There was a discussion on Channel Four news last night about the Kennedys. It disturbed me because it seemed to be pandering to some ridiculous notion that a famous politician is by definition on useful because of their fame.
The panel were positing whether or not certain US ‘dynasties’ were in effect. They mentioned the Kennedy s, the Clintons and the Bushes.
The gist of their conversation was that these people got into power because of their name.
Now I understand that in politics name recognition is important and it must play some part. But to make it seem as thought name recognition is the major reason why someone like Senator Kennedy was what he was is disrespectful.
The panel didn’t pay much attention to his actual political career – legislation he had put through, issues he had championed. They just kept on about the name. At one point the news anchor Krishnan made some point about the Americans being fascinated with political dynasties because they don’t have a royal family! How silly.
From what I have read, the Kennedy’s have been a family that believe in public service. And not all of them went into public service. Also, I don’t see how the Bushes or the Clintons can be seen as dynasties.
Basically, if a news show is going to discuss something important such as the passing of an influential man like Ted Kennedy they should do it a lot better than they did it last night.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Monday, August 24, 2009
Hard work
Too many of us are too damn lazy.
If there is a goal you are trying to reach I can guarantee that the only way you are going to get there is with hard graft. Hard work has two distinct and equally important components. There’s the sweat equity, i.e. actually doing the work and doing it hard and there’s the consistency. Consistency means you need to keep at it. Keep at it how long? As long as it takes to get to your goal.
Some people bizarrely think that saying you are going to do something is as good as doing it. Some believe that a little spurt of work – say ten minutes – qualifies them to say they have worked hard at something. All of this is rubbish. Hard work means effort and it means consistency until you reach your goal.
Now get on with it.
If there is a goal you are trying to reach I can guarantee that the only way you are going to get there is with hard graft. Hard work has two distinct and equally important components. There’s the sweat equity, i.e. actually doing the work and doing it hard and there’s the consistency. Consistency means you need to keep at it. Keep at it how long? As long as it takes to get to your goal.
Some people bizarrely think that saying you are going to do something is as good as doing it. Some believe that a little spurt of work – say ten minutes – qualifies them to say they have worked hard at something. All of this is rubbish. Hard work means effort and it means consistency until you reach your goal.
Now get on with it.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Translate the Success to Other Areas
The success of Jamaican athletes speaks for itself. Gold medals abound and records are being broken right left and centre. When you go further as well you can see not only dedication but skill – in a couple of the hurdles races it has been good form that has been a large part of the success as opposed to the bad form of some of the other competitors.
There must be a way to harness this attitude to other areas of life so that Jamaica can be a prosperous country.
Can you imagine, if the spirit the athletes have is taken into business and general attitudes - Jamaica would make Monaco look like an impoverished third world nation! Because of Jamaica’s size it could become an exclusive powerhouse – financially strong like the Cayman islands – but perhaps more inclusive?
While we are enjoying the success of Bolt and his compatriots we should really be thinking how this success can be put to a wider use for Jamaica.
There must be a way to harness this attitude to other areas of life so that Jamaica can be a prosperous country.
Can you imagine, if the spirit the athletes have is taken into business and general attitudes - Jamaica would make Monaco look like an impoverished third world nation! Because of Jamaica’s size it could become an exclusive powerhouse – financially strong like the Cayman islands – but perhaps more inclusive?
While we are enjoying the success of Bolt and his compatriots we should really be thinking how this success can be put to a wider use for Jamaica.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Obama a Racist? Get a Grip Beck
Glen Beck a conservative talk show host on Fox has been getting into increasing trouble over his accusations that President Obama is a racist. Beck claims that Obama hates white people.
A lot of white people just don’t get it.
Do they ever wonder how come black people don’t just rise up and kill the lot of them considering what white people have done to back people collectively? Part of the reason why I suspect they don’t is ignorance. I asked a colleague the other day who was educated in the UK to degree level what history he learned and he said he learned about World War II. I had heard rumours of this but couldn’t believe it was true. With all the things that were done through empire, the British do not teach any of it to their kids – they just teach a period of 5 years. Why? Because they must know that their own history is a litany of shameful acts of thievery and brutality to people who did nothing to them, so they prefer to focus on a period of history where thy shined. This limits them to the five years between 1939 and 1945. So the British are largely ignorant of their own history. I imagine it is possible that the same thing pertains for the Americans.
As this is very likely the case white people ware probably oblivious to the fact that most black people in the west have a significant chunk of their family who are white. You cannot hate white people without hating large numbers of your extended family – it is unthinkable.
If I hated white people I couldn’t sit in a room with some of my relatives without wanting to kill them. But when I sit in a room with them I see relative – not colour.
Most intelligent back people I know abhor the actions of white people as a whole but this doesn’t’ translate into everyday interactions with your white colleagues or family members.
If white people were more versed in their own history, which is tangled up with ours they would realise that a significant chunk of their families are black too.
For President Obama to hate white people he would have to hate his mother and his grandparents who raised him. In order to hate your mother and grandparents, you’d have to be a pretty bitter hollowed out shell of a person – he doesn’t strike me as such. When his grandmother died a day before the election result he looked pretty sad to me.
