tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092475090824666694.post751508680506781926..comments2023-12-20T19:39:29.865+00:00Comments on Munguin's Republic: LET'S SLIM DOWN GOVERNMENT BY GETTING RID OF THE TROUGHING LORDSMunguinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16475165830302054002noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092475090824666694.post-24273923609165265232011-09-20T22:18:15.563+01:002011-09-20T22:18:15.563+01:00wiggiatlarge. Hello. Welcome to Munguin's Repu...wiggiatlarge. Hello. Welcome to Munguin's Republic.<br /><br />I think not having a government sounds like a good idea; they are more trouble than enough. The idea of paying them though... sucks!<br /><br />Given the mess that the London government seems to be making... growth downgraded again today, and the IMF, Gideon's greatest fans up till now, seeming to advise that the plan B that he doesn't have might be a good idea.<br /><br />I don't think we should pay them regardless of whether they do anything or not.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092475090824666694.post-88374105679637381512011-09-20T17:05:43.353+01:002011-09-20T17:05:43.353+01:00I was going to suggest that Belgium was an example...I was going to suggest that Belgium was an example of a country that is managing along without a government,hasn't really made a lot of difference but of course they are still paying them after <br />eighteen months, so it's a bit of a two edged sword.<br />Still as Brussels in its EU mode is (at this moment in time)running and legislating most things i don't suppose we would really miss our lot either,save a lot of money ,think of the expenses alone.wiggiatlargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01679399861131265080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092475090824666694.post-39264687432651177962011-09-17T21:42:02.622+01:002011-09-17T21:42:02.622+01:00Well although it would be hard, Dean, I don't ...Well although it would be hard, Dean, I don't think it would be impossible to legislate for an "experience of something" clause, even if it were unemployment. My problem is the schoold, uni, research assistant, MP, Lord path.<br /><br />Maybe it's never been done, but if you can demand some sort of experience for other jobs, why can't you demand experience for this one.<br /><br />There are age limits on some jobs... at the bottom and at the top. You can start work in the UK at 16 but you can't stand as an MP until you are 18.<br /><br />It's just a thought... <br /><br />Under your system of appointed "luminaries" who would do the appointing?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092475090824666694.post-44418561859814731072011-09-17T21:32:03.620+01:002011-09-17T21:32:03.620+01:00Good lord CH.
ffoulkes is bad and bad enough but ...Good lord CH.<br /><br />ffoulkes is bad and bad enough but that dinosaur Forsyth is a joke.<br /><br />However, I understand it has to be passed by the Scottish parliament too, and that means that I assume it will fail. <br /><br />Old fools like him should be careful. Can they not take a lesson from what has happened to opinion polls thanks to Cameron treating Scotland like some Flashman joke, and the idiot Liberals, pretending to be big shots and talking their country down (incompetently, as they do everything else).<br /><br />Too wee, too stupid and too poor...<br /><br />Honestly, they make me utterly sick.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092475090824666694.post-9035014310014197602011-09-17T18:57:51.802+01:002011-09-17T18:57:51.802+01:00Hard to legislate for that, plus, it is fundamenta...Hard to legislate for that, plus, it is fundamentally anti-democratic. It means that not everyone has the democratic right to represent his/her own/community interests in elections.Dean MacKinnon-Thomsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08221192592535723681noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092475090824666694.post-52122202143260119532011-09-17T16:32:28.593+01:002011-09-17T16:32:28.593+01:00Scotland Bill amendments.
