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andfreedom

Listed below are comments made by andfreedom between Friday, 19th December 2008 and Friday, 2nd October 2009.

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Blair for President? 1:37pm on 02 Oct 2009 I doubt David Cameron would ever allow Tony Blair to become EU President, although I imagine the British people would raise more than a few objections themselves. The only scenario I can see it happening would be for the Scottish to revolt against a Tory UK Government in 2010 and vote for Independence, then England voting to leave the EU laying the way for Blair (as a sudden reborn Scot) to move into the Presidency.
Cameron shuns thorny EU 11:18am on 19 May 2009 Nevermind Cameron shunning the EU, the whole EU will soon be shunning the UK after the BNP are elected as an MEP. Thanks to Westminster these elections should be cancelled until it can be a vote about the EU, and not a rejection of greedy MPs (although MEPs are just as bad, if not worse). No matter what the results the EU will ignore the UK result as a reaction of National policy and not a rejection of them.
Australian Republic back on radar 9:03pm on 28 Apr 2009 14. At 3:51pm on 28 Apr 2009, smartlondon wrote:
andfreedom, Australia can become a republic and stay in the commonwealth, like India, Malta etc

I assumed that Australia would follow the USA model only adapted for a modern context, breaking free completely and forgin a more equal global partnership, rather than like India and Malta which rely much more on their direct link to the UK.
Australian Republic back on radar 3:27pm on 28 Apr 2009 Whether Australia becomes a Republic or not is a decision for the Australian public, yet I cannot help asking one question, how many Presidents (or other Heads of State) can you name? 9, 10 perhaps?, and mostly from large powerful nations I suspect. The idea that by becoming a Republic Australia will somehow gain some new found respect on the world stage is laughable, as is the idea that Australia is somehow ignored because it does not have its own Head of State. By being part of the Commonwealth, Australia has a unique link with so many other countries, a link that would disappear if it left, imagine no more seat at the head table, no more influence with one of the most respected people in the world. Also, on a personal note, I like the Monarchy, sure it isn't perfect, but much better someone impartial and free of the pettiness of politics than someone that needs to grandstand to gain notoriety.
Keeping track of expenses 12:28pm on 23 Apr 2009 It is simple Mark, we don't need the best people to become MPs or MEPs. 90% of them are there to simply fill the seats, a fact so obvious from the endless "Can the Prime Minister congratulate my local football team..." questions we see every week at PMQs, the same is true of MEPs. Only a very few Politicans actually have an real input or influence over legislation, the rest merely vote on it (as per the whip instructions of course).

And the entire idea of expenses (whether EU or Commons) is a disgrace, I don't get my train fare back, or the sandwich I have for lunch paid for, yet both are incured as part of my duty to my company. Expenses are designed for one off exceptional circumstances, not as a top up to your salary package. 2nd homes, travel expenses (except on offical duties), food and drink should all come from an MPs (MEPs) own pocket.
Back to work 11:04am on 20 Apr 2009 Nick

"We already know the script - "'real help now' versus 'do nothing Tories'"; "investment versus cuts"; and "helping the many not the few" ...et cetera"

Considering that the Government has already leaked £15b worth of 'efficency savings', anyone that thinks it will only be the Tories that slash the budget of the public sector are kidding themselves. Unfortunatly I have the horrible feeling that Brown and Darling are going to attempt a scorched earth policy so they can spend the next few years in opposition screaming foul about harsh (Labour forced) Tory Government cuts.
Worth voting for an MEP? 10:56am on 17 Apr 2009 My vote doesn't matter, your vote doesn't matter, the fact that people are fool enough to believe democracy still exists is pathetic. Government is run by petty minded puppets of big business and self appointed quangos/lobbyists. Whilst this applies to both the EU and National Government, at least I can keep my National Government in check, Brussels will never listen, they have no need too, every protest against them can be brushed away as angst against the National Government (see No vote on Constitution reaction) as there can never be any multi-national protest movement across the EU against Brussels.

Until every Country in the EU is given its own referendum on whether to be part of the EU or not, the EU can have no legitimacy, no matter how many 'elections' they hold. When a Prisoner, it makes no difference if you get to elect the Warden. The only reason I will be voting in July is because of Local Elections, for the people that will make my community better, and that certainly isn't the EU.
Modernising tradition 12:09pm on 27 Mar 2009 Whilst most people wouldn't mind if the rules changed to ensure the first born rather than the first born male ascended to the throne, the part of this planned reform I find disagreeable is the right to marry Catholics and still take the throne. How can one be both the Head of State, and Head of the Church of England, if you have taken the Pope in Rome as your 'leader'? It is either one or the other, and I think people, especially Catholics, agree to these changes because they do not understand Catholicism and its rules, such as the rule that you must raise your children Catholic. Far too many Catholics I know have never questioned their faith, they were born and raised Catholic and have never known anything different.
End of the British carrot? 11:08pm on 13 Jan 2009 If these pesticides are really so dangerous why have I never seen a person dying in the street clutching a carrot?
Driving to a greener future 11:54am on 19 Dec 2008 Electric cars are great in the middle of a big city, but outside, even just in the suburbs people think very differently. And even if they didn't, why would anyone pay £20k for something that went slower and didn't drive the same? Until the day when an electric/hybrid car drives exactly the same as a normal petrol, with the only difference being what comes out the back, people just won't take that step to buying one. Perhaps the carmakers should do an incentive scheme for business to buy these cars, I know my company just bought an entire new fleet of small cars for the salesmen a few months ago.

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