Fantastic news of the Labour Party winning a by election (singular). Majority of 6,700!
This (alongside some council election gains) is phenomenal and denotes renewed confidence in the Labour government (as opposed to the dire abject despair).
We are going into a very deep recession and we desperately need the government to cushion the fall at a time when the unfettered free market has failed us.
Whatever the beauty contest of politics between the parties we need, desperately need, a government that supports the economy rather than plunge us head on into deep, deep wasting recession.
Never have wild unfettered get rich quick markets been so out of failure and the message of moderate social democrats (Keynes and all) been more needed. Only the Labour party can deliver.
Friday, November 07, 2008
Joy on Obama; sadness on Prop 8
Obama wins big in the all important electoral college - picking the so called lock of the Republican's "Southern Strategy". Dems have struggled hard in all elections for the presidency since the passage of civil rights sparked all the politics of resentment that have coralled a Southern erstwhile Democratic stronghold for the Republicans.
Noticably the thinking has been the need for the Dems to do something to attract the South - Carter from Georgia, Clinton Governor of Arkansas, Gore Senator from Tennesee, Edwards from North Carolina....
Not anymore. Obama a left leaning liberal, black lawyer from Chicago as well as a Veep from Delaware carrying North Carolina, Virginia, Missouri being split (SPLIT!), Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico and Floriday.
I am sure Obama is the right person for the job at this point and at some deep level the US and the world needed this renewal even though on one level not much is going to change - but we'll see.
Just the fact of how far we have come when we have gone from the Civil Rights fights (to vote, not have to sit on a separate part of a bus, segregation in both church and state) to a black person being elected as President. Just to see tears in so many faces - including Jesse Jackson.
On the other hand, sadness that Proposition 8 was carried by a small majority.
Many have speculated on the reasons for this failure.
I think the No campaign had serious shortcomings with poor ads. And our own community has probably been prone to some hubris - if we celebrate our victory loudly enough no-one will be so cruel as to reverse it.
Well they can. And did.
Having schoolchildren attend their school teacher's same sex wedding when school teaching, children and religion were at the core of the Yes on 8 campaign.
Gavin Newsom triumphally stating that you're going to get same sex marriage whether you like it or not; that there's no way of turning back. Voters thought otherwise.
So it was a sad day but great to see there was an opposition of 48% with so much support from trade unions, young voters, church groups. These networks should be built on and nurtured as a way of building up support for LGBT people.
I think that same sex marriage will proceed in its own way in many states of the US as well as other countries in the world (the latest being the statement that Sweden's centre right government is likely to introduce same sex marriage legislation by 2009).
All is not so negative. Connecticut having recently commenced same sex marriage in a similar court ruling and voted against calling a Constitutional Convention and the Dems got majorities in many state legislatures.
Progress marches on, though sometimes via a winding road.
Noticably the thinking has been the need for the Dems to do something to attract the South - Carter from Georgia, Clinton Governor of Arkansas, Gore Senator from Tennesee, Edwards from North Carolina....
Not anymore. Obama a left leaning liberal, black lawyer from Chicago as well as a Veep from Delaware carrying North Carolina, Virginia, Missouri being split (SPLIT!), Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico and Floriday.
I am sure Obama is the right person for the job at this point and at some deep level the US and the world needed this renewal even though on one level not much is going to change - but we'll see.
Just the fact of how far we have come when we have gone from the Civil Rights fights (to vote, not have to sit on a separate part of a bus, segregation in both church and state) to a black person being elected as President. Just to see tears in so many faces - including Jesse Jackson.
On the other hand, sadness that Proposition 8 was carried by a small majority.
Many have speculated on the reasons for this failure.
I think the No campaign had serious shortcomings with poor ads. And our own community has probably been prone to some hubris - if we celebrate our victory loudly enough no-one will be so cruel as to reverse it.
Well they can. And did.
Having schoolchildren attend their school teacher's same sex wedding when school teaching, children and religion were at the core of the Yes on 8 campaign.