People who listen to Beck and many white people in general need to educate themselves about themselves – and they need to start thinking. For centuries this notion of demonising people who don’t look like them (for no reason other than they are different) has been nothing but harmful to both parties – both white people and non-white people. It’s time to stop this vastly unproductive habit of prejudice.
A lot of white people just don’t get it.
Do they ever wonder how come black people don’t just rise up and kill the lot of them considering what white people have done to back people collectively? Part of the reason why I suspect they don’t is ignorance. I asked a colleague the other day who was educated in the UK to degree level what history he learned and he said he learned about World War II. I had heard rumours of this but couldn’t believe it was true. With all the things that were done through empire, the British do not teach any of it to their kids – they just teach a period of 5 years. Why? Because they must know that their own history is a litany of shameful acts of thievery and brutality to people who did nothing to them, so they prefer to focus on a period of history where thy shined. This limits them to the five years between 1939 and 1945. So the British are largely ignorant of their own history. I imagine it is possible that the same thing pertains for the Americans.
As this is very likely the case white people ware probably oblivious to the fact that most black people in the west have a significant chunk of their family who are white. You cannot hate white people without hating large numbers of your extended family – it is unthinkable.
If I hated white people I couldn’t sit in a room with some of my relatives without wanting to kill them. But when I sit in a room with them I see relative – not colour.
Most intelligent back people I know abhor the actions of white people as a whole but this doesn’t’ translate into everyday interactions with your white colleagues or family members.
If white people were more versed in their own history, which is tangled up with ours they would realise that a significant chunk of their families are black too.
For President Obama to hate white people he would have to hate his mother and his grandparents who raised him. In order to hate your mother and grandparents, you’d have to be a pretty bitter hollowed out shell of a person – he doesn’t strike me as such. When his grandmother died a day before the election result he looked pretty sad to me.
People who listen to Beck and many white people in general need to educate themselves about themselves – and they need to start thinking. For centuries this notion of demonising people who don’t look like them (for no reason other than they are different) has been nothing but harmful to both parties – both white people and non-white people. It’s time to stop this vastly unproductive habit of prejudice.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Mi Mooma Blouse and Skirt!
9.58!!!!!!
Can you believe it?
Man what a race - poor Tyson Gaye - he ran extremely well and was so far being Usain! Tyson had to get a good start to have had a chance (he didn't get a good start in the hear with Asafa and had to fight Asafa off for most of it) and he did get one but Bwoy - didn't make a difference eh?
Very, very happy with that result. Can't wait to see him in 2012.
Can you believe it?
Man what a race - poor Tyson Gaye - he ran extremely well and was so far being Usain! Tyson had to get a good start to have had a chance (he didn't get a good start in the hear with Asafa and had to fight Asafa off for most of it) and he did get one but Bwoy - didn't make a difference eh?
Very, very happy with that result. Can't wait to see him in 2012.
Leave Hillary Alone
Hilary Clinton has worked hard to get the prominent jobs she has had and currently has. She decided to marry her husband and decided to stay with him in spite of what appears to have multiple instances of infidelity – this was her choice,
She ran for president and lost – must have really sucked but she has taken on her job and by all accounts has been doing very well at it.
So no wonder she was pissed off by the question in Kenya (even if it was inaccurately translated). Heck, I was mad as hell when I heard it and it wasn’t even me! Some jackasses have been making various demented comments about her being upset because it hit home that she isn’t sh** and has been living off of her husband’s glory. Rubbish! Those folks need to get a grip.
It’s the same as when she said she’d rather have a career than stay home and bake cookies – well so would I, Marks sells a lovely butter chocolate chip cookie – very reasonable at £2.50. After I pick up a batch I’ll be off to earn a crust, hopefully doing something stimulating.
The status quo has changed – women have been capable of holding high office for centuries, they have actually been doing it for decades. The world needs to catch up with reality. And they need to give Mrs. Clinton a damn break.
She ran for president and lost – must have really sucked but she has taken on her job and by all accounts has been doing very well at it.
So no wonder she was pissed off by the question in Kenya (even if it was inaccurately translated). Heck, I was mad as hell when I heard it and it wasn’t even me! Some jackasses have been making various demented comments about her being upset because it hit home that she isn’t sh** and has been living off of her husband’s glory. Rubbish! Those folks need to get a grip.
It’s the same as when she said she’d rather have a career than stay home and bake cookies – well so would I, Marks sells a lovely butter chocolate chip cookie – very reasonable at £2.50. After I pick up a batch I’ll be off to earn a crust, hopefully doing something stimulating.
The status quo has changed – women have been capable of holding high office for centuries, they have actually been doing it for decades. The world needs to catch up with reality. And they need to give Mrs. Clinton a damn break.
Monday, August 10, 2009
The ideal working arrangement
I’ve been thinking about what that would be and I’m clear on it now. It would a situation where you would be measured by the relevance of your contribution. Where you would be rewarded for the quality of your work. Where you would be able to be as comfortable as you are in social situations. Where you could deliver what has been bought in whatever time is feasible for both buyer and seller. It would enable you to go outdoors often. It would enable to interact or not interact with many interesting people (depending on your personality).
