politics ← the digital glebe

Does Fear Still Sell? 8

Apr

2013

I think the ‘bobos’ have had their chips to be honest. If there’s hope, it lies with the proles. “Concern about the environment is legitimate, but catastrophism transforms us into cowering children. Distrust of progress and science, calls for individual and collective self–sacrifice to ‘save the planet’ and cultivation of fear: behind the carbon commissars, ...

Myth of the Flat Earth 7

Apr

2013

Wikipedia is finally catching up at last. Myth of the Flat Earth. “Since the early 20th century, a number of books and articles have documented the flat earth error as one of a number of widespread misconceptions in popular views of the Middle Ages. The misconception has had no currency in historical scholarship since at ...

Peter Lilley MP: the Voice of Sanity 3

Apr

2013

Westminster Hall Thursday 18 April 2013 [Mr Andrew Turner in the Chair] Hansard debate UN Framework Convention on Climate Change ‘Those whom the gods wish to destroy they first make mad. One of the early signs of madness is an indulgence in compulsive displacement activity, which could not be a better description of the whole ...

Origins of the Royal Society 3

Apr

2013

The Royal Society’s motto ‘Nullius in verba’ might roughly translate as ‘take nobody’s word for it’, or ‘on the word of no one’, and yet the Royal Society appears to have become increasingly involved in interfacing science with political policy-making. As a result, the Royal Society seems to be tainted, politicised & increasingly involved in ...

Know Thy Enemy 3

Apr

2013

“When the facts change, I change my mind. What do you do, sir?” John Maynard Keynes Almost to a man, the four main parties in UK politics -Lib Lab Con SNP- all repeat the following mantra with little deviation: “Climate change is the greatest threat faced by humanity and the most important political issue of ...

Margaret Thatcher R.I.P 3

Apr

2013

Whether you Liked her or loathed her, it would be hard to deny that she was a rare breed of politician. Ever since her political demise we’ve seen little more than a parade of spineless wonders, spun narratives, and self-serving career politicians with little to offer but wind and smoke. “Watch your thoughts, for they ...

Stealth Tax on Steroids 5

Apr

2013

The EU Emissions Trading System has been in meltdown over the past 12 months, caused partly by the so-called ‘economic crisis’ and a surplus of carbon allowances which presumably, no-one wants to touch. Prices are currently languishing well below €5 per tonne, compared to a €37.78 high in 2008, before ‘climategate’ struck, courtesy of Mr ...

Lessons from Eastleigh 1

Mar

2013

By Motm At a time when everyone and his brother is analysing, dissecting, reporting, and judging the events during Eastleigh and the outcome, which has flooded the UK, MSM — It is clear that in a small way a reaction similar to the much bigger election event in Italy has occurred. It seems an apparently ...

POWERfull Thoughts 3

Feb

2013

By Motm Over the last few weeks it has become increasingly clear that the UK has an energy problem. More specifically, an electricity generation problem. Sections of the community are wringing their hands now finally and predicting widespread power cuts, which in the worst case could last two or three years until the generating capacity ...

They Just Don’t Get It 9

Feb

2013

Liam McArthur, Orkney MSP “Parliament’s energy, economy and tourism committee report makes clear that the government’s renewables targets are achievable. It also highlights the need for both Scotland’s governments to play their part in making this happen. “Two critical areas identified by the committee are the need to improve grid capacity and reform the system ...