Why I’m Quitting Blogging and Politics (for a while)

I’m not very good at this sort of personal blog post; in fact, I hate it. But, alas, I feel my readers deserve an explanation. Firstly, I do enjoy blogging and I know it’s a cliché, but it means a lot to have met so many different people who wish to hear my thoughts and opinions on a variety of subjects. I cannot thank you enough. Plus, the relationships I’ve built with the media-especially BBC Radio Kent-has been beyond my wildest dreams (urgh, forgive the phrase). And if it wasn’t for Liberal Democrat Voice, I’d probably wouldn’t be blogging.

First reason for this announcement is related to my writing; I’ve lost confidence and lack the drive I use to have. I don’t know why, but the motivation has evaporated. As I tweeted last night, everything I believed in-politically-has turned out to be one big lie. And it saddens me. Individual evolution does lead to disassociating yourself from once held beliefs, but the current environment is extremely uninspiring and depressing that I need to escape from it all. And everything I write seems weak, tedious and lacking – struggled with external contributions.

And I need a break from politics in general. Too sectarian, too partisan and confrontational. My Liberal Democrat membership renewal form has been carefully waiting for several weeks; if everything you believed in was a false reality, then there is no point fighting the battle. Don’t know if I shall renewal.

Second reason is quite personal. For those who know me as Daniel Furr the person, not the political blogger, realise my life is currently chaotic. The last few months have been rather dark and unfortunate for me; my attention and priorities are elsewhere, for understandable reasons. In all honesty, I’m lost. I’ve always believed in standing on your own two feet, but it’s quite the struggle at the moment. Maybe when the tempest ceases I’ll explain, but currently won’t be talking about it. This is kinda related to me losing confidence in writing, etc.

As I blow out the candle, I will be still around. And I promise to return. Just need to rediscover myself and heal some wounds.

Thank you.

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Responsible capitalism? How about responsible government instead

Apparently, our capitalist system is to blame for our ills. High executive pay, prices, practices and overall behaviour have been damaging to us. Of course, politicians don’t mention the unproductive public sector, which you and I pay for its unjustified high wages, pensions and funding. I’m more concerned about the pay structure in the public sector than executives, after all, I’m contributing to their salary; which I passionately resent.

But, alas, I’m not here to rant and rave about the public sector: government is the main target. Those “evil corporations” are the same individuals award MBE’s, headed taxpayer-funded projects and donated to political parties; then regulations are introduced, which favour corporations (mainly because small and medium enterprises are suffocated by the expensive red tape). All inspired by central government. Not the market.

I find it laughable that Ed Miliband and Ed Balls are the grand tutelages against corporate greed – who both worked for Gordon Brown’s Treasury team. A team that turned the City of London into a giant cash cow to finance PFI and public spending programs. The head of RSB and Topshop were both awarded Knighthoods by the previous government, but don’t expect Ed Miliband to publicly admit to it.

Artificial targets of university applicants and graduates have left an entire generation unable to adopt to the post-boom labour market. Many think that “promised dream job” is coming – which it isn’t. And before we criticize the protesters, you would be pissed off if the government promised you a reality founded on a lie. Ministers of the previous government introduced “qualification schemes” which were designed to keep the unemployed youth off official figures. The coalition is doing the same, too.

The premise of this blog post is simple. Government will always direct anger and blame onto someone else: it presents a false image of guilt, allowing government to carry-on blame free. We don’t live in a capitalist economy, it’s a corporate one; backed by the state. Bank of England-due to the economic crisis-pretty much controls the money supply and the government have lending targets for the banking system – that’s not capitalism.In fact, you can find that policy in the manifesto of the British Union of Fascists, written by Oswald Mosley.

How much more power do we want the government to have? Keep demanding action and it will be delivered.

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(Insane) Quote of the Day

What we’re witnessing today is the great success of the euro, and the most concrete demonstration of that success is Greece, which is being obliged to take on the culture of stablity with which it’s transforming itself. -Mario Monti.