The ideal working situation would free you up to use your experience, education and ingenuity to provide a sought after service or product for the right price. The only thing you would have to worry about would be delivering high quality on time and all the buyer would be concerned with is getting that high quality on time.
Why can’t it be like this?
Too many people in charge of working places have so many ridiculous agendas – often at the expense of making money. Their main aim often seems to be to make employees miserable and disrespected – it seems this is the only way many people can feel superior.
Those who have managed to eke out a living freelance and those who have found places to work where they allow people to feel comfortable enough to produce (Google comes to mind) are indeed fortunate. Let’s hope that we can use the credit crunch as a time for us to change the labour market for the better. Where people can have a much better work experience and where companies can reap the awesome benefits of a skilled, comfortable and well connected workforce.
The ideal working situation would free you up to use your experience, education and ingenuity to provide a sought after service or product for the right price. The only thing you would have to worry about would be delivering high quality on time and all the buyer would be concerned with is getting that high quality on time.
Why can’t it be like this?
Too many people in charge of working places have so many ridiculous agendas – often at the expense of making money. Their main aim often seems to be to make employees miserable and disrespected – it seems this is the only way many people can feel superior.
Those who have managed to eke out a living freelance and those who have found places to work where they allow people to feel comfortable enough to produce (Google comes to mind) are indeed fortunate. Let’s hope that we can use the credit crunch as a time for us to change the labour market for the better. Where people can have a much better work experience and where companies can reap the awesome benefits of a skilled, comfortable and well connected workforce.
Friday, August 07, 2009
Government should extend the scrappage scheme
I wonder if the government will extend the scrappage scheme? It seems to have worked for the most part. Apparently, some car makers are screwing around with the intent and raising the price of cars – what is wrong with them?
It seems to have worked in the States too and they are extending it.
On Channel 4 news last night the relevant government official insisted it would not be extended. He also insisted that VAT would go up again at the end of the year.
Both seem ridiculous to me. By all accounts and purposes the UK has been hit the hardest by the recession – why would the government scrap schemes that are helping (albeit in the case of VAT a little)? Can you imagine what’s going to happen to retailers (and of course the people who work in them) if VAT goes up again in December – during the Christmas shopping time government? Hello!!!!
Our lot have been too slow to enforce a whole bunch of things which is why we here in Blighty are suffering so much more and seemingly for so much longer. Let’s hope good sense prevails.
It seems to have worked in the States too and they are extending it.
On Channel 4 news last night the relevant government official insisted it would not be extended. He also insisted that VAT would go up again at the end of the year.
Both seem ridiculous to me. By all accounts and purposes the UK has been hit the hardest by the recession – why would the government scrap schemes that are helping (albeit in the case of VAT a little)? Can you imagine what’s going to happen to retailers (and of course the people who work in them) if VAT goes up again in December – during the Christmas shopping time government? Hello!!!!
Our lot have been too slow to enforce a whole bunch of things which is why we here in Blighty are suffering so much more and seemingly for so much longer. Let’s hope good sense prevails.
Wednesday, August 05, 2009
We Must Encourage Girls to Stretch
Recently there has been a lot of conversation about the place of women in business and about unequal pay. Now I know there is discrimination from men but what I want to discuss here is how we prepare girls for life.
From my observation we aren’t equipping girls to adopt the traits and interests to be successful – not according to men’s standards, but according to successful standards.
I’ve noticed the behaviour of many of my female colleagues at work and it’s not good. There are hour-long conversations about mascara – vacillation when making decisions, an unwillingness to speak up or take charge and a seeming willingness to sigh, say ‘ah men’ and then smilingly do some clerical task for some man who claims he can’t do it (usually binding something or printing a document).
We need to develop interests in the subjects that are useful – mascara doesn’t warrant a conversation much less an hour-long one. There are plenty of relevant things to discuss at work. When projects come up we should take charge or volunteer for leadership roles. We should chase them and support each other so that leadership can be done on our terms. Trust me, from what I’ve seen women at work are more than capable of managing things – they just don’t step up for it. And when your male colleagues comes over to ask you to bind a document for him because he doesn’t know how to do it (cue sickening grin) and you are much more smarter than him, please pretty please, tell him to bugger off.
We must also demand much much better of our husbands. Disabuse yourself of the notion that they are ‘helping’ with the house or kids. ‘Helping’ infers that it is our task and they are giving a hand. No, they must do their part. Also, stop being so damn picky about things. If hubby is to do something and he employs the age old masculine ploy of doing it badly so that the wife will do it from now on – let him do it badly and then LEAVE THE MESS ALONE!!! Eventually he will get the message that you will not take on his responsibilities and if he takes too long to realise it – call him on it and shame him. If he’s a decent man he will see the sense in what you say.