Those Scots can't v...<a href="http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/lbill/2010-2012/0079/amend/am079-b.htm" rel="nofollow">Scotland Bill amendments.</a><br /><br />Those Scots can't vote correctly, are unable to run anything, we will have to constrain them so we can always win.cynicalHighlanderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06034325908473006163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092475090824666694.post-67912729001636580422011-09-17T13:39:31.793+01:002011-09-17T13:39:31.793+01:00Dean: I didn't mean that kind of entry qualifi...Dean: I didn't mean that kind of entry qualification.<br /><br />10 years as a social worker or a post man gives you a fair experience of the world, as does 10 years as a doctor, carpet layer, barman, psychologist, hospital cleaner....<br /><br />THAT is the kind of experience I mean.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092475090824666694.post-39905527497685784302011-09-17T13:36:56.439+01:002011-09-17T13:36:56.439+01:00Oh Danny, only you could justify intellectually wh...Oh Danny, only you could justify intellectually what we have all known for years. The House of Lords is a repository for daft blokes (and blokesses). If only, however, they were all old. Then we wouldn't have to look forward to hearing their wit and wisdom for so long. Some of them are only in their 30s though to all intents and purposes practically senile.<br /><br />I have often wondered how on Earth the USA gets any kind of legislation passed...ever. It must be a rarity for the House, Senate and President to be of accord.<br /><br />And now, Republicans can be found in contention with their own mad right tea bags.<br /><br />How did you guys come to be the most powerful and richest nation in the world?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092475090824666694.post-47778514343073404262011-09-17T07:04:50.337+01:002011-09-17T07:04:50.337+01:00The idea of a "revising chamber" to prov...The idea of a "revising chamber" to provide checks and balances is interesting from an American perspective. American government textbooks blather on endlessly about the genius of the checks and balances of the American system with its individually elected Executive and bicameral Legislative authorities. If it's so ingenious, why have the other democracies ignored it for the last couple of hundred years in favor of parliamentary systems? Because it produces governmental gridlock when opposing parties are in charge of the three governing authorities. <br /><br />On the other hand, the US Senate is a powerful check on runaway legislative authority when the lower house is taken over by a currently popular radical political faction, such as today's Tea Party Republicans.<br /><br />So why should the upper house be popularly elected you may ask? In the US, that's a modern innovation. Under the original Constitution, the Senators were chosen by the state legislatures, and represented the states equally (two senators per state). Only the House of Representatives (the "people's house") was popularly elected. This was a key large-state/small-state compromise in the drafting of the federal constitution. Senators have only been popularly elected since the passage of the 17th Amendment to the constitution in 1913. All in all, there seems to be both advantages and disadvantages to an individually (and popularly) elected upper house.<br /><br />BTW, to locate the date of the 17th Amendment, I went to Wikipedia and found something interesting. The name of the Roman senate came from the Latin "senatus" for "council of elders." This in term came from "senex" meaning "old man." So the root word for "senate" is the same as the one for "senility." In this sense, I suppose that the House of Lords as you describe it could easily be named the "Senate." ;-)Dannyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14450203101640592230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092475090824666694.post-40891630089862506472011-09-17T00:32:34.568+01:002011-09-17T00:32:34.568+01:00Yris,
Entry qualifications inherently favour thos...Yris,<br /><br />Entry qualifications inherently favour those who have the means to buy better educational advantages.Dean MacKinnon-Thomsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08221192592535723681noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092475090824666694.post-24466794369640843912011-09-16T21:28:42.422+01:002011-09-16T21:28:42.422+01:00They have a good case there CHThey have a good case there CHAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092475090824666694.post-7902665042555260342011-09-16T21:11:05.498+01:002011-09-16T21:11:05.498+01:00O/T Scottish television for Borders and Dumfries a...O/T <a href="http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/17243" rel="nofollow">Scottish television for Borders and Dumfries and Galloway</a> There might be one on the 'lards'cynicalHighlanderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06034325908473006163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092475090824666694.post-26253479789611464822011-09-16T21:11:01.485+01:002011-09-16T21:11:01.485+01:00What if, Dean, we proposed entry qualifications fo...What if, Dean, we proposed entry qualifications for MPs, as we do for so many other jobs. In this case not educational qualifications, but a statutory say 10 years' experience in a job unrelated to politics. Butcher, Baker, Doctor, Docker, Artist, Artisan... Would that meet the lack of experience problem which you rightly raise?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092475090824666694.post-15244826131446865222011-09-16T16:43:33.293+01:002011-09-16T16:43:33.293+01:00Alex,
