The shelter of Ignorance

The advice of Francis Maude to stor petrol in a garage shows no concept of the danger.  How can anyone reach his age and be anware of this basic danger?

GM Foods

As the world population grows and food prices rise it is high time for Europe to review and relax its GM constraints.  They have little to do with science and much to do with emotion and the hysteria that followed the initial clumsy marketing of early products.  Plants that can resist disease, repel insects and need less water to grow are to be prized.

Conventional grain need 1500 litres of water for 1 kilo of produce.  Ten times more for meat.  I guesss flowers will have to be the first to go.

Bank lending to SMEs

Every day someone has a scheme to improve lending by banks to SMEs.  Also every day banks are pilloried for being to loose with lending in the past.  This is a difficult circle to square.  As an SME, I will be sure that my proposed investment is the best ever.  What is needed is an appeal procedure to help those unfairly judged, not Government enforcement of lending or even Government (i.e. yours and mine) money.

UK Liberals do not understand coalition

The Spring conference has just done a U turn in 24 hours, some going this way and some going that.  Although they need the coalition to survive and prosper they do not understand that compromise is synonymous with coalition.  They favour their ideology over the nation's practical economics.

It was thus when the Alliance with the SDP pulled them back form the brink of extinction and then at the first window of opportunity they destroyed the the SDP and nearly themselves, unfortunately not quite.

UK Taxation

Buried in the taxation priorities of my Norman Harris Propounds & Proposes web site is my statement on Taxation priorities.  Relate this to rail traveller.  Why should the taxpayer subsidise rail?  I accept that, many large city commuters have no other practical option, even if they can drive in they cannot park.

This circle can be squared by allowing the cost of travel to work to be reclaimed against income tax.  it also helps another taxation priority of making work pay over benefits.  Although job seekers should get their travel costs refunded for the same reason.

Unacceptable

How many times do we here this form politicians when there is no option but to accept it.

Syria and the thieir Governments refusal to allow in aid until they have cleaned the place up.  What can we do but accept it until they change their minds.  Inhuman or diabolical would be better.

I am his junior

Englebert Humperdink is aiming at the big time again at 75.  There is hope for me yet, as I am his junior.