Let’s encourage our daughters to go for the top – inculcate in them a strong belief in their abilities and give them courageous spirits. And remember, only discuss mascara at length if you are the CEO of a cosmetic company and you are discussing a fantastic strategy to shift the stuff.
From my observation we aren’t equipping girls to adopt the traits and interests to be successful – not according to men’s standards, but according to successful standards.
I’ve noticed the behaviour of many of my female colleagues at work and it’s not good. There are hour-long conversations about mascara – vacillation when making decisions, an unwillingness to speak up or take charge and a seeming willingness to sigh, say ‘ah men’ and then smilingly do some clerical task for some man who claims he can’t do it (usually binding something or printing a document).
We need to develop interests in the subjects that are useful – mascara doesn’t warrant a conversation much less an hour-long one. There are plenty of relevant things to discuss at work. When projects come up we should take charge or volunteer for leadership roles. We should chase them and support each other so that leadership can be done on our terms. Trust me, from what I’ve seen women at work are more than capable of managing things – they just don’t step up for it. And when your male colleagues comes over to ask you to bind a document for him because he doesn’t know how to do it (cue sickening grin) and you are much more smarter than him, please pretty please, tell him to bugger off.
We must also demand much much better of our husbands. Disabuse yourself of the notion that they are ‘helping’ with the house or kids. ‘Helping’ infers that it is our task and they are giving a hand. No, they must do their part. Also, stop being so damn picky about things. If hubby is to do something and he employs the age old masculine ploy of doing it badly so that the wife will do it from now on – let him do it badly and then LEAVE THE MESS ALONE!!! Eventually he will get the message that you will not take on his responsibilities and if he takes too long to realise it – call him on it and shame him. If he’s a decent man he will see the sense in what you say.
Let’s encourage our daughters to go for the top – inculcate in them a strong belief in their abilities and give them courageous spirits. And remember, only discuss mascara at length if you are the CEO of a cosmetic company and you are discussing a fantastic strategy to shift the stuff.
Monday, August 03, 2009
Leave Barclays Alone
People just don’t get it do they?
One of the major problems with the banking crisis has not been the fact that people have earned large bonuses. It is that many people were paid large bonuses when they had not done anything to generate the funds needed to do so and had even done things to evaporate the funds to run those very banks.
In other works – people were rewarded for failing, and failing dismally.
What has happened today with Barclays is success. They didn’t (as far as I know) take government money and they have managed to make a profit. Good on them. There is therefore no problem whatsoever with their employees taking bonuses.
This country needs to become acquainted with the language and mechanics of success. You get (or should get) rewarded when you do well – not when some backra master feels like tossing you a few crumbs.
Too many people in the British workplace who add spades of value and work damn hard make next to nothing and cannot earn more in proportion to their contribution to the bottom line. At the same time thousands of ignorant, stupid, vile and downright lazy SOBs earn hundreds of thousands of pounds for doing sod all – in fact they earn their lavish lifestyles on the back of the work done by the people at the coalface. Many companies who made more profit than they had forecast but made a lot less than they did last year – used this fact to not pay profit sharing bonuses to the rank and file while senior executives continue to get hidden, expensive perks – like brand new X5s etc.
So I am happy for the Barclays staff – I wish other companies would do likewise. In order for us all to do better and earn more we need to ensure that people are rightfully rewarded for their efforts. Monetary incentives should be down to merit, not down to some monstrous class creation whereby often crass and uncultured people are deemed worthy of bonuses just because they say so and the hardworking employee with ingenuity is not.
Largesse should go to the hardworking, those who use their heads and those who take educated risk. Not to people based on some cloudy and secretive criteria.
One of the major problems with the banking crisis has not been the fact that people have earned large bonuses. It is that many people were paid large bonuses when they had not done anything to generate the funds needed to do so and had even done things to evaporate the funds to run those very banks.
In other works – people were rewarded for failing, and failing dismally.
What has happened today with Barclays is success. They didn’t (as far as I know) take government money and they have managed to make a profit. Good on them. There is therefore no problem whatsoever with their employees taking bonuses.
This country needs to become acquainted with the language and mechanics of success. You get (or should get) rewarded when you do well – not when some backra master feels like tossing you a few crumbs.
Too many people in the British workplace who add spades of value and work damn hard make next to nothing and cannot earn more in proportion to their contribution to the bottom line. At the same time thousands of ignorant, stupid, vile and downright lazy SOBs earn hundreds of thousands of pounds for doing sod all – in fact they earn their lavish lifestyles on the back of the work done by the people at the coalface. Many companies who made more profit than they had forecast but made a lot less than they did last year – used this fact to not pay profit sharing bonuses to the rank and file while senior executives continue to get hidden, expensive perks – like brand new X5s etc.
So I am happy for the Barclays staff – I wish other companies would do likewise. In order for us all to do better and earn more we need to ensure that people are rightfully rewarded for their efforts. Monetary incentives should be down to merit, not down to some monstrous class creation whereby often crass and uncultured people are deemed worthy of bonuses just because they say so and the hardworking employee with ingenuity is not.
