Conspiracies Against The Laity : The Real Power Inquiry

I have decided to call my "Real Power Inquiry" "Conspiracies Against the Laity" for the following reasons :

1. Something called "The Power Inquiry", chaired by Helena Kennedy QC, has recently reported to Government (its client).

2. I regard all "Establishments", and, in particular the Law, as being, in part at least, "a conspiracy against the laity", to use the well-known words of G B Shaw.

Some Advice for Fat Cats & General Practitioners

The truth of the saying "you are what you eat" has been brought home to me recently. My adoptive cat has just changed his dietary preference from a soft Tesco's ready-meal to an apparently more healthy (nine out of ten vets seem to recommend it) "active maturity" granule. Not only has he lost weight, but resumed life on the prowl, having become a bit of a couch potato of late. This goes to show that relatively modest changes to one's regime can achieve almost immediate beneficial effects. Extreme changes are often unnecessary, and maybe lethal.

From a business/management perspective, what I particularly dislike about the New Labour "Regime" is its preference for "constant revolution" in many areas of government. Spurious administrative changes in the name of "modernisation" have been very much in fashion, particularly where these involve the purchase of expensive and, arguably unnecessary, IT systems from which many a cat has grown fat. Nor, in the case of the Health Service, is it only management practitioners who have become excessively prosperous.

In my personal capacity as a patient, I can only think of one General Practitioner who would merit a salary of circa £100k per annum, apparently the going rate for GPs these days. This gentleman was an African doctor practising in this country who combined an excellent consultative manner (calm, caring gravitas) with the ability to offer clear diagnosis and appropriate treatment. The true value of this kind of medical practitioner is illustrated in the following case study from my personal experience, and, as it happens, that of my cat.

Some years ago, my then cat and I both developed lumps in our mouths. In my case, I had rather foolishly allowed the National Health Service to extract my wisdom teeth, something which seemed to lead not to cure but subsequent dental problems. When my lump appeared I was therefore anxious. However, the doctor mentioned above assured me that this was a harmless bony growth and I should not worry about it. Indeed, I have had the lump now for about 12 years, and it has caused me no problems at all.

Meanwhile, my old cat's veterinary care was rather less appropriate, and, in the end, perhaps fatal. The vet suggested that the growth in his mouth might be cancerous and advised a biopsy.
In removing tissue for this purpose, the vet blocked a salivary duct and my cat developed a cyst on the side of his neck, in size probably half way between a golf and tennis ball (ie big for a small animal). The biopsy revealed there was no cancer. However, the cyst caused serious subsequent health problems for the cat, although it was eventually treated effectively by another vet.

In the case of my cat and, and other animals in whose care I have been involved, my experience is that veterinary treatments can be overzealous. This may have something to do with the veterinary insurance industry which has boomed in recent years. Purchasers of private medical care please take note ! However, even within the NHS I would suggest that there is much unnecessary "treatment". Not only is this costly in money and "opportunity cost" (when people who really need treatment cannot obtain it), the cure, as they say, may be worse than the disease.

On Serious Matters and Lite Entertainment

My last blog concluded on the subject of S&M, and more particularly, "Domination Services", and, whilst I could probably put together a good business plan for a commercial/social enterprise in this sector - and may yet do so - I actually want to look at dominant power structures and ideologies in our society first. So, next week my "Real Power Inquiry" starts.
This will be structured as follows :

Janet Mackinnon Blog

Introduction to The Real Power Inquiry on the true meaning of "power politics etc".

The Market for Domination Services will cover things like : "The Tyranny of Fashion", including spurious lingerie marketing; and the domination of health services by the drugs industry ie licenced pharmaceutical companies, rather than illegal drugs dealers (although I might tackle them as well)

The Edge of Town Blog

What Future for Feminism ? will deal with the domination of feminist politics in this country by New Labour Neo-Conservative "feminists" like Ruth Kelly (Minister for Women), Harriet Harman, and, yes, Cherie Booth-Blair QC. The exclusion of other feminist agendas from mainstream politics and policies will also be considered.

Janet Stone Blog

Troubles with Trolls will look at the negative and positive aspects of what might be construed (especially by men) as "the dark feminine".

The Green Man Project Blog

(Over) Population and Sustainability will be the focus here.

If the above sounds somewhat "heavy", it may be, but might just make interesting reading.


However, in the meantime - and it being a Saturday - I want to strike a "liter" note, and say something about Simon Cowell, "The King of Light Entertainment" whom my previous blog also touched upon. Now some people may feel that my blogs have been rather hard on New Labour (something for which I make absolutely no apology !), and it may now come as a surprise that I'm now going to say something positive about the "Tony Blair Years". Simon Cowell, although I have no idea what his politics are, is in my view one positive manifestation of New Labour. Why ? Let me list the reasons. Mr Cowell :

1. Beat Gordon Brown to 97th place in the "Worlds Sexiest Men" Poll. Mr Cowell came in at 96th.

2. Has made alot of money (Very important in New Labour circles, as Peter Mandelson would no doubt assure us)

3. Has a positive view of equality/diversity issues (I'm being genuine here !)

Shame that Tony Blair didn't pursue the same course in life as Mr Cowell, but maybe there's still time. ("Cherie, we're joining the other LaLas later this year !").

All this said, I actually like Mr Cowell (although I suspect that he's not at all green...but I'm no puritan either), but its the "dark side" of New Labour that really gets me going.

