What does it take to do from being a lame duck to a dead one? Seems to be the verdict that there's one on Capitol Hill. Dead economically, dead politically. But is Mr President taking the GOP with him? Many have resisted his call for a bail-out of the banks. Many constituents see this as rewarding the rich. While it might save a few friendly skins the rank and file risk their homes, their jobs, their pensions and everything else.
What's the cost of America's wars, wars that the US has persuaded many other countries to join on a pernicious divide. First the terrorist bogey, then the economic bogey. Let's scare people into submission.
So congress men and women are fighting shy, the irony being that Republicans more than Democrats have stalled. The bail-out looks like being necessary, but...
We just sit back and watch as energy companies announce mighty profits following the price hike for consumers. Centrica, overlord of British Gas, announced a massive increase while British Gas employees went out to celebrate. The idea was to inform staff about rising bills, but they appear not to have been on message when they started partying. This was somewhat encouraged by the provision of entertainment and booze and things got out of hand.
Private companies own our utilities so control is in the hands of individuals who amass wealth and power. There is little consumers can do, although competition was the big idea which meant that they have choice. In practice it appears that prices are remarkably similar from providers who appear to be a rather large club. We should expect however...
While US Cuban sources try to rubbish Cuba's achievements in health, the following suggests that those achievements are real and benefiting many from poor regions across the world. Although not a Muslim country Cuba is included in Bush's "axis of evil" category, a clear case of "mote and beam"!
While we were visiting the Santa Clara region of Cuba in May this year we were given a comprehensive overview of Cuba's health provision at home and abroad, and as far as we can see it stands up to close scrutiny, something Bush's claims about WMD etc. manifestly don't!
Fidel sends message to Hospital No. 1
in Chengdu
CHENGDU, China, May 27 (PL). -- "Cuban leader Fidel Castro sent a message today to Hospital No. 1 in Chengdu, in Sichuan province, to tell staff there that they could count on the...
Did anyone see George Galloway on Question Time last night? I thought he was rather good. You can tell he's a seasoned speaker, used to "robust" exchanges with political opponents. I particularly liked the effect he had on the rather indomitable looking Tory who's face became more stony and humourless as the night wore on.One of the more interesting exchanges was on Cuba's transition to a post-Fidel regime. Much was said of the achievements of the Cuban regime in the face of furious opposition of the world's strongest superpower just seventy miles away.It's true that health care, education and other public services are extremely good for a third world country - although I think sometimes people have an exaggerated idea of quite how good these provisions are and it does rather rely on the...
