Stop Nannying Around, and Govern!

I know some of the CSLD disagree with me on this one. They might do a blog post soon disagreeing, but that’s debate for you.

The news yesterday that government directives will force shops not to display cigarettes behind the counter is to me, ridiculous.

My objection is the illiberal nanny-state interference in our lives. What next? We can’t take advantage of drink offers that save us money and let us enjoy our nights out? Oh, wait... that’s being tackled too. Suggestions that obese people won’t qualify for treatment on the NHS? That’s been suggested too!

It seems to me this is government by pressure-group. Those pressure-groups whip up public support, leading to a classic J S Mill situation: the tyranny of the majority.

Now obviously, smoking is bad for you. But is it the government’s job to tell us that? Now obviously, drinking to excess is bad for you. But until the government gets rid of the bars in Westminster and agrees that every single government minister will drink tap-water until they retire, it’s not their job to tell us either.

What about obesity? Well, looking at some of the MPs about, very few of them are thin-as-a-beansprout.

So, my idea!

Maybe the Government can stop wasting time arresting MPs, forcing through ID cards, banning cigarettes and stopping fat people eating fatty foods. Then it can just get their MPs to exercise, stop smoking, stop drinking, and to eat celery instead of venison or whatever they eat nowadays.

Once all the MPs are looking like a new man or woman who is fit, healthy and moisturised (because soon if you don’t moisturise you might be arrested by the Government, for failing to take proper care of your skin), then they can start fannying about with cigarettes in shops.

Oh, but wait, I’ve got another idea!

How about they stop f**king around and get on with important issues like – oh, I don’t know – a crippled economy?!

Post by Ol - opinions expressed are not neccessarily those of the student society as a whole

Andy and the Queen

Andrew Marr?! And the Queen?!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7770082.stm

Well, alright it’s Helen Mirren and not the Queen, and its just an interview joke. Still, there are some things you really don’t want to read in the morning.

Like this!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7772725.stm

Is this true? Is this the fundamentally inept Conservative party lecturing about economics? Its quite funny that they’ve stopped bringing Osborne out and have trotted out Cameron. He must be desperate for publicity!

But… there’s one silver lining for us today.

Most popular news result for BBC Wales website yesterday? Kirsty Williams as new Lib Dem leader!

Post by Ol - opinions expressed are not neccessarily those of the student society as a whole

“Watch out – we’re coming”

A bit late on the update, as I don’t have a blackberry!

Today, the new leader for the Welsh Party was announced. Kirsty Williams.

Firstly, congratulations to Jenny Randerson who ran a campaign which got most of us students invigorated and interested. She was a strong, friendly, warm candidate and I know we all look forward to spending more time with her as a local AM again!

But obviously, congratulations to Kirsty. She will be a sincere voice for the Welsh Lib Dems, able to take the fight to the other three parties. It is fair to say they’ve had an easy ride recently, but not with Kirsty. After her first speech as leader she told those in the room, that Labour should “watch out – we’re coming”.

And we are. Across Wales the Lib Dems are moving, and its Labour, Plaid and the Tories that should watch out. There’s no place in Wales for outdated statist ideas from Labour, for flip-flopping from Plaid, and say-anything-do-nothing Tories.

It was great to see the reactions of people today. After the announcement, lots of Cardiff students went to the local train stations to hand out leaflets announcing our new leader. I’ve never seen leaflets fly so fast!

Well, it’s a new dawn today, and we are coming.

Post by Ol - opinions expressed are not neccessarily those of the student society as a whole

The Sun'll Come Out Tomorrow

I thought I'd use a song from the musical "Annie" today.

Just because it's quite a nice sentence.

But tomorrow, we find out our new Welsh Party leader.

Both candidates are extremely talented, skilled and whoever wins will be an asset to our party. Its a chance for "a new dawn" for liberalism in Wales. And actually, it will be the most historic leadership election in Wales, and perhaps the UK, with two women competing for the top job. Whatever happens tomorrow, there will be the first woman leader of any Welsh party.

Congratulations to both of them for that. I wish them both luck and can't wait to find out the result!

Post by Ol - opinions expressed are not neccessarily those of the student society as a whole

Atlantic Agreement (on Cameron)

Just a quick one, because I forgot to update the blog for Saturday.

Now, according to the New Statesman, David Cameron is a lightweight.

Not from the Lib Dems this time folks, but good old El Presidente Elect Obama!

I wish I could have seen the expression on David Camera’s (excuse the pun) face when he heard this news.

Post by Ol - opinions expressed are not neccessarily those of the student society as a whole

Hain the Pain

Ouch, that’s a cringe worthy title.

Anyway, speculation that Peter Hain could return to the Cabinet: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/betsanpowys/

This is the same Peter Hain who ‘forgot’ about £103,000.

This is the same Peter Hain who lost a (deputy!) leadership campaign despite outspending his opponents.

