All across the developed world, mainstream centre-left parties are in decline. In France, the Netherlands and Greece, they have ceased to be even remotely relevant. In countries like Ireland and Italy, they have been replaced by left-wing populist movements- Sinn Fein and M5S respectively. In France and to a lesser extent Spain, they have been …
Unnatural vigilance is really required of the citizen because of the horrible rapidity with which human institutions grow old.”. (G.K. Chesterton, quoted in The Sunday Times) Was he thinking of the Constitution, liberal democracy, the rule of law, international treaties and cooperation, universities as promoters of critical thinking (not just job training), and financial services …
In 1968 the Kerner Commission recommended “massive and sustained investment in jobs and education to reduce black poverty , inequality and racial injustice”. Now, 50 years later, public schools have been re-segregated, the gap between the teaching quality for rich and poor is among the highest in the world. Schools in the Northeast are the …
Continue reading ‘The US: 50 years on and it seems the best intentions have come to nought’ »
“The “British establishment” today is somewhat removed from its origins in the class system and privilege. In government, explains researcher Aeron Davis, the change started in the 1980s when Oxbridge types began to be displaced from the upper rungs of Whitehall, as an emphasis on “meritocracy” and expertise represented by grammar school education, the professions …
Continue reading ‘Old establishment, new establishment – both have failed’ »
A Chinese family was shocked when the pet dog they had raised for two years turned out to be a black bear. The family bought what they thought was a Tibetan mastiff in 2016. They realised their mistake when it wouldn’t stop growing and started walking on two legs. “The more he grew, the more …
In Finland fathers spend more time per day (eight minutes on average, actually) with school- aged children than do mothers.
Should the British voting age be reduced to 16? Labour, the Lib Dems, the Greens, SNP and Plaid Cymru all believe so, and recently sought unsuccessfully to vote through a private members’ bill in Parliament to that effect. The arguments made for this idea are specious. Letting 16-year-olds vote, it is claimed, would invigorate our …
A new phenomenon is disturbing my usual peace of mind. I refer to the habit that has recently caught on whereby visitors to our neighborhood, either from Maryland or Virginia, park on our block and sit there in the car, engrossed in their cellphones or computers, sometimes for an hour or more at a time. …
New York should prepare for 15-metre storm surges by 2300. Much worse is yet to come. Climate change will bring good news and really bad news for New York City. The good news is that hurricanes might be more likely to miss the city over the next three centuries. This means the future risk of …
“We are all,atheists about most of the gods that humanity has ever believed in. Some of us just go one god further.” (Richard Dawkins)
I sit gazing over the warm waters of Islamorada – The seabirds, the distant lighthouse, the wind-surfers, Kayakers, and jet-skiers skudding to and fro. Islamorada is about relaxation, slowness Extended time, warmth, sun and beauty. What intrigues me is what seems to be a wreck, Marooned on the outer edges of the reef. From the …
“From a worldly point of view there is no mistake so great as that of being always right.” Samuel Butler, quoted in Forbes
When Trump made this boast in the now infamous video he was just revealing a sad truth. Roman Polanski drugged and raped a 13-year-old girl, escaped prosecution, and went on to win an Academy Award “to a standing ovation”. Basketball star Kobe Bryant suffered only a brief hit to his reputation after he paid off …
Continue reading ‘“Famous men can do whatever they want to women.” Donald Trump’ »
More than two-fifths of British state secondary school teachers rarely or never advise their brightest students to apply to Oxford or Cambridge universities. A quarter say they usually do, and a fifth always do. (The Sutton Trust/The Times). My grandson is starting to think about universities. He tells me that, in his excellent (private) school, …
Continue reading ‘Thought for the day: it’s all about expectations’ »
When asked their views on the Ten Commandments, 8% of Leave voters, versus 4% of Remain voters, said that the commandment against lying (thou shalt not bear false witness) was no longer an important principle to live by. (YouGov) How have we arrived at this situation? One should not need this part of the Ten …
