Issues of the day

Cameron kicks off GE campaign

Yesterday David Cameron kicked off the 2010 Westminster election campaign, with GB today following suit. This audacious move is a rather clever trick, one which i believe could increase the chances of a March election. My reasoning is this: the public will weary of a campaign (and the subsequent news coverage) that lasts for some four months. A weary public is not something which will benefit anyone, especially with the current apathy towards politics and politicians. An extended campaign however would be seen to be the fault of GB, the calling of an election being his prerogative.

So, my bet is on a March election. However if the economy improves markedly, I think we shall see another Labour budget and a May election. The crux is the performance of the economy.


Terrorism

The situation regarding radical Islamic terrorism has become more publicised once again following the attempted bombing of a Detroit bound flight on Christmas day. The media frenzy now centers on Yemen and Somalia. Admittedly these are becoming hotbeds for Islamic fundamentalism, and the actions being taken to support the relevant counter-terrorist organisations are the correct ones, we must not forget the home grown terrorist threat. The majority of recent terrorists and would-be terrorists have hailed from within our own shores. While training may occur elsewhere in the world, it is here where the extremist message is being spread. It is also here where measures to prevent terrorism must begin. The profiling of airline passengers is a key line of defence, as demonstrated by Israel's El Al airline, which has avoided thus far all threats against it by targeting security towards the groups most likely to perpetrate terrorism. This however is treating the symptom; extremism has to be extinguished where it is being taught. We shall have to, as a society, look more closely at the centers of Islam and determine where it is that extremism is breeding. We cannot allow political correctness and the fear of offending someone to get in the way of counter-terrorism. It could be your life on the line if we do not take swift and tough action.

'Tory cuts vs. Labour spending'

This preposterous notion that spending can go on is bordering on insanity. What kind of deficit will it take for GB to realise we are bankrupt? Over-taxing the wealth creators to pay for unnecessary spending is not sound economics. There is a fundamental issue here however. Does increased year-on-year spending radically improve the recipient organisation? There have admittedly been improvements in the health service over the past thirteen years, however it is hard to argue that these modest improvements are justified by the vast sums injected. It seems that within Labour there is an attitude that more money, means improvement. If the structure and management of the service had been improved sufficiently then perhaps the extra money would have had wide ranging benefit. The investment seems though to have centered on middle management that is both out of touch and unnecessary. And in recession with cuts inevitably on the way, it is most likely these middle managers who will be protected. The lower paid front line staff, the vital operatives, will most likely be the sacrificial lambs. So think about what Labour investment really means, research what it has led to, and you'll realise as I have that this odious government has got to go.