Gavin Newsom triumphally stating that you're going to get same sex marriage whether you like it or not; that there's no way of turning back. Voters thought otherwise.
So it was a sad day but great to see there was an opposition of 48% with so much support from trade unions, young voters, church groups. These networks should be built on and nurtured as a way of building up support for LGBT people.
I think that same sex marriage will proceed in its own way in many states of the US as well as other countries in the world (the latest being the statement that Sweden's centre right government is likely to introduce same sex marriage legislation by 2009).
All is not so negative. Connecticut having recently commenced same sex marriage in a similar court ruling and voted against calling a Constitutional Convention and the Dems got majorities in many state legislatures.
Progress marches on, though sometimes via a winding road.
Monday, November 03, 2008
Obama's grief
From Andrew Sullivan.....
Madelyn Payne Dunham RIP
Obama was so right to make sure he spent time with her before she passed on. But what an emotional blow on election eve for the candidate from Illinois. He has survived this campaign with remarkable emotional maturity and self-control. I just wish this didn't have to add to it. None of his parents will witness tomorrow. But somewhere my faith teaches me: they know already. Maybe Toot couldn't wait for the actual results. Maybe she's now a few steps ahead even of Chuck Todd. May she rest in peace. She did good.
The US election
Apart from a clear ideological preference for the Democrats, Obama is quite clearly the better candidate - calm, cool, not a hothead or erratic, a strategist rather than a tactician and a powerful orator.
He is quite clearly what the US and the world needs from this election.
He would also be (so far as I can tell) the first country in the developed world to elect a leader from a minority ethnic grouping, which given the US' troubled history with slavery, segregation and discrimination is important - again not just for the US but for the world.
It appears there has been some tightening in some states such as Pensylvania but if Obama doesn't win it will be the most incredible electoral upset (either that or the 'voting machines' are churning out Republican voting surpluses).
Either way, not long to wait now.
He is quite clearly what the US and the world needs from this election.
He would also be (so far as I can tell) the first country in the developed world to elect a leader from a minority ethnic grouping, which given the US' troubled history with slavery, segregation and discrimination is important - again not just for the US but for the world.
It appears there has been some tightening in some states such as Pensylvania but if Obama doesn't win it will be the most incredible electoral upset (either that or the 'voting machines' are churning out Republican voting surpluses).
Either way, not long to wait now.
An early election result
Ahead of tomorrow's excitement....
Congratulations to UNISON and Louise in getting elected to the ILGA Europe board. It has only 10 members and covers the whole of Europe not just the EU, so getting elected at the first attempt is a real achievement.
Congratulations to UNISON and Louise in getting elected to the ILGA Europe board. It has only 10 members and covers the whole of Europe not just the EU, so getting elected at the first attempt is a real achievement.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
HFEB passes Third Reading
Passed by 335 to 129 votes.
Any Commons amendments will need to be agreed by the Lords prior to Royal Assent.
I do though regret that it has not been possible to improve the regime for access to abortion services and that Westminster has not been able to legislate to help women in Northern Ireland.
Any Commons amendments will need to be agreed by the Lords prior to Royal Assent.
I do though regret that it has not been possible to improve the regime for access to abortion services and that Westminster has not been able to legislate to help women in Northern Ireland.
Some things I am waiting for
The outcome of the US Presidential election (According to electoral-vote.com Obama has a steady projected lead - however we all remember the last 2 contests and the Republicans are playing dirty - no surprises there). I am getting most of my up to date info from Sullivan's Daily Dish (pro Obama blog).
The outcome of the vote on Prop 8 in California (see previous)
The outcome of the Indian Court case over the constitutionality of India's retention of laws criminalising homosexual acts from the British Empire.
The outcome of the vote on Prop 8 in California (see previous)
The outcome of the Indian Court case over the constitutionality of India's retention of laws criminalising homosexual acts from the British Empire.
