I have always been quite partial to booze. From the age of 16, some twenty plus years ago, I would enjoy it. A Friday night would consist of a few pints, a small bottle for the way home... for about a fiver. Don't think I was irresponsible, though.
So there does seems to be a problem with some young people now. Fair enough. Why is the media's response to talk about putting duty on all booze up. What is it that cause the problems among the teenagers? Super-strength cider, cheap lager, alcohops? Or £5 bottles of wine, £2 bottles of bitter?
Don't put duty on booze up. Some of it is expensive enough. And we can always stock up abroad. What I do think is wrong is selling booze as a loss leader. You would not sell fags as a loss leader. And why is cider's duty so much less than beer? Work out what these young people drink, and tackle that.
Funnily enough, all three parties more or less agree. The media don't have a clue.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Little to choose among front benches
It may be that I now find politics boring. And betting. I won't do long term betting, and I am not certain of my own long term future, with this brain tumour. I would hate to land a cracking bet on the next election and not be around.
But... politics is certainly becoming. And so is news. It is always about the recession (and the odd murder). It was not like this in the 1980s or 1990s.
Because the recession is universal, the opposition are not have so much opportunity, it is true. Every country is getting a recession. Vince Cable at least tries to say some things that are constructive; George Osborne is merely trying, very trying. Eighteen months ago the Conservatives looked well placed - full of confidence - but look at them now. Where is Davis? Why can Cameron not appoint him to the Shadow Cabinet? Look at the three main parties front bench... there is little to choose between them compared front-bencher for like.
Now the Alliance or LDs traditionally have had mad or maverick MPs. Russell Johnston, Clement Freud, Cyril Smith, Alex Carlile etc. (There is still Opik, I will grant you). But now most LD MPs are sensible. However, the LDs only have 63 to choose from to get a front bench. It is going to be hard.
The Labour are the largest in parliament. After years in power, they are exhausted. That's their excuse. But with 3 times as many MPs as the LDs, the Tories should have a better front bench than them. They don't.
But... politics is certainly becoming. And so is news. It is always about the recession (and the odd murder). It was not like this in the 1980s or 1990s.
Because the recession is universal, the opposition are not have so much opportunity, it is true. Every country is getting a recession. Vince Cable at least tries to say some things that are constructive; George Osborne is merely trying, very trying. Eighteen months ago the Conservatives looked well placed - full of confidence - but look at them now. Where is Davis? Why can Cameron not appoint him to the Shadow Cabinet? Look at the three main parties front bench... there is little to choose between them compared front-bencher for like.
Now the Alliance or LDs traditionally have had mad or maverick MPs. Russell Johnston, Clement Freud, Cyril Smith, Alex Carlile etc. (There is still Opik, I will grant you). But now most LD MPs are sensible. However, the LDs only have 63 to choose from to get a front bench. It is going to be hard.
The Labour are the largest in parliament. After years in power, they are exhausted. That's their excuse. But with 3 times as many MPs as the LDs, the Tories should have a better front bench than them. They don't.
It has been a while
It has been over two months since anything new appeared here. Well, since no-one knows about this blog this does not matter.
The treatment has been rotten, and the seizures foul. I lost speech for 3 days following one seizure, could not write, could not read, and could not understand TV. I had a totally different soundtrack to TV, and would totally mishear people too. Back to "normal" - just slow...
It is a bit of limbo, even when I get my scan results. But, prospects are better than 5 years ago, when there was no chance of living more a year. The treatment is so new that the doctors cannot say much - the data is not there.
The treatment has been rotten, and the seizures foul. I lost speech for 3 days following one seizure, could not write, could not read, and could not understand TV. I had a totally different soundtrack to TV, and would totally mishear people too. Back to "normal" - just slow...
It is a bit of limbo, even when I get my scan results. But, prospects are better than 5 years ago, when there was no chance of living more a year. The treatment is so new that the doctors cannot say much - the data is not there.
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