Largesse should go to the hardworking, those who use their heads and those who take educated risk. Not to people based on some cloudy and secretive criteria.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Slackness in the Highest Degree! - Smaller Chocolate Bars
Can you imagine, there is a call to reduce the size of chocolate bars. See this link http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8173936.stm.
I must protest in the strongest terms and HRH agrees with me. What kind of slackness is this eeeh? Look man, if people are undisciplined and nyam too much sweetie and get fat and unfit that is their issue there is no call to punish decent hardworking chocolate loving citizens by reducing (sob - let me compose myself) the size of the goodly chocolate bar.
I am ready to march on Westminster about this. Anyone willing to join me?
I must protest in the strongest terms and HRH agrees with me. What kind of slackness is this eeeh? Look man, if people are undisciplined and nyam too much sweetie and get fat and unfit that is their issue there is no call to punish decent hardworking chocolate loving citizens by reducing (sob - let me compose myself) the size of the goodly chocolate bar.
I am ready to march on Westminster about this. Anyone willing to join me?
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Excitement in the House
You’ve got to hand it to the South Koreans. It’s highly unlikely that broadcasts of of parliamentary proceedings aren’t eagerly watched by the populace – unlike poor old BBC Parliament over here.
Check out any of the news sites you like and you can see some footage of the fist fights that took place recently during the attempt to pass a media bill. I believe the Taiwanese parliament likes to settle their differences the old fashioned way too. Amazing!
Check out this link from the Guardian to some famous legislative brawls http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/blog/2009/jul/22/south-korea-brawl-parliament
Check out any of the news sites you like and you can see some footage of the fist fights that took place recently during the attempt to pass a media bill. I believe the Taiwanese parliament likes to settle their differences the old fashioned way too. Amazing!
Check out this link from the Guardian to some famous legislative brawls http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/blog/2009/jul/22/south-korea-brawl-parliament
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Aspiration is up to us not the government
There’s a lot of talk today about the gap between the privileged and the less privileged in relation to education and how that can lead to well paying professions. A study has concluded that certain professions exclude people from disadvantaged backgrounds. The news has been full of this and person after person has come on saying the government needs to do something about it.
This is ridiculous. Aspirations do not need to have anything to do with money and it’s certainly not up to the government to create aspiration in people.
There are thousands of people throughout the world, often in what’s called the developing world by ignorant people (but that’s another argument) who come from extremely deprived backgrounds who have no problem with having very high aspirations. These poor people know that education is the way to attain their goals and they pursue education wholeheartedly. Their lack of money and lack of an entré into elevated society does not hold them back. Why then do people here in Blighty have this ridiculous notion that deprived people’s lack of aspiration is somehow the fault of those who are wealthy?
At no point have I heard any of the pundits talk about personal responsibility.
I am not naïve. I know some people are born into advantageous circumstances and some are not. I know it is easier to get ahead if your parents support you and you don’t have to worry about paying the bills. But I also know that in a country like the UK where education is FREE there is no reason why someone cannot work hard to get ahead. In many of the countries in the developing world education is most definitely not free.
There was talk about university and the cost and loans not being available etc. The student loan scheme doesn’t discriminate according to the wealth of someone’s parents and the information is freely available for those interested in looking for it.
The fact of the matter is that too many people from ‘deprived’ backgrounds are deprived in their attitude and not when it comes to money.
The study mentioned that many people in high level professions were privately educated and talk about this as a sign of inequality. Now how can the country collude in the dumbing down in our education system and then say that there is inequality because some parents who want their kids to be properly educated are forced to send them to public school?
Over the years, foreign languages have become optional, some jackass thought it would be a good idea to stop teaching grammar so millions of us are unable to speak our own language much less write competently in it, the concept of failure has become anathema, kids aren’t taught to reason and memorising times tables also seems to have become unpopular over the years. Teachers have been stripped of the power to enforce anything so homework is optional and forget about doing any extra work. And then people want to complain about the social divide and equality?
Look, we all know what it takes for kids to do well. Once our society grows up and agrees that we get back to basics then there will be more than enough opportunity for most. There are indeed inequalities and there is an old boys’ club old school tie thing going on but so what? That’s how the world works – if you went to school with someone and they are in a position of power of course you will use your connections to get ahead but not ALL positions can be filled in this way and companies wouldn’t want to. In the final analysis, most successful companies do want the best qualified and the most able candidate. Anyone can achieve this – it might be harder for some but it can be done.
I read something the other day that President Obama said. He was talking about the need for black people to have a new attitude and not blame racism on not achieving. I get what he meant. There is still massive racism but what he said was that if you are black and you break into a shop and rob it you can’t blame racism for that. He said that it is up to black people to do their best in whatever endeavour they undertake and at the same time tackle racism when it comes up.
The same goes for the ‘disadvantaged.’ There are some barriers, but those barriers don’t stop you from joining the local library and using the books. They don’t stop you from paying attention to your teachers; they don’t stop you from working hard. That’s down to you. So get on with it- keep and cultivate an enquiring mind and then when you encounter obstacles, formulate a plan to overcome them. Don’t do sod all and then complain that you are at a disadvantage.
