Category Archives: Politics

Nigel Farage: A One-Trick Pony?

Posted on July 8, 2016 by odeboyz

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:* Nigel Farage’s political career ended on the 23rd June, 2016 though the finale only came on the 4th July. Unlike David Cameron’s career, his didn’t … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Politics | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Harold Hill: created by the Attlee Government

Posted on June 29, 2016 by odeboyz

I didn’t start living on Harold Hill until 1980 but lived there for eighteen years. For twelve of those years I was a Labour Party Councillor. So the following narrative is based on what I have been told and my research from … Continue reading →

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Should Governments Prevent Preventable Harm?

Posted on May 27, 2016 by odeboyz

Fluoridation of water is a cheap, effective and harmless mechanism for combating tooth decay. It’s pumped into the general water supply. Tooth decay is rarely life threatening but can be painful and disfiguring. The argument goes that as there is … Continue reading →

Posted in Health, Politics, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

The War on Drugs

Posted on February 23, 2016 by odeboyz

“the ‘War on Drugs’ has arguably been the single most devastating, dysfunctional social policy since slavery.” The United Conference of United Methodist Churches 24th June 2015 (USA) (Chris)

Posted in Health, Politics, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

The greatest post-war British prime minister: Harold Wilson

Posted on February 4, 2016 by odeboyz

Harold Wilson created modern Britain. Between 1964 and 1970 Britain was changed into a caring, tolerant society, a civilised society. Every aspect of British life was touched, for the good, by Harold Wilson. Ranging from prison reform, to dealing with … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Politics, Prison reform | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

President Churchill?*

Posted on January 26, 2016 by odeboyz

Winston Churchill had the same qualifications as Barack Obama to be president of the USA. That is, an American mother and a non-American father. Perhaps that was the real source of the Special Relationship. *If he’d be been born in … Continue reading →

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Meritocracy Meets Networking in the White House

Posted on January 19, 2016 by odeboyz

Andrew Sullivan (2009): ‘I remember back in the late 1990s, when Ira Katznelson, an eminent political scientist at Columbia… …came to deliver a guest lecture. Prof. Katznelson described a lunch he had with Irving Kristol during the first Bush administration. … Continue reading →

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British Military Interventions 2001-15

Posted on December 11, 2015 by odeboyz

Beginning in 2001, the UK has been in continuous war and the current (2015) military commitment in Iraq and Syria is open-ended. The principal characteristics of the four major conflicts has been that they aren’t against countries. The 9/11 attacks … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics, Religion, War | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

David Cameron and Equality

Posted on November 27, 2015 by odeboyz

“What on earth are the Tories doing speaking about equality? It’s not their issue.” To this I say “nonsense”. We’re not just the party of the first Jewish prime minister and the first female prime minister;… David Cameron* David Cameron … Continue reading →

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Retirement

Posted on November 20, 2015 by odeboyz

Recently, well at the September AGM I carried out my last duty as the PETRA Chair, and after giving the committee my last ever monthly Chairs report – my 147th in the 13 years I held the position as Chair, … Continue reading →

Posted in Autobiography, Philosophy, Politics, War | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment