Category: General

Reality

Two issues of corruption being exposed, and the consequences of exposure, are presently exercising the British. One case is old, and one very much in the present. They coincide in today’s discussion because we have learned that Prince Andrew spoke scathingly of those investigating the Saudi case some years ago, while the BBC yesterday broadcast revelations about bribery in FIFA. In common with the target of the noble prince’s ire, the BBC team have been criticised for their exposure.

Any attempt to counter this criticism is met with the exhortation to ‘get real’, to come into the ‘real world’, and so on. Well, as someone with long and varied experience of the real world I understand such a response, but can we be clear on the nature of the reality to which we are urged to genuflect? It is a reality that proclaims it wrong to confront dishonesty, corruption and untrammelled greed because the cost of doing so is too high. In short, the adherence to a moral line has a price higher than we are prepared to pay.

As a realist, I understand that position. All I ask is that we hear no more of the superiority of ‘British values’. The reality is that the British are as ready as any other peoples to stick their snouts in the trough and to collaborate in corruption.

Eco-fascists reveal their true colours.

“Cancun climate change summit: scientists call for rationing in developed world”

In one paper Professor Kevin Anderson, Director of the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, said the only way to reduce global emissions enough, while allowing the poor nations to continue to grow, is to halt economic growth in the rich world over the next twenty years.”

…

This could mean a limit on electricity so people are forced to turn the heating down, turn off the lights and replace old electrical goods like huge fridges with more efficient models. Food that has travelled from abroad may be limited and goods that require a lot of energy to manufacture.

So, now you know.

The Euro Bailout for Ireland, how it works.

BAILING OUT THE IRISH – SIMPLE

It is a slow day in a damp little Irish town.

The rain is beating down and the streets are deserted.

Times are tough, everybody is in debt and everybody lives on credit.

On this particular day a rich German tourist is driving through the town, stops at the local hotel and lays a €100 note on the desk, telling the hotel owner he wants to inspect the rooms upstairs in order to pick one to spend the night.

The owner gives him some keys and, as soon as the visitor has walked upstairs, the hotelier grabs the €100 note and runs next door to pay his debt to the butcher.

The butcher takes the €100 note and runs down the street to repay his debt to the pig farmer.

The pig farmer takes the €100 note and heads off to pay his bill at the supplier of feed and fuel.

The guy at the Farmers’ Co-op takes the €100 note and runs to pay his drinks bill at the pub.

The publican slips the money along to the local prostitute drinking at the bar, who has also been facing hard times and has had to offer him “services” on credit.

The hooker then rushes to the hotel and pays off her room bill to the hotel owner with the €100 note.

The hotel proprietor then places the €100 note back on the counter so the rich traveller will not suspect anything.

At that moment the traveller comes down the stairs, picks up the €100 note, states that the rooms are not satisfactory, pockets the money and leaves town. No one produced anything. No one earned anything. However, the whole town is now out of debt and looking to the future with a lot more optimism.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how the bailout package works.