Unicamerical? I suppose you'd seek to c...Alex,<br /><br />Unicamerical? I suppose you'd seek to convert HoC committee stages into much more serious (and totally independent -- of whips, and party lines) affairs. That way we could have the scrutiny required -- but it still leaves the fundamental point, that of elected politicians (with no life experience) dominating the law-making process.<br /><br />I still believe in a second chamber, of US-senate style numbers, appointed on merit.Dean MacKinnon-Thomsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08221192592535723681noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092475090824666694.post-22638360409015238132011-09-16T16:16:13.569+01:002011-09-16T16:16:13.569+01:00Alex. Hello and welcome to Munguin's Republic....Alex. Hello and welcome to Munguin's Republic. <br /><br />I'm inclined to be of that opinion too. Get rid of them, save the money and work with one PR elected chamber.<br /><br />Mind you, on the back of some 30 odd% of the votes we had Blair off to war with whomsoever Mr Bush told him...<br /><br />Anyway. Congratulations on your PhD. Bet your glad that's over! I hope you find work soon.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092475090824666694.post-8747285756149724812011-09-16T11:01:02.254+01:002011-09-16T11:01:02.254+01:00I find the debate on HoL reform infuriating, to be...I find the debate on HoL reform infuriating, to be honest. Mainly because I can't help but feel that many people have lost sight of what it is supposed to do.<br /><br />The reason we have a revising chamber is because parliamentary democracy needs checks and balances. Crazy legislation can't be rushed through by the Commons because we have the Lords. In theory, not the worst of ideas. <br /><br />However, the fact the HoL is made up almost entirely of loyal party has-beens or hereditaries makes it a laughing stock. So what should we do? Elected HoL? Personally, I think that's a terrible idea. An elected second chamber to scrutinise legilation passed by another tier of elected representatives? Why?<br /><br />In the modern era it really would make a lot more sense to move to unicameralism but employ PR. That in itself ensures there's a check on political power - no party is going to be able to bring in mental policies on the back of a measly 35% popular support. They'd need to govern sensibly as a minority/coalition by convincing others of the merits of their political programme.<br /><br />Just think, there are a lot of pennies to be saved by scrapping the thing...Alexhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11454873511039760561noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092475090824666694.post-80070741567033255282011-09-16T09:33:08.828+01:002011-09-16T09:33:08.828+01:00Yes, nominedeus, Norman Scarth who apparently show...Yes, nominedeus, Norman Scarth who apparently showed "utter contempt for all lawyers and judges". All he did was say: “Her Majesty the Queen, whose courts these are, is badly served by the shysters who now infest the judiciary.“ perhaps a little over the top; an exaggeration, but what happened to free speech. he didn't HIT anyone, he didn't STEAL anything.<br /><br />On the other hand Hanningfield seems to have stolen as much money as he could one way and another, what with chauffeur driven cars at the public expense.<br /><br />We should never have doubted that the law was uneven and unfair in England. I suspect that it is in Scotland too.<br /><br />I certainly remember the case of an now ex MSP being caught using a cell phone while driving appearing in court in Cupar, I think it was.<br /><br />It was accepted by the court that he had simply been holding it in his hand, and not for the purposes of communication in any way. I expect they must have gone to the same school, or university, or belonged to the same club or something. No one would ever have believed me if I'd tried that little wrinkle. <br /><br />I'll let you know when I work out the word you were trying to indicate there.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092475090824666694.post-24481333252591123272011-09-16T00:29:50.686+01:002011-09-16T00:29:50.686+01:00So Hanningfield served less than Norman Scarth, an...So Hanningfield served less than Norman Scarth, an 85 yr old in poor health...one law for them as has friends in the judiciary and another for the peasants eh! I bet that was why they let Norman out so they could point at him and say "fairs fair we let him out didnt we"... one wordbegins with a B ends with an S and rhymes with Bustards...oops sorry bit obvious that one eh!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092475090824666694.post-24615549188059424702011-09-15T23:59:13.801+01:002011-09-15T23:59:13.801+01:00I take your point Dean.
