship. Now with Lisbon, the reply would be to where we are going, "that is no longer your business, but ours." Of course I have interpreted the story for myself, and must find the relevant link, but the idea is poignant and struck me. No longer the UK's business, but that of an unelected President and his best friend in the unelected Commission.

God save the Queen for as long as the monarchy survives, for as long as the Union survives, and for as long as our relationship with our Commonwealth friends survives.

As the Sun says goodbye - why I ditched Labour.

So the Sun has decided to ditch Labour for the Tories. A long overdue decision, and simply a reflection of the once-again changing political times. I agree with the decision, because it is clear to me that Brown simply cannot live up to what he says he can - he mentions "policies," but the time has passed to make any real difference - and we are left with many of the same challenges as twelve years ago.

To give Labour some credit though, of course it is in the Sun's interest to back who they percieve to be the "winner" and I am slightly cynical as to the ultimate motive - more sales. But putting this aside for a moment, I really do hope that the primary motive of the newspaper is to reflect the collective feelings of their readership, and to present political reality as it is.

Labour was needed in 1997. Hopes were high - achievements have been made. But over the past few years - and particularly since the 2005 election - what a failure. I have a list I made more than a year ago listing what I percieve to be failures - and my attention has been brought to more. To get to the crunch however, my biggest three problems with this government remains their stance towards the EU, their endless attack on civil liberties, and the divison that devolution has created - all policies that might be right in principle, but certainly not in practice.

I personally decided to forget Brown and Labour the day he arrived late to sign the Lisbon Treaty - trying to do it out of the limelight, in such an underhanded manner that HE KNEW how wrong his decision was. This is the moment that people will not forget Brown, for its effects will be felt for years to come. My decision is not just based on the classic argument of sovereignty, but on the idea that what Lisbon advocates is simply not what we want as a people from the process of European integration!

Now we just have to wait and see what Cameron does when he refers to "making a decision at the correct time" in relation to if Lisbon will be ratified before he enters office next year.

Iran, Iran, Iran

I do not know where to begin discussing this issue. A new secretly-hidden nuclear facility? Revealed on the back of exposure by the Western Powers? With enough centrifuges to produce one weapon a year? Not big enough to be useful for generating nuclear power?

If these claims are true, and given the history of this issue I am inclined to think that by sheer lack of credibility that they are - then I think it speaks for itself. We stand one step closer towards the edge - with all insisting that diplomacy is the only way out (and realistically that might be true, given wars elsewhere and the sheer logistical nightmare of attempting to invade Iran) - but with all knowing that Iran is one step closer to that nuclear programme. And this evidence suggests that it is not going to be something peaceful for our world.

Do something about it now!

The weekend, and a Monday dose of Civil Liberties

After the weekend just rushed by, where I spent most of it in bed and/or just feeling completely lazy, I have returned to work this week determined to keep this blog and up and continue to recount all kinds of experiences that cross my path!

The weekend was very nice, with much less work to do. Did some preparation for my Business English class - and these are going much better now that the last 20 minutes is essentially private in nature with fewer students.

Had a bit of a scare over the weekend when I saw a huge spider in the bathroom, late on Sunday night. I don't really want to say much than that, except that boy could it run - and it had to be killed with boiling hot water. Days like this just make me want to leave - I really can't stand it!

Returning to work today, it has been a nice day - clearing up odds and ends and making progress in my English class. Nothing beats a nice tikka masala at lunchtime too. I am sitting here now getting ready to finish work and go to the gym, but I wanted to share this article regarding the topic of Civil Liberties - one in which I have come to feel as passionately about as Europe. I do feel compelled to try and get involved somehow in the fight to retain civil liberties, as we learn more and more of how they have been supressed under this Labour Government.

The Assault on Civil Liberties

Perhaps it was inevitable, given the advances of technology, that we would lose what we consider to be "freedoms." But by and large this is an issue I feel more and more strongly about. Hearing shock-horror stories concering cameras, Big Brother, and the erosion of British legal principles such as Habeus Corpus just make me very afraid to come back and live in the United Kingdom. Some lament that the "Great" has gone in Great Britain, but this is too simplistic. What has gone is years of evolution that in many cases worked well. And for what? Terrorism? Unparalleled threats? Please!