After Italy bond yields hit over 7%, stock market declines, admittance of financial instability in the Eurozone, possible breakup of the Euro and civil unrest throughout Europe. Yeah, some success.

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One chart defines the Eurozone crisis

Even if the Euro survives, which is not guaranteed, it is likely Greece, Ireland and Portugal will be exiting the single currency in the short-medium term. All efforts will remain focused on Italy and Spain; French downgrade has already been priced into the market, with significant moves occurring in French bonds and in the CDS market.

The solution lies within Germany; there is nothing Cameron or Obsorne can do.

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The solution to the financial crisis…

There is none; the answer does not exist. Households, private sector and governments have to de-leverage a colossus amount of debt. Stimulus and inflating the bubble (again) will make the depression even worse-which we are currently in-and would destroy living standards even more.

During the Great Depression, British growth was sluggish and uninspiring. But the economy grew, similar to current standards.  All packages to accelerate growth and employment proved to be insignificant – the economy had to rebalance from the excess credit addiction. You cannot maintaining spending and credit without a massive contraction or, worse case, economic collapse. Japan is entering a second loss decade after a similar housing bubble in the 90s and China phantom construction boom is about to explode.

Europe is becoming the new Japan.

The entitlement culture, corporate and welfare, is too costly for the economy. Corporate socialism should cease to exist under the coalition; a failing business should fail. Government should not bail out the losers and hand the losses to the taxpayer. And those, who think a life on benefits is good choice, need to be dealt with. Taxpayers should not finance the lifestyle of those who refuse to work; this
minority are just as bad as bankers, who demand we write cheques for huge losses.

As I’ve said countless times on Twitter, cuts will continue post 2015 – we have not begun to deal with Britain’s spending addiction. Western economics, with huge deficits and debt levels, have no choice but to advance towards fiscal sanity, whilst hoping the emerging economics can continue to reform and expanded. But there is nothing we-this government-can do.

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Funeral of the Unknown Solider from the First World War

The actual funeral of the ‘Unknown Soldier’ after WW1 .A tree is felled from the grounds of Hampton Palace. It is made into a coffin of English Oak. Fixed atop is a 16th century crusaders sword, taken from the Tower of London.

A British soldier, unknown by name or rank, is exhumed from the battlefields of World War 1.

In France 1000 school children form a mile long procession in front of his coffin.
In England a King and Country wait to honour him. A cenotaph is unveiled to him and all the glorious dead.

Lest we forget.

(Credit to YouTube user psari for the video and text)

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About time: MPs call for drug law changes

This caught my tired eyes this morning on PoliticsHome:

The Government is being encouraged to consider implementing new drug laws which decriminalise drug use, so long as users are sent to education and treatment courses. MPs from all parties have signed an early day motion put forward by Lib Dem Tom Brake calling for the change.

The war of drugs has failed. Endless prison sentences, which turns drug users into harden criminals, is too expensive and has led to over crowding. Portugal (if memory serves me correct) did precisely what these MP’s are advocating – mandatory rehabilitation, education and counseling for addicts. Drugs were legalised.

We need a mature debate about drugs in this country and it cannot be dictated by the press. Medical evidence is required, and each drug should be evaluated independently on a case by case basis.  There is no reason why someone should not be allowed to consume drugs, legally, in their own private home. Government should acknowledge this fact; after all, I can consume alcohol privately and in an external licensed property. And alcohol is more addictive and, dare I say, results in more deaths than other illegal drugs.

I’m not too optimistic about this early day motion. Likely to be ignored by Parliament, as lobbyists shoot it down, but I remain hopeful.

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Time to abandon the pro-European Union mantra

With Italian bond yields reaching +7%, which resulted in other Eurozone countries facing a bailout, the Deputy Prime Minister is scheduled to make a speech to the European Parliament. Nick Clegg will advocate a reform agenda to bring jobs, growth and competitiveness to the European economy.

