“You know of course that no-one can make known any skill, nor direct and guide any authority, without tools and resources; a man cannot work on any enterprise without resources. In the case of the king, the resources and tools with which to rule are that he have his land fully manned: he must haveContinueContinue reading “The Management of Savagery”
Category Archives: Political Philosophy
Scotland the Bold
How’s this for a map to follow? Not perfect, indeed, but certainly perfectible, as much for Wessex as for Scotland. We too have the ability to wake up and grasp a better world. Let’s give it a try…
Reasons to be Regional
Two common objections to regionalism are that another tier of government means more politicians and more cost. It needn’t in fact mean either. First though, let’s be a bit more broad-minded. We need government to be more effective and efficient – but to achieve that you need to invest, politically in the right people andContinueContinue reading “Reasons to be Regional”
Nudge Nudge, Wonk Wonk
The Conservative regime that came to power in 1979 – continuing without interruption through 13 years of ‘Labour’ rule – draws its political philosophy from economic theory. A theory as deeply flawed as anything emanating from Marxist sources but far more of a challenge to anyone seeking to confront it. In this theory, all individualsContinueContinue reading “Nudge Nudge, Wonk Wonk”
Whose Hospitals?
“I don’t know how much any of you realise that with the Lansley act we pretty much gave away control of the NHS… we don’t really have day-to-day control.” Jane Ellison, Public Health Minister (June 2014)In Scotland and Wales, car parking charges at hospitals have been largely abolished. That’s one of the consequences of devolution.InContinueContinue reading “Whose Hospitals?”
Masters & Servants
Not a working day goes by without London interference in local decision-making. What makes the UK such a desolate place to live is that this interference is so widely accepted, at best as something that cannot be changed, at worst as something entirely natural, a system under which London provides ‘leadership’ for a grateful nation.ContinueContinue reading “Masters & Servants”
Some Folk With Attitude
The folk of Wessex think of themselves as free, but are slaves to their own poor self-esteem, forever doubting their capacity for self-rule. Nine hundred years after the brutal conquest of their land, they have so little pride left in them that they cheerfully reject at every election the escape route offered by regionalism, preferringContinueContinue reading “Some Folk With Attitude”
Wallace versus Wonga?
The Anglican Bishop of Portsmouth, speaking on BBC Radio 4 on Sunday, warned of the social consequences of ending naval shipbuilding in the city, including that jobless families could turn to loan sharks as the lenders of last resort. Cue Labour’s latest, greatest initiative. And what an odd policy announcement it was: Ed Miliband commitsContinueContinue reading “Wallace versus Wonga?”
New Wessex, New World
Our attention was recently drawn to a couple of very interesting links.The first link is to a blog that asks of Mebyon Kernow why it has a view on anything more than the internal affairs of Cornwall:“…the MK manifesto is littered with ‘policies’ relating to national and global issues over which the party will neverContinueContinue reading “New Wessex, New World”
The Year of the Wyvern?
In Chinese astrology, 2012 is the Year of the Dragon, 2013 the Year of the Snake. A wyvern is something in between, so as we look back over last year’s achievements, we should also be looking forward to what still needs to be done.It’s in the nature of the status quo to be triumphalist, toContinueContinue reading “The Year of the Wyvern?”
Wessex Regionalists 