This is the first post of many that I will bring up this subject. I shall consider it a new passion, as I consider Europe and the EU to be another political passion and issue that will always determine my vote. I leave this post just wondering to what extent it is true that the Left are actually the ones destroying these freedoms, leaving the Right to champion them! However, despite the tendency of the right to advocate less state intervention, I don't feel that they are necessarily as opposed to British civil liberties as they are portrayed to be...........the evolution of these freedoms that we have taken for granted took place under all political administrations after all.

Comments on the article most welcomed!

The Rubbish Strike

To add insult to injury, as if the Post Office fiasco wasn´t enough.......you have the strikers in Leeds.

I will do something quite uncharacteristic and officially state that I support them. Rubbish collection has been getting worse for years, and at the same time that draconian new rules to separate rubbish have been coming in. How can people comply when the infrastructure simply doesn´t exist to adequately support these wonderful environmentally-friendly ideas in the first place?

Take a look at this article.

Of course I don´t want Leeds to end up a mess, but something must be done. Council tax has risen excessively and the exact services that it is supposed to pay for have declined.

And to think that in Mexico that rubbish collection is far superior. Given, they must become environmentally-friendly here. But a twice-a-week collection where I live, and a daily collection in Mexico City surely isn´t bad. Wouldn´t a twice a week collection in London and Leeds just be heavenly?

Another example of how a developing country shows up the supposed developed and wealthier one.

Leeds residents, good luck in your dispute.

The Post Office

Very sad to see the state of affairs with the Royal Mail. I remember as a child being told of how a first-class stamp on a letter made sure that it could be delivered from London to the Highlands of Scotland by the next day.


Now look at what is going on.

I think this sums it all up for me.........another great British insitution to the wind.......not helped by EU rules on state aid etc. I wonder if France would alow "La Poste" to fall like this.

The whole episode beggars belief.

Until the next post,

Sovereignty..........

-
It's very fitting that as I am about to lecture my students on the EU that the Daily Telegraph has started a new series of articles about it. Of course this is in the run up to the Irish referendum (Round 2) of the Lisbon Treaty. So the EU will be a topic I blog about regularly over the coming weeks......

This article has caught my eye as I was going to bed, and it seems a good a place as any to begin reflection.....

Is Britain still a sovereign state?

To think that I am discussing the impact of globalisation on sovereignty with my students, and I haven't even touched the mighty EU yet..........
-

MP's Expenses Scandal and the rotten British Political System......

-
Some long overdue comments on this outrageous tide of events.  I have been reading and listening to lots of comments about this and I want to throw my opinion hat into the so-called ring......here goes......

(a)  I don't think MP's should be chastised without examining each case closely.  Those who have followed the rules first of all need to be separated from those who have broken the explicit rules laid down by the Parliamentary authorities and/or the Fees Office.

(b)  Of course those who have broken the rules explicitly need to be duly and swiftly punished - which, given the nature of the very public role and duty that MP's have means losing their seat/standing down at the next election AS WELL AS prosecution.  I am heartened to see some reports saying that HM Customs and Excise (Excuse me, it has been rebranded as a part of Labour's spin on the administration of government - I should correctly say HMRC - HM Revenue and Customs) are fully prepared to look into the tax affairs of MP's AND high-ranking ministers (Yes Chancellor that means you - using accountants to post tax returns when it is prohibited for Joe Blog to do so) and if tax law has been broken will go ahead with pressing for a prosecution - so the message is, don't mess with your Majesty's Crown Mr Darling because she has her ways of coming back and biting you where it quite rightly hurts!

(c)  Those MP's who have kept within the rules first of all need to be recognised for doing so.