Same sex marriage losing in California
Latest polls show homophobic Proposition 8, restricting marriage to heterosexual couples and intending to upend a Constitutional provision of non-discrimination enacted by the Supreme Court of California (albeit recently).
Stripping people of constitutional protections and measures affording equality and fairness for all is a grave and serious step to take.
I am not sure what happens if it passes, given there are now tens of thousands of same sex couples who have married. Maybe it all becomes null and void, but the equal protection clause of the California Constitution is still operative as is the Supreme Court's analysis of sexual orientation as being a suspect or quasi suspect category (in like manner as the Supreme Court of Connecticut which has also recently provided for gender neutrality) given the overwhelming animus toward LGBT people over recent US history and difficulty in gaining equality using the usual political channels - a point that is rather reinforced if Prop 8 passes.
Maybe California will adopt a UK style Civil Partnership provision.
This all remains to be seen.
Again, were it to pass, the only way for civil marriage to be afforded with full equality is for a future amendment to the Constitution. And while it may be several years before such an amendment to be carried it is worth campaigning for, even though the LGBT community be heavily outspent by religious bodies.
Although to date the campaign against Prop 8 looks weak and dire (and is being heavily criticised though it may be they have a game plan for the final 2 weeks) a lot of the work is already being done in trade unions, newspaper editorials and supportive churches.
This work will no doubt continue as well, perhaps, some telling questions of the Democratic hierarchy who haven't come out too visibly against the amendment (at all in fact - maybe they are biding their time). There may well be a broader day of reckoning for this who offer warm words and sympathy when they ought to know better.
Stripping people of constitutional protections and measures affording equality and fairness for all is a grave and serious step to take.
I am not sure what happens if it passes, given there are now tens of thousands of same sex couples who have married. Maybe it all becomes null and void, but the equal protection clause of the California Constitution is still operative as is the Supreme Court's analysis of sexual orientation as being a suspect or quasi suspect category (in like manner as the Supreme Court of Connecticut which has also recently provided for gender neutrality) given the overwhelming animus toward LGBT people over recent US history and difficulty in gaining equality using the usual political channels - a point that is rather reinforced if Prop 8 passes.
Maybe California will adopt a UK style Civil Partnership provision.
This all remains to be seen.
Again, were it to pass, the only way for civil marriage to be afforded with full equality is for a future amendment to the Constitution. And while it may be several years before such an amendment to be carried it is worth campaigning for, even though the LGBT community be heavily outspent by religious bodies.
Although to date the campaign against Prop 8 looks weak and dire (and is being heavily criticised though it may be they have a game plan for the final 2 weeks) a lot of the work is already being done in trade unions, newspaper editorials and supportive churches.
This work will no doubt continue as well, perhaps, some telling questions of the Democratic hierarchy who haven't come out too visibly against the amendment (at all in fact - maybe they are biding their time). There may well be a broader day of reckoning for this who offer warm words and sympathy when they ought to know better.
Friday, October 03, 2008
Sarah Palin murders the English language
There are two theories here.
One is that she isn't verbally articulate in that her command of vocabulary and expression (fluent use of English constructions) and can't construct moderately complex sentences 'on the hoof'. She just isn't good at speaking.
The other theory is that she can't express herself because she hasn't gained the content to talk fluently about.
She has been a good debater in past campaigns in Alaska - she just hasn't grappled with the complexities of policy.
The reason can be seen in videos of her church. She's a born again Christian with certainty and faith. She doesn't need to know about things because she prays and reads the Bible and has God behind her.
So I think her extreme lack of fluency is because she's having to come to terms with policy issues she's never thought about before, while trying consciously to make sure that she doesn't contradict McCain (she probably doesn't known the full suite of his policy positions and their evolution and context).
The upshpot is she isn't ready and that her extreme faith based politics are a significant hurdle to learning.
One is that she isn't verbally articulate in that her command of vocabulary and expression (fluent use of English constructions) and can't construct moderately complex sentences 'on the hoof'. She just isn't good at speaking.
The other theory is that she can't express herself because she hasn't gained the content to talk fluently about.
