Should CERN build an even more expensive collider?

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There is a problem with the current physics .  We have quantum theory for very small particles, relativity for the big stuff, and the Standard Model, which includes all the weird particles discovered by physicists all over the world.  All seem true individually, but relativity and quantum theory contradict one another and the Standard Model doesn’t seem to work- if you plugged it into the universe  the universe would apparently vanish.  Physicists can only study approximately 4% of a vast universe, the rest being dark energy and dark matter, and we don’t know yet what exactly these two phenomena are.  All in all we are still in a state of stupendous ignorance.

The current plan is to build the Future Circular Collider, 60 miles liong under Lake Geneva and costing 20 billion pounds.  When we are faced with huge problems of climate, population movements, water shortages etc should we be concerning ourselves about physics?

My answer is an unequivocal “yes”. The reason is that politicians and the voting public are simply not going to solve or ameliorate the problems of Planet Earth. There is too much money at stake and too little will-power.  If anything is to improve it will improve through advances in science that  help everyone, from the young to the old, from the poor peasant to the fat cats, the rich, and the selfish.  Just as long as the science isn’t politicized, because the nationalists and self-styled “strong men” politicize everything for their benefit, if they can.

Ignore the ignorant and self-obsessed and let us gather as much knowledge of the universe as we can, trusting that the scientists can repeat their successes, such as creation of the internet.

The moral self-image

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Would you return a lost wallet lying in the street?  Of course!

Researchers left 17,000 wallets in 355 cities around the world (wow! big spenders!), some containing money, small or large amounts.  They found that, when cash was found the finders tended to return it to the owners.  If the wallets contained small amounts, say £10, the rate of returns was 51%., but at £75 the rate rose to 72%.  Clearly, most people see themselves as honest, as having a conscience, and would be shocked to be regarded as thieves.  Researchers concluded that, for most people, a moral self-image is important, and that they get quiet satisfaction from being seen to do the right thing.

Supporters of Epicurus would suggest that simple things like returning lost money to its owner are part and parcel of living a life peace of mind and contentment.  Do nothing that tends to increase anxiety or fear or is in conflict with your conscience.

Borrowing like there is no tomorrow

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The US federal government will rack up $12.2 trillion in deficits through 2029, according to a new projection from the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO), an $809 billion increase from its last projection in May.

CBO, Congress’s official budgeting scorekeeper, said that the deficits would average 4.7 percent of GDP through the next decade, a significant increase from the 2.9 percent average over the past 50 years. This huge debt has to be serviced, which means that you have to cut other expenditures to service it. We have had a long run with full employment, thanks to Obama.  Usually, when the economy is healthy, the debt comes down; it needs to so that there is borrowing capacity to tide the country over the next (inevitable) slowdown.  Only under a Republican regime does the debt nowadays go up.

In the old days it was the Democrats who spent, spent, spent.  Now it is the Republicans, formerly “fiscally responsible”, who are blithely trying to get Trump re- elected – at any price..  Of course, it will be the poorer people in the boondocks, who vote Republican, whose services will be cut.

The Britain we knew is gone forever

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The following is based partly on an article in the Financial Times:

On July 20th Martin Wolf, wrote in the Financial Times:  “No one knows what kind of Britain will emerge from the “Brexit earthquake”, but my increasingly clear conviction is that the outcome will be ugly and the damage long-term. “The UK that “the world thought it knew – stable, pragmatic and respected – is gone, probably forever. Failing to agree a smooth Brexit due to fears over the Irish backstop is a national folly – since that backstop only prevents Britain from making trade deals that are either “less important than maintaining good relations with the EU”, “probably unavailable” (China and India) or “abusive” (the US)”.

My comment: We now face the prospect of an un-thought-out, no-deal Brexit, multiple constitutional crises, the suspension of Parliament for a record five weeks (preventing Parliament from taking action to avoid crashing out of the EU), and the probable break-up of the UK. We also we have the prospect of the most divisive general election ever,  a choice between the irresponsible fantasist, Boris Johnson,  and Jeremy Corbyn, arguably the worst Labour Party leader ever.  As Martin Wolf comments: “Can Britain really be this lost, dithering between Ayn Rand and Leon Trotsky? What’s happening is not worthy of a serious country. The conclusion? We no longer are one”.

P.S  The Queen agreed to a five week suspension of Parliament.  One assumes she took the best advice and had no choice but to agree.  If so, the rules need a big change.  This executive coup makes a mockery of Parliamentary government, and is reminiscent of the treatment King Charles I dealt out to Parliament in the 17th Century, a disaster at the time, leading to civil war.  But the long- term effect was to reduce the power of the monarchy and make Parliament supreme.  When did the Constitution change, allowing this unelected bighead with dictatorial leanings, to steal the power from the elected parliament?  Britain needs to return power to elected representatives.  Pronto!

Ataraxia! Where are you now we need you more than ever?

“Let us bring in the workers we need to succeed”

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The London “Evening Standard” is hardly a left-wing publication.  On most issues it backs the Tory views.  However, back on July 17th they publicised a plea to the government to “let us bring in the workers we need to succeed”.  It was issued by a consortium of business groups representing thousands of companies.  They are worried that skilled foreign workers will return home after Brexit.

As it is, there is a serious shortage of specialist workers.  What the companies want is the extension of temporary visas to 2 years, reforms to let firms sponsor more overseas recruits, and 2 year visas for new international graduates.  At the moment you can only bring in foreign workers if they are paid £30,000 or more.  The retail sector alone relies on 170,000 EU nationals, presumably most earning less than £30,000.  These people could be sent home after Brexit, the result being chaos.

But wait a moment –  the Brexiteers want to dispense with the services of all East Europeans, skilled or not.   Brits are no longer taught electrics, carpentry, plumbing, bricklaying or any other essential manual skills in what used to be called “technical colleges”.  These colleges renamed themselves universities and their technical expertise seems to have declined.  So we now absolutely rely on East Europeans to keep our houses upright and the rain out.  Wait till the rich brexiteer Tories cannot get anyone capable of repairing their houses, let alone serving in high street shops!  Many poorer people will rejoice at the new vacant job opportunities, but the mood of customers will sour when the rain comes through the roof.  Be careful what you wish for!