Yes, Parliament broke up for the summer hols last Friday . Those MPs who weren't already off "working from home", or somebody else's home,departed for the 6 week break before they return to tidy up unfinished business before starting again for real in October. That's just in time for Christmas. The new political season marks the beginning of 18 months countdown to the May 2015 General Election . Things could get a bit fractious. In 2010, despite the coalition with the Lib Dems, David Cameron quickly moved away any ideas of a more mature, cooperative type of parliamentary politics. This was a serious missed opportunity .One result of that is that the approach to the election is more likely to be bitter and destructive trench warfare with ground savagely fought over inch by inch and much Question Time shouting rather than the period of calm and just getting things done that many of the electorate would prefer (and which would win Cameron votes). The 2015 result is anybody's guess. Polling figures generally point to a Labour win, possibly with a reasonable overall majority but other indications question that. Few see Ed Miliband as a credible Prime Minister and while there is no love for Cameron he emerges as the better of the two from that respect. Clegg doesn't feature as anything but a possible and irritating partner of either party in a new coalition. Neither wants him or the LibDems but may have to put up with them to achieve an overall majority.
Among many "Too difficult" items left strewn around the table as the boys and girls headed gleefully to the exits were Syria, Egypt (What to do? Answer,-which should appeal,-nothing), HS 2 (Answer,- stop dithering and letting its opponents have a ball ,- go build it), London airport runways (Answer- build 2 more where they need to be-Heathrow). The overall advice to Mr Cameron would be to get a grip on loose ends, state the Government's position clearly and firmly and LEAD. On Syria this is difficult. The sensible advice of "Sit this one out" seems to have been heeded, but now we are told that Mrs C is pushing the the idea of more involvement across the kitchen supper table at Number 10. We wait to see what the summer's sunlounger talk will produce.
Away from our shores BP continues to get a pasting from the lawyers and others in the USA. Encouraged by a naive, if well meaning,open cheque book approach ,it seems that an almost endless queue of claimants is lining up by the day. No doubt some are genuine but.... BP are alarmed that the administration of the scheme, entrusted to "independent" American lawyers feels like it's getting out of hand. Their appeal to a US Court to get some of the alleged deficiencies investigated and sorted has been rejected. Well, what a surprise. Did they, as a foreign company,ever expect to win that one? What if they have to sell some of their assets to pay for all this compensation,- who would buy? Could it just be that they would be snapped up by US rivals at distress sale prices ? If it came to that one could only hope that just desserts were handed out by late and succesful bids from Russia, China or any of those countries who don't have a special relationship with the USA.
The Gulf of Mexico folk aren't the only ones lining up hopefully for compensation for alleged past sins by perfidious Albion. Fair enough we have been and remain pretty perfidious .We have had our moments of deviousness and still do, but that doesn't mean we stand guilty of all accusations at all times since the beginning of time. Just how far back is it reasonable and sensible to go back with recriminations, demands for compensation,or apologies? The British Government has paid up for alleged atrocities against the Mau Mau, probably more to avoid an even longer and more drawn out process involving much time and large payments to lawyers. Flushed with that success one Kenyan tribe is considering claims for alleged misdeeeds in the 1890s. (The same Mau Mau "veterans" have yet to offer compensation to the large numbers of fellow Kenyans they tortured or killed). Don't we have something on the Romans, Danes, French and others who at various times in history laid waste to or seized much of our property, at the same time as vastly increasing our gene pool?
Many current conflicts could be avoided if all concerned agreed to draw a line under the past, especially the past of more than 5 years ago and agreed simply that "Things happened. Now though is the time to get over it, move on and not be burdened with the baggage of centuries. The world would be a better place overnight."
That though is unlikely to happen. Many countries, racial groups, tribes , towns and even villages have rivalries, bitterness and hatred going back centuries .There are factions so devoted to settling old scores and perpetuating divisions that little else dominates their lives or gives them more satisfaction. Regrettably and contrary to all that any divine being or entity would surely want, many of these stem from the mainstream religions, their hieracrchies, and the conflict and intolerance between them as they fight for dominance on the one hand or survival on the other.