She has been a good debater in past campaigns in Alaska - she just hasn't grappled with the complexities of policy.
The reason can be seen in videos of her church. She's a born again Christian with certainty and faith. She doesn't need to know about things because she prays and reads the Bible and has God behind her.
So I think her extreme lack of fluency is because she's having to come to terms with policy issues she's never thought about before, while trying consciously to make sure that she doesn't contradict McCain (she probably doesn't known the full suite of his policy positions and their evolution and context).
The upshpot is she isn't ready and that her extreme faith based politics are a significant hurdle to learning.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Party Conferences
I didn't pick up much from the LibDems, though Vince Cable gave a great speech. I didn't rate Nick Clegg much though.
I was at the Labour Conference as delegate for LGBT Labour as an affiliated socialist society, mainly to move a rules debate to add gender identity to the rule book.
The mood of the Conference was best described as 'grisly'. I think that, with some remove, it did its job of stabilising the government (inspite of the bizarre story about Ruth Kelly leaving the government being 'released' at 3am after Gordon Brown's speech).
Brown is much safer in his job now. First because he gave a good and well received speech and also because David Miliband got photographed holding a banana. So things are much calmer - no doubt there'll be trouble ahead, but for now things are a bit more stable.
Not the least of my worries was to work out the procedural rules of moving a rule change. This was not as straightforward as one might think if you're not a Party Conference afficianado. Anyway the rule change was all but unanimously passed, making Labour the only one of the three main political parties to explicitly include gender identity.
In addition the National Policy Forum Report contained several important areas of commitment to LGBT equality (health, education, international issues) and commitment to progress the Equality Bill.
The Tories' Conference is now well underway. I cannot believe how insubstantial and shallow Conservative responses to the current dificutlies that is making Gordon Brown look competent and effective by comparison - though I am biased.
I was at the Labour Conference as delegate for LGBT Labour as an affiliated socialist society, mainly to move a rules debate to add gender identity to the rule book.
The mood of the Conference was best described as 'grisly'. I think that, with some remove, it did its job of stabilising the government (inspite of the bizarre story about Ruth Kelly leaving the government being 'released' at 3am after Gordon Brown's speech).
Brown is much safer in his job now. First because he gave a good and well received speech and also because David Miliband got photographed holding a banana. So things are much calmer - no doubt there'll be trouble ahead, but for now things are a bit more stable.
Not the least of my worries was to work out the procedural rules of moving a rule change. This was not as straightforward as one might think if you're not a Party Conference afficianado. Anyway the rule change was all but unanimously passed, making Labour the only one of the three main political parties to explicitly include gender identity.
In addition the National Policy Forum Report contained several important areas of commitment to LGBT equality (health, education, international issues) and commitment to progress the Equality Bill.
The Tories' Conference is now well underway. I cannot believe how insubstantial and shallow Conservative responses to the current dificutlies that is making Gordon Brown look competent and effective by comparison - though I am biased.
Back to blogging .....
After a prolonged summer break (according to my view summer really ends after the close of the Labour Party Conference) I thought I'd get back to blogging.
Not much has happened in the intervening period - Western capitalism has been teetering on the edge of collapse, Gordon Brown has faced a rebellion in the Parliamentary Party (if by no more than a handful of MP's), the American Conventions happened (the highlight for me was the wonderful moment of the roll call at the Democratic Convention - especially the moment that the Massachusetts delegation profiled their commitment as the first State to allow same sex marriage), McCain unleashed the phenomena that is Sarah Pailin upon the world (a persona surely beyond parody), Russia invaded Georgia, more banks failing or getting nationalised (so much for Thatcherite free markets), South Africa lost its President while Zimbabwe has gained the beginnings of a power share deal.
So, not much has happened.
In one sense the world has speeded up so that events are happening too fast for blogging and in another we're slowing down - revisiting the hubris of past decades.
Now some of the dust is settling around us we can start to work out what kind of world we're living in.