(d)  THEN, we can look at those who have followed the rules and quite rightly criticise them for the levels of their expenses claims.  If you feel as a member of the public that you have lost trust in your MP because of the level of those claims, express that opinion at the ballot box, but by no means put these MP's in the same camp as the others.  Where there has been an "abuse" in the sense of a high quantity of claims, let's voice our discontent but also recognise that no rules have been broken and the problem is WITH THE RULES THEMSELVES - now on course to change.....and this is how our system works!  Cast your mind back to but a month or so ago and we were criticising Harriet Harman because she threatened an immediate change in the law to force Goody Goodwin to give his pension pot back - we were absolutely aghast were we not at the thought of a British Government and Parliament legislating at will to scapegoat one man - a man who is certainly greedy but broke no laws.  Many were saying that the law must change and then we can prevent future Goody Goodwin's - and quite right.  The same principle applies here.  Don't abuse MP's because they stayed within the rules - QUESTION their need to claim highly BUT focus on the changes that need to be made and then let's move forward.  Focus the negative energy on those who must be purged from this political system that is in a dire mess.

(e)  My final point - Reading one article I realised that we can't leave human nature out of this equation - of course it is not a justification for what has happened (especially as this scandal spreads to the EU Parliament) but there is a certain side to many of us I'm sure that would take benefits offered to us as a part of our jobs and try to realise as many of those as possible.........if it is within the rules to stay at any hotel on a business trip, wouldn't you stay at the most comfortable one that would be allowed?  However perhaps there is further debate necessary on this when it comes to spending public as supposed to private funds......and I duly take note.

All in all what this expenses scandal reveals is a rot at the heart of our political system - let's go back to 1997.  Now I see what has been happening.  Loony liberals bringing in political correctness, legislating for every conceivable outcome with armies of pen-pushers, and then sweetening their large majority of MP's on the backbenches by taking away the real power of Parliament (their power) and replacing it with endless benefits and handouts to fatten the pigs up and make it impossible for them to ever leave their constituency seats.  Rotten to the core now be the system!  Thank whatever God you believe in that Michael Martin is out.....good riddance for his arrogance and absolute contempt for the British Parliamentary System - however I hope his demise followed by Gordy's doesn't force these two Scots back home where they will finally be prepared to cut the Scottish political elite and Scottish public from the United Kingdom of (what-used-to-be-known-as-this wonderful) Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Thanks for Reading.......

P.S  One final thought - as this spreads to the EU and expenses scandals are uncovered there - if this is what the "elected branch" of EU "government" does, need we say more about the stomach-churning possibilities of the unelected Commission and European Council?  Well, let's not forget the European Commission events of 1999....a past experience to sweeten the taste...........
-

Susan Boyle - My Comments

-
OK, I have to admit, I can’t stop thinking about Susan Boyle over the last few days. Here from afar I am watching, like so many others around the world, as she very quickly becomes globally known, in face and name, as well as song. What a phenomenon!

I want to post the recurring thoughts going through my head here. First, I think she totally deserves it. The judges have admitted, and it was plain to see in the audience, the prejudice towards her. It’s farfetched to call it an entirely cultural attitude, but for those of you who are Brits you know the facial expressions and attitudes are so typical of what our culture has become, embodied perfectly by the too-much-makeup clad teenager and her ridiculous expression, followed by the screwed up face of a middle-aged heavy smoker that made her look like one of the witches from Macbeth. Susan simply deserves it first of all based on extraordinary talent, and if a handy little tool called YouTube serves her as it has been doing so, then the more that know the merrier.

I think we genuinely forgot the talent that we have on our shores for a moment, and if one will allow me to be patriotic for a moment, (a rare feat these days) I believe that over this past week she has put the ‘Great’ back into Great Britain, and has made the United Kingdom a place where pride can be felt for a change without the usual mess of political correctness and the ‘nannying’ feminisation of the state to tell us what is correct to feel or not to. So thank you Susan for giving us some national pride.

But what exactly is this pride that she has evoked? What is this collective feeling we are all experiencing that entices us towards her, regardless of if we felt sorry for her, or guilty for our prejudice?

It is a collective feeling of normality for a change! This is another one of my thoughts – Susan is totally enticing for how normal and down to earth she is. The evidence is clear, and to recount the incidences seen over the past few days more than proves the point. Here is a woman, whom up until a week ago, completely unaccustomed to fame, was just living her life since the original audition given to the show in January. Therefore, throughout February and March, and into April, I’m sure that her life was no different but for the excitement she must have been feeling knowing that soon she would see herself on television. I am also equally sure that people in her local area continued treating her as always – the good hearted with a good attitude, and the cruel hearted with a negative attitude.

