opinion page 6

10 december 2020

SO HOW DID WE GET TO HERE ?

THESE

WISH I’D WRITTEN THESE

All original writing

2014, 2015, 2016,

2017, 2018, 2019,

2020, 2021, 2022,

2023, 2024

Dr Ian McLauchlin

OPINION page 6

9 Apr 18

University funding is increasingly reliant on Defence Contracts. This is an example of a much wider problem.

Tory governments have de-funded just about everything and are working hard to complete the job. They do it unthinkingly and for ideological reasons. There's no requirement for them to do it but they still do. Over the years, consequent incremental losses of morality and increases in corruption have slowly blinded them to what a government's responsibility really is - to its citizens. So, cosy in their self-made bubble, they can't see what evil they're creating, and when they catch a glimpse they laugh and guffaw, and certainly don't care. They're immoral. And thick enough to think everything's OK as long as you pray to your imaginary friend in the sky.

There's another way. Abandon lobbying by huge concerns who care nothing for the country or its people. Re-learn that you must put the people first. Fund what is essential for a civilised, compassionate and caring society and do it from central funds so you're not in league with the devil. Raise taxes to do it. Forget about the silly notion that you need to 'punch above your weight' and be a big player on the world stage. Look after the well-being of the country. That's a government's job but governments have either forgotten it or have deliberately and maliciously dumped on their own citizens. Either way, they're damned.

3 Apr 18

We're hearing occasional fantastical suggestions that we could take steps to inhabit other planets.

 Impossible except for a very few people

 Utterly misguided

 We should be taking much cheaper and available steps to put our own planet right

 The idea of being able to inhabit other planets will cause us to think we don't have to take care of our own any more.

30 Mar 18

Let's forget specifics and talk about principles for a change. If an election result has been brought about by illegal means, or by cheating, should the result still stand? Or not?

And if it should still stand, why do you think it's OK to devalue and play very questionable new games with our democratic processes?

And in any event, who should decide what new form of tampering is allowed and who should police it? And what should be the penalties if wrong-doing is proven? And on what timescale to ensure no repeat behaviour?