Category Archives: Politics

Marilyn Monroe and Ella Fitzgerald

Posted on May 18, 2023 by odeboyz

In 1955, Marilyn Monroe learned the Mocambo, a popular Hollywood nightclub, would not book Ella Fitzgerald because she was black. Monroe phoned the manager and told him she would reserve a front row table every night Ella performed there, knowing … Continue reading →

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Are Whole Life Sentences Inhumane?

Posted on May 11, 2023 by odeboyz

…..when a judge passes a ‘whole life order’. This sentence means that the offender must spend the rest of their life in prison.1 Malcolm Green received a whole life order in 1989 because, it was decided that he would likely … Continue reading →

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Book Review: Percival Everett ~ The Trees (2022)

Posted on May 4, 2023 by odeboyz

Background The 1955 depraved murder of Emmett Till, aged 14, by racists in Mississippi was shocking but not freakishly so.1 What was unique was his mother allowing mourners to see his mutilated body in an open casket. The outrage became … Continue reading →

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Criminal Bankers and Their Keep-Out-Of-Jail Card

Posted on April 27, 2023 by odeboyz

“….more than 17,600 other record[s]… allegedly show how senior banking officials allowed fraudsters to move money [£1.5 trillion] between accounts in the knowledge that the funds were being generated or used criminally. Five global banks were named in the investigation: … Continue reading →

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Premium Bonds Ride Again

Posted on April 13, 2023 by odeboyz

Premium Bonds were introduced by Harold MacMillan in 1956.1 His insight was inventing a gamble where you could get your stake back, in full: Neo-gambling, as it were. MacMillan’s Premium – note the word – Bonds had monthly ‘prizes’ instead … Continue reading →

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Book Review: Oliver Bullough ~ Butler to the World: How Britain became the servant of tycoons, tax dodgers, kleptocrats and criminals (2023)

Posted on March 27, 2023 by odeboyz

The ‘City of London’ is short-hand for financial wizardry and is, allegedly, the ‘powerhouse’ of Britain. What the ‘City’ wants the ‘City’ gets in terms of legislation and government assistance. They are free-market warriors until things go sour. Once the … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Politics | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Should Geriatrics be Imprisoned?

Posted on March 23, 2023 by odeboyz

A 91-year-old man [Eric Grant] has been sentenced to ten years in jail for his sexual offences against a young girl almost two decades ago.1 In 1990, a Conservative white paper concluded: “We know that prison ‘is an expensive way … Continue reading →

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Bertrand Russell on saving money: 1932

Posted on March 16, 2023 by odeboyz

One of the commonest things to do with savings is to lend them to some government. In view of the fact that the bulk of the expenditure of most civilized governments consists in payments for past wars and preparation for … Continue reading →

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Jacob Rees-Mogg: Selected Quotes

Posted on February 27, 2023 by odeboyz

On Paid Holidays and other employment benefits TUC’s Nicola Smith: “Paid holiday, paid rest breaks, rights for time off if you’ve got kids and your kids are unwell, protection from discrimination when you’re pregnant”….  “I [Rees-Mogg] don’t support all these … Continue reading →

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The birth of modern British politics, 1832-3

Posted on February 2, 2023 by odeboyz

The birth of modern British politics began in 1832 when the Whig government intervened in property rights. Firstly, ownership of rotten boroughs, which elected MPs, and secondly, slavery. Ownership of constituencies and slaves were felt to be against the public … Continue reading →

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