Category Archives: Politics

The Other Island

Posted on April 24, 2019 by

In 834 blogs, a similar number of newspaper columns and over 25 years engaged in politics you will find little mention of Ireland. This is not because of indifference to that beautiful island or to its fellow Celtic people and … Continue reading →

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Haven on Earth

Posted on March 30, 2019 by

Throughout its history, Britain has been driven by global commerce. Even the socialism of the Atlee years were a sensible antidote to private railway, coal, steel, shipyard and health industries on their last legs. Commercialism really got a modern shot … Continue reading →

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It’s the Society, Stupid!

Posted on March 5, 2019 by

Lead item on newscasts and front pages of newspapers are currently dominated by knife crime. Politicians are falling over themselves to declare that a 50% increase  is an emergency that needs to be addressed swiftly ad on a par with … Continue reading →

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Blockheads Dancing on Pinheads

Posted on February 24, 2019 by

I apologise. Normally this blog tries to ring the changes, tries to be informative and even entertaining, as well as highlight the heavier political issues of the day. But less than five weeks to go to Brexit and nobody yet … Continue reading →

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Torysaurus Rex

Posted on February 18, 2019 by

We live, as the Chinese curse goes, in interesting times. On the endless chaos of Britain proving itself incapable of finding an acceptable posture for its place in Europe, any coherence in its posture in the world has gone begging.  … Continue reading →

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Theatre of the Absurd

Posted on February 13, 2019 by

East  Lothian Council Annual Budget Meeting, Town House, Haddington, Tuesday February 12th, 2019 It’s a bit like a cross between an Oberammergau pageant and an accountants’ convention, but one that costs punters (in our local case) one quarter billion of … Continue reading →

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One of Ours

Posted on January 26, 2019 by

Across Britain these days, there is political friction on every hand. But one thing most people would agree on is a dislike of Donald J. Trump and his performance after two years as US President. People find him variously rude, … Continue reading →

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The Great Bullshit Train Wreck

Posted on January 15, 2019 by

“It is impossible for someone to lie unless he thinks he knows the truth. Producing bullshit requires no such conviction.” —Harry G. Frankfurt, Professor Emeritus of Philosophy, Princeton University The world has always been a complicated place. But, until this … Continue reading →

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“The Only Easy Day Was Yesterday”

Posted on December 7, 2018 by

For a nation at peace, the United States packs a hefty military punch.  Apart from a ten-division Army, 286-ship Navy and a 5,000-plane Air Force, they also can deploy 190,000 in the US Marine Corps—a force larger than all Britain’s … Continue reading →

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Get Yer Wellies Out

Posted on November 27, 2018 by

Like a spoiled kid in a toy store, President Donald Trump has played with just about every lever of American government available to him. Unlike his moderate predecessors, he has rampaged about, playing fast and loose with immigration laws, trade … Continue reading →

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