This is ridiculous. Aspirations do not need to have anything to do with money and it’s certainly not up to the government to create aspiration in people.
There are thousands of people throughout the world, often in what’s called the developing world by ignorant people (but that’s another argument) who come from extremely deprived backgrounds who have no problem with having very high aspirations. These poor people know that education is the way to attain their goals and they pursue education wholeheartedly. Their lack of money and lack of an entré into elevated society does not hold them back. Why then do people here in Blighty have this ridiculous notion that deprived people’s lack of aspiration is somehow the fault of those who are wealthy?
At no point have I heard any of the pundits talk about personal responsibility.
I am not naïve. I know some people are born into advantageous circumstances and some are not. I know it is easier to get ahead if your parents support you and you don’t have to worry about paying the bills. But I also know that in a country like the UK where education is FREE there is no reason why someone cannot work hard to get ahead. In many of the countries in the developing world education is most definitely not free.
There was talk about university and the cost and loans not being available etc. The student loan scheme doesn’t discriminate according to the wealth of someone’s parents and the information is freely available for those interested in looking for it.
The fact of the matter is that too many people from ‘deprived’ backgrounds are deprived in their attitude and not when it comes to money.
The study mentioned that many people in high level professions were privately educated and talk about this as a sign of inequality. Now how can the country collude in the dumbing down in our education system and then say that there is inequality because some parents who want their kids to be properly educated are forced to send them to public school?
Over the years, foreign languages have become optional, some jackass thought it would be a good idea to stop teaching grammar so millions of us are unable to speak our own language much less write competently in it, the concept of failure has become anathema, kids aren’t taught to reason and memorising times tables also seems to have become unpopular over the years. Teachers have been stripped of the power to enforce anything so homework is optional and forget about doing any extra work. And then people want to complain about the social divide and equality?
Look, we all know what it takes for kids to do well. Once our society grows up and agrees that we get back to basics then there will be more than enough opportunity for most. There are indeed inequalities and there is an old boys’ club old school tie thing going on but so what? That’s how the world works – if you went to school with someone and they are in a position of power of course you will use your connections to get ahead but not ALL positions can be filled in this way and companies wouldn’t want to. In the final analysis, most successful companies do want the best qualified and the most able candidate. Anyone can achieve this – it might be harder for some but it can be done.
I read something the other day that President Obama said. He was talking about the need for black people to have a new attitude and not blame racism on not achieving. I get what he meant. There is still massive racism but what he said was that if you are black and you break into a shop and rob it you can’t blame racism for that. He said that it is up to black people to do their best in whatever endeavour they undertake and at the same time tackle racism when it comes up.
The same goes for the ‘disadvantaged.’ There are some barriers, but those barriers don’t stop you from joining the local library and using the books. They don’t stop you from paying attention to your teachers; they don’t stop you from working hard. That’s down to you. So get on with it- keep and cultivate an enquiring mind and then when you encounter obstacles, formulate a plan to overcome them. Don’t do sod all and then complain that you are at a disadvantage.
Monday, July 13, 2009
The Slackness of the Parent/Teacher/School dinner lady tax
The government should make it illegal for travel firms to double and sometimes triple their prices during school holidays. It is tantamount to an added tax on families , teachers and the poor people who work as support staff in schools.
A plane flying from here to the Caribbean uses the same amount of fuel in the end of February that it uses in the middle of August – it’s the same damn distance. The only reason these thieves charge more in the holidays is because they know that parents etc. have no choice but to holiday then. It is wicked and a disgrace.
I really think this issue should be taken up by parents and seriously lobbied for.
Also, an enterprising travel agent or holiday company willing to charge reasonable rates during the holidays could seriously command a massive chunk of the market and then force the other companies to behave decently. Any enterprising business people out there willing to take up the challenge?
A plane flying from here to the Caribbean uses the same amount of fuel in the end of February that it uses in the middle of August – it’s the same damn distance. The only reason these thieves charge more in the holidays is because they know that parents etc. have no choice but to holiday then. It is wicked and a disgrace.
I really think this issue should be taken up by parents and seriously lobbied for.
Also, an enterprising travel agent or holiday company willing to charge reasonable rates during the holidays could seriously command a massive chunk of the market and then force the other companies to behave decently. Any enterprising business people out there willing to take up the challenge?
Wednesday, July 08, 2009
I have been remiss
I don’t take back my sentiments from yesterday’s post – but after watching the memorial service yesterday for MJ I was struck by one thing I had shamefully forgotten – On June 25th somebody’s daddy died and that is incredibly sad.
When MJ’s daughter said her piece it was a reminder that in the middle of all this there is a human tragedy and great loss.
As I said yesterday, the media and the public should not deify the man or gloss over things that were wrong but the family should also be comforted. Perhaps it is time for those who aren’t family to leave this all alone. And in that fashion . . .
When MJ’s daughter said her piece it was a reminder that in the middle of all this there is a human tragedy and great loss.
As I said yesterday, the media and the public should not deify the man or gloss over things that were wrong but the family should also be comforted. Perhaps it is time for those who aren’t family to leave this all alone. And in that fashion . . .