Another activity which holds back a better future is the constant glorification of past victories. This is a particularly British favourite. We do the ceremonials superbly, truly better than anyone else. The occasional one or two are fine but one fears for the arrival of 2014 . There will then be four years of it being a hundred years since every battle fought in World War 1. Are we going to relive it day by day to ensure that nobody's memory is left out? If so ,once that's over it's not too long to wait until we can do the same with World War 2. The best way we can show our respect for past combatants of all sides is to use our skills , emotions and energies concentrating positively on the future.It was the future not the present that they were fighting for. That must have been their only source of inspiration or comfort as they faced often appalling conditions, day in and day out . They had no idea if they would see another day. They walked out to fighters, bombers, other aircraft, ships or ground combats knowing that not all of them would return. Parents, children, loved ones lived each day on the edge of an emotional nightmare. In WW 2 urban civilians knew that they and their families could be obliterated at any time. That's how they lived ,-and got on with their lives each day. The future is their memorial,not the past. One rock we should remember though is that they did what needed to be done regardless of danger or discomfort. The recent history of that culture is not so good.
Among many "Too difficult" items left strewn around the table as the boys and girls headed gleefully to the exits were Syria, Egypt (What to do? Answer,-which should appeal,-nothing), HS 2 (Answer,- stop dithering and letting its opponents have a ball ,- go build it), London airport runways (Answer- build 2 more where they need to be-Heathrow). The overall advice to Mr Cameron would be to get a grip on loose ends, state the Government's position clearly and firmly and LEAD. On Syria this is difficult. The sensible advice of "Sit this one out" seems to have been heeded, but now we are told that Mrs C is pushing the the idea of more involvement across the kitchen supper table at Number 10. We wait to see what the summer's sunlounger talk will produce.
Away from our shores BP continues to get a pasting from the lawyers and others in the USA. Encouraged by a naive, if well meaning,open cheque book approach ,it seems that an almost endless queue of claimants is lining up by the day. No doubt some are genuine but.... BP are alarmed that the administration of the scheme, entrusted to "independent" American lawyers feels like it's getting out of hand. Their appeal to a US Court to get some of the alleged deficiencies investigated and sorted has been rejected. Well, what a surprise. Did they, as a foreign company,ever expect to win that one? What if they have to sell some of their assets to pay for all this compensation,- who would buy? Could it just be that they would be snapped up by US rivals at distress sale prices ? If it came to that one could only hope that just desserts were handed out by late and succesful bids from Russia, China or any of those countries who don't have a special relationship with the USA.
The Gulf of Mexico folk aren't the only ones lining up hopefully for compensation for alleged past sins by perfidious Albion. Fair enough we have been and remain pretty perfidious .We have had our moments of deviousness and still do, but that doesn't mean we stand guilty of all accusations at all times since the beginning of time. Just how far back is it reasonable and sensible to go back with recriminations, demands for compensation,or apologies? The British Government has paid up for alleged atrocities against the Mau Mau, probably more to avoid an even longer and more drawn out process involving much time and large payments to lawyers. Flushed with that success one Kenyan tribe is considering claims for alleged misdeeeds in the 1890s. (The same Mau Mau "veterans" have yet to offer compensation to the large numbers of fellow Kenyans they tortured or killed). Don't we have something on the Romans, Danes, French and others who at various times in history laid waste to or seized much of our property, at the same time as vastly increasing our gene pool?
Many current conflicts could be avoided if all concerned agreed to draw a line under the past, especially the past of more than 5 years ago and agreed simply that "Things happened. Now though is the time to get over it, move on and not be burdened with the baggage of centuries. The world would be a better place overnight."
That though is unlikely to happen. Many countries, racial groups, tribes , towns and even villages have rivalries, bitterness and hatred going back centuries .There are factions so devoted to settling old scores and perpetuating divisions that little else dominates their lives or gives them more satisfaction. Regrettably and contrary to all that any divine being or entity would surely want, many of these stem from the mainstream religions, their hieracrchies, and the conflict and intolerance between them as they fight for dominance on the one hand or survival on the other.
Another activity which holds back a better future is the constant glorification of past victories. This is a particularly British favourite. We do the ceremonials superbly, truly better than anyone else. The occasional one or two are fine but one fears for the arrival of 2014 . There will then be four years of it being a hundred years since every battle fought in World War 1. Are we going to relive it day by day to ensure that nobody's memory is left out? If so ,once that's over it's not too long to wait until we can do the same with World War 2. The best way we can show our respect for past combatants of all sides is to use our skills , emotions and energies concentrating positively on the future.It was the future not the present that they were fighting for. That must have been their only source of inspiration or comfort as they faced often appalling conditions, day in and day out . They had no idea if they would see another day. They walked out to fighters, bombers, other aircraft, ships or ground combats knowing that not all of them would return. Parents, children, loved ones lived each day on the edge of an emotional nightmare. In WW 2 urban civilians knew that they and their families could be obliterated at any time. That's how they lived ,-and got on with their lives each day. The future is their memorial,not the past. One rock we should remember though is that they did what needed to be done regardless of danger or discomfort. The recent history of that culture is not so good.