First of all I agree wit...I take your point Dean. <br /><br />First of all I agree with your numbers. If the USA can manage with a Senate of 100 members I'm damned if I can see why the UK has needed going on for a thousand.<br /><br />My immediate reaction to appointed people is NO. Democracy says that we have to have a say in who they are. On the other hand I take your point that many of our politicians have no experience of real life. Whether this is because politics is all they have done since they were at university, or because they were born filthy rich and have missed out on the trials and tribulations that ordinary people live with makes no real difference. They don't know squat about life.<br /><br />But if we go down the appointed route, then we have to wonder, appointed by whom? The Queen? The Privy Council? Surely not David and Nick? Me maybe?<br /><br />Politicians are, by and large corrupt (if they are so, and not all are), because they have the opportunity to be corrupt and nothing to stop them. <br /><br />In the UK they are treated with awestruck respect, despite the fact that they're only people like you and me. Perhaps because in the past they only came from the homes of the 'great and the good'.<br /><br />They make their own rules and, of course, these rules are favourable to them. They decided that they didn't have to have receipts for expenses; they decided they would travel 1st class wherever they went; they decided that they would have pensions like no one else; they decided that their pay would go up and up...and so on.<br /><br />I think it was Lord Acton who said that power corrupts.. and he was right. Maybe the House of doctors, engineers, historians, etc, given their life tenure would become extremely corrupt too.<br /><br />It is a puzzle, but I'm interested in what people think about it.<br /><br />I still wonder if there is actually a need for them. Scrutiny can be done in committee stages of Bills. They are largely unnecessary.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092475090824666694.post-16291993938847594522011-09-15T23:34:55.845+01:002011-09-15T23:34:55.845+01:00Abolish the HoL?
Okay, but only if we replace it ...Abolish the HoL?<br /><br />Okay, but only if we replace it with a chamber of merit.<br /><br />That is, say, 150 odd life-appointees who are senior constit academics, Doctors, businessmen, etc people of estimable experience IN REAL LIFE and in matters of expert knowledge ... because, frankly, I would sooner be governed by them than 'elected' politicians (who are typically corrupt, or useless in any other carrer/walk of life).Dean MacKinnon-Thomsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08221192592535723681noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092475090824666694.post-18799842099092790332011-09-15T23:21:35.589+01:002011-09-15T23:21:35.589+01:00Ah yes Anon. But she's not a lord. Now from wh...Ah yes Anon. But she's not a lord. Now from what I read of the story her new husband doesn't much care for her kids, and he's going to be left to look after them.<br /><br />So I wonder how depressed she's going to be?<br /><br />Of course, to be fair this is a different legal system so we may be comparing apples with oranges. After all had it happened in Saudi, she might have been whipped and hand her hand cut off, whereas in Greenland she would go to jail, but she'd go home every night to look after her kids...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092475090824666694.post-7557254049184577252011-09-15T22:36:57.251+01:002011-09-15T22:36:57.251+01:00"So, then they let the clinically depressed L..."So, then they let the clinically depressed Lord out VERY early."<br /><br />http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-14940173Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092475090824666694.post-3892249678620218742011-09-15T22:09:16.999+01:002011-09-15T22:09:16.999+01:00We'd have to tape up the windows too.We'd have to tape up the windows too.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092475090824666694.post-86345792996366122852011-09-15T21:58:29.088+01:002011-09-15T21:58:29.088+01:00"Lock the door" and melt the key."Lock the door" and melt the key.cynicalHighlanderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06034325908473006163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092475090824666694.post-77946866494560172892011-09-15T15:18:30.590+01:002011-09-15T15:18:30.590+01:00Well it all sounds quite reasonable to me. I guess...Well it all sounds quite reasonable to me. I guess I'd get special treatment if my mum was consort, so I'll not be moaning.<br /><br />As to your smallish change John, I trust I shall be exempted?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com