Gordon Brown spent his entire short premiership arguing just that. Nothing happened.

Brussels is very orthodox and embodied in protectionists; not just economic. Transparency has been lacking within the Commission and the inability to enforce treaties have lead to a crisis (Maastricht Treaty legally restricted fiscal deficits to -3%, with fines. Nobody was ever punished).

Nick is trying to save the Union he adores, and proudly worked for. Sadly, it is a lost cause. Italian bailout will be near a trillion euro’s and Europe cannot afford that figure. Liberal Democrats should not be publicly defending a League of Nations-esquse organisation that is rapidly falling.

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Sorry to disappoint, Mr Hunt, but the Olympics is not that exciting.

On July 16^th 2012 the Olympic torch, which oddly enough reminds me of a mutated brandy snap, will be within several metres of my front door. This monumental celebration should have me-apparently-falling to the knees, weeping uncontrollably and thanking the gods for rewarding me; on the contrary, as my sarcasm details, apathy is my preferred state to the whole debacle. I’m rather nonchalant and bemused by fatuous remarks about how liberating a few weeks will be in the summer of 2012 and the new sporting age awaits us. The Olympics is ridiculously described as an avatar of the Messiah and the enormous benefits, which I will never see or experience, shall bestow an age of enlightenment on London.

The “infrastructure legacy” is destined to fail. Debate around the stadium encountered several legal problems and had to return to the bidding process, again, after the West Ham deal collapsed. Tottenham and Leyton Orient wish to demolish and rebuild the stadium, removing the athletic track, which horrifies the Olympic Committee. London’s victory was built on the foundation of an athletic legacy and a promise of guaranteeing future stability for athletics per say.

And don’t get me started on the logo – a creation of an insanely blind masochist. Depressingly, taxpayers paid thousands of pounds for that unspeakable creation. Nothing is more fitting in depicting the uncontrollable mess the Olympics will be; I feel sorry for the residents of East London.

But the worse aspect of the Olympics are Wenlock & Mandaville, the mascots. These aquatic-hybrid Goliath creatures are just indescribable – they defy explanation.  Wenlock & Mandaville, apparently, represent the people of East London but I don’t recall a radioactive disaster, which resulted in mutated fish people occupy that area. Is this the best we came up with? My God.

Honestly, in my opinion, the Olympics will be an utter disaster and a huge disappoint. And an expensive one. Hopefully, I’ll be on holiday and out of the country during the games.

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The fall of Europe

Greece is on the verge of leaving the Euro and the European Union.  The French bank BNP profits have dropped 72%, Italian bonds have reached all time highs, Ireland is scheduled to miss targets; growth has been downgraded. European Union will withhold aid, which Greece desperately needs next week (which is required to pay public wages, etc), if a referendum is scheduled on the bailout package.

A vote of confidence for the Greek Prime Minister is being held tomorrow, yet there are rumours of his inevitable resignation by the end of t0day. Germany is refusing to finance any increase of the EFSF and Britain has vetoed a European Financial Transaction Tax (and rightly so) – and the French are still protesting against the stability fund being used to bailout struggling banks.

It is a disaster.  The Union is on the brink of collapse.

The probability of another country, such as Ireland, leaving the Euro is likely – if Greece is thrown out. The ‘firewall’ might involve expulsion of the PIGS (Portugal, Ireland, Greece and Spain) in order to prevent a economic collapse of the entire Eurozone. However, even one departure could question the validity of the Euro currency.

In its current incarnation the European Union is dead, unworkable and politically inept. This modern Austrian-Hungarian Empire is crumbling from within; social and economic problems are tearing the union apart. And let’s not kid ourselves, the European Union was never that united to begin with.

Europe is about to experience a Dark Age-esque period of economic misery. The glutenous spending spree has arrived at a horrifying nightmare, with governments being unable to repay their enormous debts. Either a more democratic and decentralised Brussels will emerge or the mother of all power vacuums is a matter of weeks away.

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