Then the audition came onto television. Let’s look closely at some facts. She came onto the stage, she faced the eyeball-rolling Simon and wincing Piers Morgan (and no doubt sounds from the audience inaudible on YouTube) and she reacted with humour “But that’s just one side of me,” followed by the assertive nod that says “So that’s that.” Then she changed her life and the world’s perception of her in a matter of two lines when she started singing – amazing!

The second example of her normality was at the end of the song – what did she do? Just walk off the stage that’s what! She must have seen countless episodes of this show and others like it to know that contestants receive feedback at the end, but she was content just to sing her song and leave – how down to earth is that? Most aspiring stars wait at the end and expect all the praise and glory in the world to reach the next stage of their dreams – In contrast, Susan was done, and it was time to go home!

As the positive comments started to flow, first from Piers, she has sheer disbelief in her eyes. This woman was and is genuine. They followed with Amanda, finished by Simon’s ridiculous sarcastic comments that he knew it all along, to which Susan responded “Simon!” whilst not fazed in the slightest. Then the true test came, would it be a yes or a no? Absolutely yes, proclaimed Piers! Amanda seconded him, to which we can hear Susan state “Amanda, you too?” It is a sheer reflection of astonishment, and shows us that Susan was taking this exactly as it came; she was not expecting all-round perfect endorsements – Amanda’s yes truly shook her. Simon’s icing-on-the-cake vote made her explode in a fit of victory that was as sweet as it was deserved – watch her celebrate in her unique style; I’ve likened it to the victory of the Scottish clan, a staunch posture full of muscle; punching the air, and a lady truly startled by her achievement.

This is exactly the myriad of evidence that shows us she is ordinary – she had to have 3 clear endorsements before she would accept the reality. A fantastic ending of the clip to watch, a clip which as I write has more than 34 million hits on YouTube. (And that is just the clip with the most hits; there are many others with more than one/two/five million hits)
Well done Susan!

Since the show, this ordinary aspect of her character to which we have attached ourselves so, continues to shine through. Throughout the last week with her endless interviews on CBS, Good Morning America, Larry King Live, and for local and national media, has shown us a woman who is desperately shy. She is truly new to all of this attention – unsure of how to look at the camera, her eyes often squinting, and her face scarlet red from over blushing. How normal she is, and how privileged we are, or should feel, to be sharing her experience as she comes to know the public spotlight; as her life changes irrevocably for the better.

What an incredible life story too that she has, that completes this dossier of evidence. She may not have been married, been kissed, and be lonely inside, but her heart is a pure one – years of devotion to her sick mother, her love likely to have kept her close to her parents in the first place as her siblings moved away. Aside from a job in a school previously, she has devoted years of her life to caring for the elderly and needy – who she admitted she “hasn’t had time to see this week.” Her cat for company and a group of true friends in her village, as she lives a lonely life day to day, content it seems but perhaps aware that something is missing; perhaps feeling disadvantaged in this society, as our prejudiced certainly proved.

I felt touched by her story, and as early academic studies are now taking place to try and describe the phenomenon being dubbed as “The Susa Effect,” I would like to contribute some raw data to the study. I feel overwhelmed; I feel inspired. She does indeed remind us that we can all achieve our dreams if we put our mind to it, with an added dash of faith and persistence, and by always making choices that we feel will lead us to our final destination. (Students take note please.) Her big caring heart and devotion to the needy reminds us that we are human, and that the world is indeed full of love and good feeling, albeit easily glossed over by prejudices and negativity. She has in essence put us in touch with ourselves; with the raw human condition.

Some might say that this is a breath of fresh air in a crisis, and I am prepared to accept that idea, but overall her impact has been more profound – she has brought us all down to earth and to the level that she lives on; a simple level, a pure level, a level where life is not so complex, where life may not be easy, but happiness there is. No wonder we don’t want her to change!

I conclude that the universe will always ensure that what you give out you get back in return, and with Susan Boyle’s stunning natural talent and caring, ordinary and down to earth personality, and now that the world truly values her for who she is, she cannot fail to realise her dreams. I look forward to seeing her fulfil her wildest dreams, and to singing in front of Her Majesty the Queen.

Best of luck Susan Boyle!
-