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clueduprock

Listed below are comments made by clueduprock between Thursday, 23rd October 2008 and Wednesday, 17th June 2009.

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Gender, pay and 'misleading' stats 10:08pm on 17 Jun 2009 Mark,
I don't think the use of 23% is improper at all. What it describes is a society that has far more women than men in part-time work, one factor of which is far more women than men looking after children (one factor of which is the appalling paternity leave granted new fathers). While a strict like-for-like pay comparison between professional men and women will give a lower (although still unjustified) figure, the 23% figure can be used in a much wider argument about sex equality in Great Britain, and where society and government choose to put men and women. As you note at the end of the article, either the government is at fault for deliberately clouding the numbers, or has an uphill struggle explaining a broad issue to a public with little interest in gender issues.

#48 medijen, I completely agree.
Healthcare reform looks inevitable 08:39am on 14 May 2009 Justin - you haven't explained what a "pump" actually is. The phrase "pump night" sounds like it could be American slang. But you later mention the pump as a device. Maybe I'm just having a moment but it comes across very ambiguous.
Sinister motives? 03:54am on 04 Nov 2008 If the Republicans win and there is evidence of electoral fraud, there will blood in the streets.

But this isn't going to happen. It actually, really, can't happen. It must not happen.

Democrats need to be as steely and focused as Obama and make sure their vote counts.
Too 'European' 07:23am on 03 Nov 2008 The Michelle Obama comment situation worries me and I'm sure contributes to America's bad image around the world. Why is patriotism a requirement for citizenship? America has vigorously and often forcefully promoted an image of itself both inside America and outside, and for a long time. Some may be rightly proud of America's achievements, but some may be equally unimpressed with America's faults.

Sure, most of America's bad image comes from its state and government - slurs on American people are most often unfair and wrong stereotypes.

But it's the unthinking, automatic saluting of the flag (for a country which is not that young, and whose independence war was fought well outside of living memory) which makes people around the world worry about a large chunk of America's population.
Crumbling bridges 11:39pm on 28 Oct 2008 Justin sort your links out!
A Land of Hope 04:54am on 28 Oct 2008 To be fair Gavin, US travellers have been sewing Canandian flags on their bags for years now. I can kind of understand in some ways - it avoids a certain level of abuse you might get from some in Europe - but for a country with US flags outside every home you'd expect people to wear their hearts on their sleeve outside their country as well as in.

That said, bizarrely enough, Barack Obama has given even a cynical Brit like me a positive feeling about America and what it means for others to be American. I'd be happy for any Democrat to win the White House after 8 years of insanity, but this would not have happened with Hillary Clinton.
The Bin Laden Question 04:10am on 26 Oct 2008 I think the correct prediction has already been made, which is your last point, that it will strengthen McCain's standing.

This is because a) it is true McCain and war-mongering Republicans (Iran anyone?) are better recruiters for al-Qaeda, but b) most Americans don't realise this and a bin Laden tape would indeed make them think, incorrectly, McCain and the Republicans are a better choice for defending America and "democracy".

That said, I say "most Americans", but across the BBC's coverage it appears that many Americans have started waking up to this and realise Bush's aggressive and unilateral attitude has made it weaker around the world. Hopefully enough will acknowledge that a hopeful, positive and co-operative United States will be a far better defence in America, Iraq and around the world.
McCain loses it 12:51pm on 23 Oct 2008 #42 ghanimah

Fair enough, both candidates make gaffes on the trail - as Obama says you don't get much sleep doing it. However, some small but important points:

- Obama is not reading from autocue. He is talking from memory and knowledge.

- In the clip, Obama is friendly and jokes about his mistake. Compare with the clip in #18 where McCain makes quite a significant error of words, and continues as though nothing has happened.

- Matthew Price is covering John McCain's campaign, not Obama's. If Obama made such regular and significant mistakes, we would hope Gavin Hewitt would mention it. On the subject of bias, it sounds like you'd want to speak to Justin Webb.
McCain loses it 11:43am on 23 Oct 2008 #33 RomeStu

I'm atheist, and would describe myself as a democratic socialist.

Atheists are nice people too!
McCain loses it 11:41am on 23 Oct 2008 18 beatch_uk

Thanks so much. You've made my day.

What is the difference between words like "agree" and "disagree" anyway?

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