In a time of possible recession, do we want anyone that bad with numbers, and who provides such awful value for money?

I mean, if you’re going to outspend, at least make sure you win!

Post by Ol - opinions expressed are not neccessarily those of the student society as a whole

Gimmicky Government Gadget

I've got mixed feelings about this: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7764416.stm

Firstly, what a load of bollocks.

Its a gimmick, designed to make the Council and Housing Tax support look tough. At least I hope its a gimmick that will very rarely be used!

I'm quite terrified! What happens if you have a cough when you phone up? What happens if you've got palpatations, or made the mistake of phoning the Council whilst you still needed a crap? What if you're walking outside, on your mobile, up a hill and you can barely breathe?
I could see the conversation going badly:

Me: (panting) H-hi, I'm... I'm c- (panting) calling about my... app- application.
Agent of The Gimmick: Hmm... we're detecting odd patterns in your aura. We're going to hang up on you now, because you're obviously lying through your teeth you disgusting, dirty scrounger who deserves to be hanged.

It is absolutely ridiculous. But, maybe there's one silver lining in all of this. It could speed up the process of bureaucracy! Here's my cunning plan.

Anyone who has ever been refused benefits of any kind when they know they actually needed them, should wait for the corresponding Department to install their own gimmicky bollocks, and then phone up. Make sure you do everything you can to make your voice sound weird beforehand. When you speak to them, they'll notice that you're "lying", and will immediately send an investigator to monitor your case. They will see you're not lying, and you bypass needless months of wading through reams of bureaucratic crap.

I apologise for the comedically-themed post, but it just goes to show that our beloved governmental agencies are there not to help, but to watch you. To check you. To monitor you. I'm getting a bit paranoid now... and I think my voice is getting a bit shakey.

Am I a liar?

Post by Ol - opinions expressed are not neccessarily those of the student society as a whole

Tree Huggers?

For the Christmas mood...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7761822.stm

I really feel for the people of Peterlee. But watching the video report does bring what I love about the North out. The quick, cutting wit and complete irreverence is great. Reminds me of Welsh wit, too!

My favourite line: "My toilet brush's got more branches than that!"

Post by Ol - opinions expressed are not neccessarily those of the student society as a whole

Devolution Ditherer

I know the story reported here (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7736245.stm) is an old one, but it raises an interesting point about blogs from elected representatives. And also gives me a bit of a purpose to posting this. If elected representatives can’t insult each other, we’ll do it!

So, a few choice words for one particular AM, Bethan Jenkins.

A supposedly committed devolutionist she’s more of a committed ditherer.

I don’t understand why someone so committed to a ‘Yes’ vote on more powers for the Assembly, would rule out setting up a campaign for one. Why can’t people who believe in the Assembly having a greater role in our lives actually get off their arses and work for it?

I mean, don’t get me wrong. It’s great that she’s doing something finally. But compared to a simple, brave, “Bethan Jenkins starts to campaign for a Yes vote”, we essentially have “Bethan Jenkins calls for a group to be set up to discuss a possible Yes vote.”

I don’t think she’s really setting the world on fire with her position.

Post by Ol - opinions expressed are not neccessarily those of the student society as a whole

'Wholesale murder'? Maybe...

Seeing as it is World AIDS day, a topical blog post.

Obviously, the issues of funding research and promoting awareness should be the most important issues to think about. But other people (far more qualified) will be talking about them today. So I want to briefly talk about artificial contraception ... and the Catholic Church.
It is a sore point with me as a Catholic, that the Church can continue its opposition to aid agencies that give condoms to some of the worst-hit regions in Africa. I remember having a very fierce argument with one of my teachers, where I essentially blamed the Catholic Church for ‘wholesale murder’ of vulnerable Africans.

Alright, I was fifteen, so I didn’t really think about what I was saying, that much! And I’ve moved on a lot from those days. But it is still a vital issue to talk about. If the Catholic Church was to make its opposition to artificial contraception less vehement, the highly religious sections of African regions would feel less bound to continue practicing 'dangerous' (unprotected) sexual relations.

Instead, the Catholic Church insists on a) abstinence and/or b) sexual relations only within marriage. The second point might limit the spread of AIDs, and abstinence obviously will have an impact. But what is the response to those people who do practice sexual relations? Again the Church will say it should be only those two approaches. They ignore the fact that AIDs can still be spread in a marriage, and not only that, but that sometimes in the worst cases we hear about, the children of those marriages will be born with AIDs.

Part of me knows the Church can never change. But the greater part of me hopes that it will realise its policy of discouraging the use of artificial contraception is having a terrible effect on the fight against AIDs in Africa. Their opposition removes so much of the good work being done by aid agencies to educate and warn people about the dangers of unprotected sex.

I hope that people will make this point loud and clear to the Catholic Church. On a day like this, maybe the Vatican will listen.

Post by Ol - opinions expressed are not neccessarily those of the student society as a whole