Tuesday, July 07, 2009
MJ is dead but many are mourning the wrong departure
I don’t usually agree with much in the Daily Mail but take a look at this article. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1197860/U-S-congressman-brands-Michael-Jackson-pervert-child-molester-paedophile-eve-funeral.html Basically this guy is saying that MJ was very likely a paedophile and people should not be lauding him to this degree while forgetting the real achievements and contributions of people like teachers and firemen.
Some may say why bring this up now he’s dead – it’s uncharitable and may hurt his loved ones. I say it needs to be brought up because people seem to have forgotten and seem to be saying, ‘yeah well, he may have molested a few kids but it’s alright because he was a great artist.’ This is dangerous thinking. Wrong is wrong – it doesn’t change just because someone dies.
Use his death to reflect on the problem of molested kids and the equally large problem of people ignoring this issue.
The departure of decency and god sense that the collective amnesia about child molestation is what should be mourned and it should lead us to act to prevent these crimes from being committed.
Some may say why bring this up now he’s dead – it’s uncharitable and may hurt his loved ones. I say it needs to be brought up because people seem to have forgotten and seem to be saying, ‘yeah well, he may have molested a few kids but it’s alright because he was a great artist.’ This is dangerous thinking. Wrong is wrong – it doesn’t change just because someone dies.
Use his death to reflect on the problem of molested kids and the equally large problem of people ignoring this issue.
The departure of decency and god sense that the collective amnesia about child molestation is what should be mourned and it should lead us to act to prevent these crimes from being committed.
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
The argument for a republic
I am in favour of a republic for the UK.
People say we ‘only’ pay about 69p per person for the royal family. My point is why should we be paying anything at all? Here are the facts. All taxpayers – many of whom can barely make ends meet, contribute money towards a family who by the accident of birth are deemed royal. This family doesn’t work and they are given palaces and mansions to live in and lucrative estates which earn massive incomes. They are lauded as the cream of society and don’t ever have to worry about feeding themselves or having a roof over their heads.
This is not right in any circumstances but even more so in a recession.
Some argue that they are of tourist value. So they are – but are you telling me that if the UK became a republic then the royal family wouldn’t still be a tourist attraction?
I say get rid of their official status – make the lot of them earn a living by contributing to the economy. Lord knows it would probably allow them to have healthier family lives. And let us all eat by the sweat of our brows and be citizens of the country we contribute to instead of subjects to a family that contributes nothing.
Oh – and let us have a proper national anthem as well – something rousing about what our country means to us and how we will contribute to it. Not an entreaty for God to save the Queen who as head of the COE should already be saved in the Christian sense and certainly doesn’t need saving in any other
People say we ‘only’ pay about 69p per person for the royal family. My point is why should we be paying anything at all? Here are the facts. All taxpayers – many of whom can barely make ends meet, contribute money towards a family who by the accident of birth are deemed royal. This family doesn’t work and they are given palaces and mansions to live in and lucrative estates which earn massive incomes. They are lauded as the cream of society and don’t ever have to worry about feeding themselves or having a roof over their heads.
This is not right in any circumstances but even more so in a recession.
Some argue that they are of tourist value. So they are – but are you telling me that if the UK became a republic then the royal family wouldn’t still be a tourist attraction?
I say get rid of their official status – make the lot of them earn a living by contributing to the economy. Lord knows it would probably allow them to have healthier family lives. And let us all eat by the sweat of our brows and be citizens of the country we contribute to instead of subjects to a family that contributes nothing.
Oh – and let us have a proper national anthem as well – something rousing about what our country means to us and how we will contribute to it. Not an entreaty for God to save the Queen who as head of the COE should already be saved in the Christian sense and certainly doesn’t need saving in any other
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
The Mentality of a Winner
In the Independent the other day (June 23) Dominic Lawson spoke about the spirit of a winner. He was talking about Andy Murray and how some people say he’s not the most genial of men. Dominic’s position was so what – In order to be a winner in anything, you have to have a single mindedness of purpose. He also mentioned a very successful cricketer Muttiah Muralitharan, and how even though he is go great he still practices religiously.
It got me thinking about the winning mentality and he is right. If you want to do extremely well in anything you have to be focused, and willing to put in some hard graft – and be mentally strong enough that setbacks don’t cripple you.
So, if you are striving to achieve a particular goal I think this is very worth keeping in mind.
It got me thinking about the winning mentality and he is right. If you want to do extremely well in anything you have to be focused, and willing to put in some hard graft – and be mentally strong enough that setbacks don’t cripple you.
So, if you are striving to achieve a particular goal I think this is very worth keeping in mind.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Make Sport Count For Our Kids
There have been a few stories in the Gleaner lately about Jamaica’s success in Athletics and what can be behind it. The consensus is (and I agree) that it is the special emphasis placed on sports in school and the healthy competitive atmosphere that is created in Jamaica.
It got me and HRH talking – why doesn’t the UK do likewise? In the States too they have a very successful system whereby kids who take part in sports and do well can earn scholarships to university – this helps them to get an education so that when or if the body gives out they have a profession for which they are qualified.
