Wednesday, September 27, 2006
I Hate Speeches
They are just words, not actually written by the person saying them. Why is Blair suddenly a hero just for reading out loud someone else's words? Anyone can say words. It's actions that count, and Blairs actions have involved taking bribes/loans, taking us into a war in the Middle East that has increased the chance of terrorism, and slowly eroded our rights with new laws.
(I think politicians like speeches also because no-one can interrupt them and query any inaccuracies. They just get to say what they like, and it may be disected afterwards, but no-one cares by then. They just remember how great the speech was. Who cares about the details?)
(I think politicians like speeches also because no-one can interrupt them and query any inaccuracies. They just get to say what they like, and it may be disected afterwards, but no-one cares by then. They just remember how great the speech was. Who cares about the details?)
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Preparing for Old Age
Just in case you didn't know, when you need a care home, and you have more than £21,000 (including the value of any house you own) you will have to pay all of the costs yourself. (I don't know of many houses worth less than £21,000, so I think that pretty much includes everyone). The average cost is £400 a week, so just hope you don't survive longer than your savings.
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
America's Actions in the World
I've just noticed this excellent website detailing all the reasons why America, as the supposed World Police and Defenders of Freedom (tm) is probably not that well liked in the world.
Here are a few excerpts:-
* Was the only country to vote against a UN resolution calling for an end to Israeli military incursions and attacks on Gaza.
* Was the only country to vote against a UN resolution condemning a decision by the Israeli parliament to "remove" the elected Palestinian president, Yasser Arafat.
* Being pro-democracy, the US as helpde overthrow two democratically elected goverments since 2002.
Here are a few excerpts:-
* Was the only country to vote against a UN resolution calling for an end to Israeli military incursions and attacks on Gaza.
* Was the only country to vote against a UN resolution condemning a decision by the Israeli parliament to "remove" the elected Palestinian president, Yasser Arafat.
* Being pro-democracy, the US as helpde overthrow two democratically elected goverments since 2002.
Monday, September 18, 2006
How many people imprisoned by America outside the law? 14,000
Yes, 14,000 people are currently detained in a legal vacuum by America in a global network of overseas prisons. But remember, the coalition is the good guys fighting for freedom!
Friday, September 15, 2006
In a surprise to no-one whatsoever (except MP's)
The Public 'has little trust in MPs'.
Maybe it's something to do with the fact that we're fighting a war in Iraq based on an assumption (WMD's) that proved to be completely false, and thus we're now making ourselves more hated in the world? Or that they have helped America to transport people to secret prisons, and then tried to deny it by using double-speak?
Maybe it's something to do with the fact that we're fighting a war in Iraq based on an assumption (WMD's) that proved to be completely false, and thus we're now making ourselves more hated in the world? Or that they have helped America to transport people to secret prisons, and then tried to deny it by using double-speak?
Thursday, September 14, 2006
The US Government is lying (Again)
It's "WMD's in Iraq" all over again.
Did they seriously expect the US to tell the truth when it didn't suit their agenda? As if!
The UN nuclear watchdog has protested to the US government over a report on Iran's nuclear programme, calling it "erroneous" and "misleading".
It says a report by the committee on 23 August was wrong to say that Iran had enriched uranium to weapons-grade level when the IAEA had only found small quantities of enrichment at far lower levels.
Did they seriously expect the US to tell the truth when it didn't suit their agenda? As if!
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
Iraq is a Diversion
...from the reality of life in Britain, like this* and this**.
*UK unemployment at six-year high
**Crime rate soars as criminals walk free
*UK unemployment at six-year high
**Crime rate soars as criminals walk free
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
Remember September 11th! (1973)
On September 11th 1973, there was a military coup led by General Augusto Pinochet. The violent overthrow of the democratically-elected Popular Unity government of Salvador Allende changed the course of the country that Chilean poet Pablo Neruda described as "a long petal of sea, wine and snow"; because of CIA covert intervention in Chile, and the repressive character of General Pinochet's rule.
So do we want democracy or not? I can't work it out.
So do we want democracy or not? I can't work it out.
Lies, Damn Lies and the Military
Next time you hear them say how the voilence in Iraq has dropped, take it with a pinch of salt because they are probably lying: The U.S. military did not count people killed by bombs, mortars, rockets or other mass attacks when it reported a dramatic drop in the number of murders in the Baghdad area last month, the U.S. command said Monday.
It's so obvious! How can bombing someone be murder? That's what we do, and we're the good guys!
It's so obvious! How can bombing someone be murder? That's what we do, and we're the good guys!
Quotes by George Bush
Quotes by George Bush:
"And, again, I don't know where he [bin Laden] is. I -- I'll repeat what I said. I truly am not that concerned about him." (March 13th 2002)
"Osama Bin Laden and other terrorists are still in hiding. Our message to them is clear: no matter how long it takes, America will find you and we will bring you to justice.2 (September 11th 2006)
Why the sudden change of heart? Is it because the second quote was spoken on the rememberence day, when people might not have appreciated being told the truth - that America is nowhere neat to finding Bin Laden, and are not really even looking for him?
Anyway, I feel like I'm going to puke after reading these other quotes from his speech:-
"And, again, I don't know where he [bin Laden] is. I -- I'll repeat what I said. I truly am not that concerned about him." (March 13th 2002)
"Osama Bin Laden and other terrorists are still in hiding. Our message to them is clear: no matter how long it takes, America will find you and we will bring you to justice.2 (September 11th 2006)
Why the sudden change of heart? Is it because the second quote was spoken on the rememberence day, when people might not have appreciated being told the truth - that America is nowhere neat to finding Bin Laden, and are not really even looking for him?
Anyway, I feel like I'm going to puke after reading these other quotes from his speech:-
- "It is the decisive ideological struggle of the 21st Century and the calling of our generation"
- "It is a struggle for civilisation. We are fighting to maintain a way of life enjoyed by free nations"
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
Bush admits to CIA secret prisons
Oh what a surprise - he was lying through is teeth all along!
President Bush has acknowledged the existence of secret CIA prisons. "He added that the CIA treated detainees humanely and did not use torture."
It depends on what your definition of torture is though. So what happens now? Is that it? We forgive them for their crimes against humanity? What else are they lying about? Hmm, maybe they were lying about not using torture? We just can't believe a word they say.
President Bush has acknowledged the existence of secret CIA prisons. "He added that the CIA treated detainees humanely and did not use torture."
It depends on what your definition of torture is though. So what happens now? Is that it? We forgive them for their crimes against humanity? What else are they lying about? Hmm, maybe they were lying about not using torture? We just can't believe a word they say.
Waste of Taxpayers Money
Don't just groan when you read this - realise that it's the government throwing away £141 million pounds of taxpayers money, towards a not even worthy cause. How many hospital beds or operations could that pay for?
A major computer system used to process benefits payments has been shelved, the Government confirmed today. The BBC Radio 4 Today programme reported that it had cost £141 million in the three years since it had been first set up and had been designed to save around £60 million for the taxpayer.
Friday, September 01, 2006
Iraq War Still Going On
(Just in case you'd forgotten). To put it into perspective:-
- Civilian deaths on 9/11: 3000
- Civilian deathson July 7th: 57
- Civilian deaths in Iraq: 41,000-45,000 (so far)