Not much has happened in the intervening period - Western capitalism has been teetering on the edge of collapse, Gordon Brown has faced a rebellion in the Parliamentary Party (if by no more than a handful of MP's), the American Conventions happened (the highlight for me was the wonderful moment of the roll call at the Democratic Convention - especially the moment that the Massachusetts delegation profiled their commitment as the first State to allow same sex marriage), McCain unleashed the phenomena that is Sarah Pailin upon the world (a persona surely beyond parody), Russia invaded Georgia, more banks failing or getting nationalised (so much for Thatcherite free markets), South Africa lost its President while Zimbabwe has gained the beginnings of a power share deal.
So, not much has happened.
In one sense the world has speeded up so that events are happening too fast for blogging and in another we're slowing down - revisiting the hubris of past decades.
Now some of the dust is settling around us we can start to work out what kind of world we're living in.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Where next?
Increasingly it appears that support is ebbing away from Gordon Brown as Labour Leader and it is difficult to conceive of things carrying on like this for much longer.
Miliband has just written a comment in the Guardian which looks to me like a leadership bid and it is being reported that Harriet Harman may also be considering standing, though she denies this.
Miliband has just written a comment in the Guardian which looks to me like a leadership bid and it is being reported that Harriet Harman may also be considering standing, though she denies this.
Do the Lambrini?
I only recently saw this advertisement on the telly - what a liberty! Doin the Lambrini is nothing other than Jumpstyle I blogged about earlier.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Glasgow East
Keeping quiet about it at the moment. Surely by election losses are (even with big swings) not uniformly indicative of the outcome of the next General Election.
Congratulations to COC and FELGTB
Congrats to the two latest groups awarded consultative status at the UN to represent LGBT issues of concern - COC from the Netherlands and Spain's FELTGB.
Louise has already blogged (in a more timely manner....) and it is well covered on the ILGA Europe web site.
This is an important breakthrough at the UN where several other NGO's (including ILGA-Europe) have already been agreed after a long struggle with plenty of opposition. The latest vote on FELTGB was 22-20 with 9 abstaining, so still quite narrow margins but with strong advocacy from the EU countries and several African and Asian countries voting in support or abstaining.
Other recent international developments include:
The decision by the Council of Europe to incorporate work on sexual orientation and gender identity in its committees. This is a major step of great significance give that the Council of Europe includes all EU member states but also many countries not part of the EU (e.g. Russia).
Similarly the Organisation of American States also recently adopted a resolution to endorse the need for action to protect people on grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity.
Also recently the ETUC has published "Extending Equality - trade union actions to organize promote equal rights, respect and dignity for workers regardless of their sexual orientation and gender identity"
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
How much did ordinary people know?
I was genuinely thrilled by news of the arrest of Radovan Karadzic. It comes after the installation of a new pro-EU government in Serbia only recently, itself born of political instability following the West's recognition of an independent Kosovo.
I was thrilled until I saw footage on More 4 news tonight.
It showed the Serbs leading off groups of Muslim men (the youngest was 16). They lay them down (film footage continuing) and shot above their heads. Then they stood them up and walked them further into the woods and shot them standing up (Channel 4 froze the footage at the point just prior to the execution), remaining civilians were required to carry away those who had just been killed before they themselves were blindfolded and shot in the back of the head.
It was terrible, painful, distressing viewing. It showed graphically that the Nazi time did not irrevocably end in 1945 but was allowed to resurface in recent times.
As has often been asked of "ordinary Germans" in the Nazi time, how many of us knew?
I'd wager a fair number. I know that I did. Our governments did, but didn't act except to restrain Bosnian Muslims from defending themselves while 'ethnic cleansing' continued unhindered. (This changed after the West finally lost faith in modern day appeasement of mass slaughter and started bombing Serbia and later intervened in Kosovo).
Remember Srebrenica, remember Sarajevo.
We knew. It happened on our watch.
I was thrilled until I saw footage on More 4 news tonight.