Here in the UK the most popular sport in terms of young people wanting to get into it is football. It seems as though extremely young, not particularly well educated boys are taken into this very fast world and then if they are good, get millions of pounds thrown at them. Surely it would be more helpful if they got to the top by moving up through a system that supported them and educated them?
Also, this ridiculous notion that some official and people seem to have that competition is unhealthy is exactly the opposite. Life is competitive – the best win the best get the best. Failing to train out kids to have a healthy competitive advantage does them a great disservice when they go out into the world and does the country an even greater disservice by lumping us with low aspiration, low achievers.
If we want to be the best at anything it’s time to look at others who are successful and learn some key lessons. Let’s face it, the UK is not successful when it comes to sport by design – this is the key point - by design. Those that have done well have done so through their own hard work but I am sure we could have more doing even better if there was a sensible system. Also, we would end up with young people who are educated enough to deal with the massive sums of money they will earn and who will be able to be effective in other areas once their sporting careers are over. Also, with a healthy competitive spirit we would all be the better. Being stretched and challenged to do your best is extremely healthy.
It is worth investigation.
It got me and HRH talking – why doesn’t the UK do likewise? In the States too they have a very successful system whereby kids who take part in sports and do well can earn scholarships to university – this helps them to get an education so that when or if the body gives out they have a profession for which they are qualified.
Here in the UK the most popular sport in terms of young people wanting to get into it is football. It seems as though extremely young, not particularly well educated boys are taken into this very fast world and then if they are good, get millions of pounds thrown at them. Surely it would be more helpful if they got to the top by moving up through a system that supported them and educated them?
Also, this ridiculous notion that some official and people seem to have that competition is unhealthy is exactly the opposite. Life is competitive – the best win the best get the best. Failing to train out kids to have a healthy competitive advantage does them a great disservice when they go out into the world and does the country an even greater disservice by lumping us with low aspiration, low achievers.
If we want to be the best at anything it’s time to look at others who are successful and learn some key lessons. Let’s face it, the UK is not successful when it comes to sport by design – this is the key point - by design. Those that have done well have done so through their own hard work but I am sure we could have more doing even better if there was a sensible system. Also, we would end up with young people who are educated enough to deal with the massive sums of money they will earn and who will be able to be effective in other areas once their sporting careers are over. Also, with a healthy competitive spirit we would all be the better. Being stretched and challenged to do your best is extremely healthy.
It is worth investigation.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Please Take Care
What has happened today in Ireland is a disgrace. Sadly it is not too surprising.
What many Brits take to be tolerance and progress in areas of what they call race relations and what I call basic decency - has largely been a joke.
Here's what's happened over the past twenty or thirty years:
Non-white people have become sick of racist attacks - often after particulaly traumatic events. They have then been pushed to fight back and through this fight legislation has been enacted - under duress mind - so that white people cannot discriminate - let me correct myself, so that white people cannot be caught discriminating.
There has been no heart change - no introspection about the evil nature of being a racist in the hearts of white people as a whole - it's just the cultural climate and laws that have kept them in the closet.
Now, with the resurgence of the racists by getting elected under the guise of people being unhappy with the mainstream parties they are coming back out - hence events like what happened to those 20 Romanian families in Ireland.
People, the legislation has been enacted what is needed now is heart change but only white people can do this!
Non-white people, sadly that means we're screwed as far as I can see.
But we can do our part. It is our duty to call white people on being racist and stop keeping quiet and sucking it up. And I'm not talking about prosecutions and suing I'm talking about reason and 'drawing a crowd.' So when they make racist comments no mater how unobtrusive they might seem call them on it publicly. When they are silent on issues like those in Ireland, bring them up and force them out into the open. Sadly though, it is over to them. We cannot change their hearts for them.
What many Brits take to be tolerance and progress in areas of what they call race relations and what I call basic decency - has largely been a joke.
Here's what's happened over the past twenty or thirty years:
Non-white people have become sick of racist attacks - often after particulaly traumatic events. They have then been pushed to fight back and through this fight legislation has been enacted - under duress mind - so that white people cannot discriminate - let me correct myself, so that white people cannot be caught discriminating.
There has been no heart change - no introspection about the evil nature of being a racist in the hearts of white people as a whole - it's just the cultural climate and laws that have kept them in the closet.
Now, with the resurgence of the racists by getting elected under the guise of people being unhappy with the mainstream parties they are coming back out - hence events like what happened to those 20 Romanian families in Ireland.
People, the legislation has been enacted what is needed now is heart change but only white people can do this!
Non-white people, sadly that means we're screwed as far as I can see.
But we can do our part. It is our duty to call white people on being racist and stop keeping quiet and sucking it up. And I'm not talking about prosecutions and suing I'm talking about reason and 'drawing a crowd.' So when they make racist comments no mater how unobtrusive they might seem call them on it publicly. When they are silent on issues like those in Ireland, bring them up and force them out into the open. Sadly though, it is over to them. We cannot change their hearts for them.
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