It showed the Serbs leading off groups of Muslim men (the youngest was 16). They lay them down (film footage continuing) and shot above their heads. Then they stood them up and walked them further into the woods and shot them standing up (Channel 4 froze the footage at the point just prior to the execution), remaining civilians were required to carry away those who had just been killed before they themselves were blindfolded and shot in the back of the head.
It was terrible, painful, distressing viewing. It showed graphically that the Nazi time did not irrevocably end in 1945 but was allowed to resurface in recent times.
As has often been asked of "ordinary Germans" in the Nazi time, how many of us knew?
I'd wager a fair number. I know that I did. Our governments did, but didn't act except to restrain Bosnian Muslims from defending themselves while 'ethnic cleansing' continued unhindered. (This changed after the West finally lost faith in modern day appeasement of mass slaughter and started bombing Serbia and later intervened in Kosovo).
Remember Srebrenica, remember Sarajevo.
We knew. It happened on our watch.
Friday, July 18, 2008
California - it will be tight
Now the Supreme Court in California has confirmed that proposition 8 will be on November's ballot (with the intention of reversing same sex marriage) two opinion polls show that the No vote has a small lead.
Latest figures show a lead of 51-42%.
This is good but incredibly narrow and anything could happen between now and then. Still a good initial poll finding that (hopefully) will encourage the No campaigners.
Latest figures show a lead of 51-42%.
This is good but incredibly narrow and anything could happen between now and then. Still a good initial poll finding that (hopefully) will encourage the No campaigners.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Strike!
Louise has some interesting blog entries about the 2 day Local Government industrial action which is now drawing to a close, with further industrial action doubtless being planned in what are, I must say, extraordinary economic pressures with considerable increases in utilities, petrol and food biting a big hole in our living standards.
UNISON also has lots of information about the strike action including this list of messages of support (including one from Louise and me on behalf of the National LGBT Committee as well as particularly encouraging messages of support from across the world).
UNISON also has lots of information about the strike action including this list of messages of support (including one from Louise and me on behalf of the National LGBT Committee as well as particularly encouraging messages of support from across the world).
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
A message of support for strikers
At a time of heightened inflation in basic goods, this is a message of solidarity to all Local Government workers taking industrial action on the 16th and 17th July.
For more information see:
UNISON blog on pay matters
Jon Rogers' (by now famous) blog
I, of course, shall not be taking industrial action given I am an NHS employee and we aren't taking industrial action at this time, though we may do so next year, given the high rate of inflation.
For more information see:
UNISON blog on pay matters
Jon Rogers' (by now famous) blog
I, of course, shall not be taking industrial action given I am an NHS employee and we aren't taking industrial action at this time, though we may do so next year, given the high rate of inflation.
Tories abandon belief in the market
In their current proposals for a fuel price stabiliser the Tories are stating that the government has a duty to fix the price of petrol so that people can plan ahead..... sound familiar anyone?
Maybe this can be extended to bread, milk, shoes and so on and we can have a fully socialist command economy.
Of course the implication of the Tories proposal is potentially very expensive, if the price of petrol goes up and people buy less of it it implies a big loss to the exchequer. For all that I am not against a 'modified stabiliser' which includes a fuel tax escalator where the price of fuel does not rise with inflation.
Having fuel duty go down makes, quite frankly, for chaos both for the exchequer (i.e. resources for public spending on vital services) and for the 'price mechanism' (which is supposed to have a role in giving feedback on relative scarcity).
Maybe this can be extended to bread, milk, shoes and so on and we can have a fully socialist command economy.
Of course the implication of the Tories proposal is potentially very expensive, if the price of petrol goes up and people buy less of it it implies a big loss to the exchequer. For all that I am not against a 'modified stabiliser' which includes a fuel tax escalator where the price of fuel does not rise with inflation.
Having fuel duty go down makes, quite frankly, for chaos both for the exchequer (i.e. resources for public spending on vital services) and for the 'price mechanism' (which is supposed to have a role in giving feedback on relative scarcity).
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