"Chilled, but Still Dangerous"
On the Subjects M&S...& S&M

They say that success is all about the right personal (and professional) branding right now, so I was delighted by a fashion "find" yesterday. Walking through the lingerie department of Marks and Spencer (M&S), I spotted a pair of trousers on the sale rack that looked just the job for me. I should point out that I'm always on the lookout for a robust pair of trousers, as cycling almost everywhere these days brings considerable pressure in the pants (as distinct from lingerie) department. A quick glance at the trousers in question, therefore, brought considerable satisfaction as they were constructed of strong black denim, quite up to wear, in fact, on a building site, with the added advantage of a high elasticated waist, so no bottom cleavage problem. There are few things worse, in my experience, than a cold wind up your backside, speaking metaphorically as well as physically, of course. Like Simon Cowell (whose appearance on "Desert Island Discs" revealed him to be a man of exceptionally good musical taste), I also quite like a "high waist" for sartorial, as well as practical, reasons.

However, my M&S trousers - of which I am now the proud owner - have other advantages : price, as they are for teenagers; and, branding. For a pedestian and cyclist like myself, who is regulary "hustled" by motorists, these trousers have a brand which is truly talismanic : "Back Off" (with a skull and cross bones symbol for added punch). Moreover, they carry a red logo containing the words "Chilled, but Still Dangerous", which I would like to think still holds in it something of my attitude to life, even in middle age. In fact, I now feel truly empowered by my new pants, especially as I put them to the test this morning, tackling a spot of professional bother in what I felt was a very cool fashion indeed.

Now all this brings me to another subject, not concerning M&S but S&M, or "Domination Services" to be precise. An advertisement in my local free paper invited applications from people interested in providing these (something I understand can be very lucrative), and, I must confess, it did cross my mind to apply : but this is a subject more suited to "The Edge of Town"blog.

Equestrian Craft Skills

Following my earlier post on "Horse Welfare and the Household Cavalry", which some may find hard on "equestrian professionals", I thought something positive on this subject might be in order. Some of the most important contributions to horse welfare come from what are often referred to as the equestrian "trades", including good saddlers and farriers. In my experience, the Household Cavalry has produced some very good people here, and it may well be argued that their role is just as significant as the equestrian pageantry for which this institution rightly renowned.

Horse Welfare & The Household Cavalry

On yesterday's BBC1 "Midlands Today" there was an interesting story about equine welfare. The item concerned the horses of the Household Cavalry, which, as the presenter noted in his introduction, form part of what many people regard to be amongst the best of British heritage. However, on this occasion the presence of some Household Cavalry horses in a muddy field in South Worcestershire had met not with public applause, but with disapproval. In short, several people had called the RSPCA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), and one local horsewoman was considering writing to the Queen.

A Household Cavalry vet was duly interviewed and maintained that the health and welfare of their horses was not at all compromised, although they would shortly be moving back to London. No action on the matter is being taken by the RSPCA.

I have to say that this story evoked very mixed feelings in me. Having had some horse dealings with serving and former Household Cavalry people, including their vets, a part of me was delighted that someone had put them on the spot, and not a particularly comfortable one at that.
For the fault of these people, in my view, is their own over-preoccupation with how things appear, and propensity to "tell tales" themselves if things don't "look right". Perhaps a bit more attention to substance rather than show is required here ! Incidentally, this applies to the horse world as a whole, and particularly perhaps in Middle England.

For this story - like all stories - has another side to it. As someone was has been based in Worcestershire for five years, I have noticed a propensity amongst local horseowners to contact the RSPCA when they feel the horses of other people are being neglected, even when the animals in question are quite healthy, which appeared to be the case with the Household Cavalry horses. These callers to the RSPCA tend to be people either relatively new to horses, and/or those with strong views about how how horses should be managed, such as a preference for maximum clipping, rugging and stabling in (ie up to 24 hours a day) during the "winter".

The fact is that a genuine cavalry horse, as distinct from a show or sports horse, should be capable of dealing with "harsh" conditions, including bad weather and muddy ground. The big problem for horse welfare in Worcestershire, from my perspective, is animals who are "not fit for purpose". This lack of "fitness" typically has several attributes. Firstly, it is difficult to obtain a good hardy middle weight horse (as distinct from pony) of the "cavalry type" these days. Secondly, animals are often insufficiently "fittened" by their owners and become chronically unsound. Thirdly, there is tendency to mollycoddle, and "vet", to the point of cruelty.

This brings me back to the subject of "vetting". For, in my opinion, some of the major contributors to poor horse "fitness", as I have described it, and consequently welfare, are to be found amongst the vetinary community, as well as other "equestrian professionals".

REGENERATION MANIFESTO(S)

Now it is mid-January and with the prospect of more seasonal temperatures, not to say stormy weather, in the next few days, I feel 2007 has really begun. I've decided that the focus of my blog during this Winter/Spring season, as Nature once again regenerates herself, will be "Regeneration", and, in particular, "Regeneration Manifestos". Indeed, I intend to publish my own "Manifesto for Regeneration", which will deal not only with earthly and material considerations, but intellectual, cultural and spiritual matters as well : these, in my view, being equally important at the present time. Moreover, although my "Regeneration Manifesto" will focus on Britain, and in particular, Middle England, I will draw upon the experience of other nations, both in the over/developed and less-developed world. Whilst this inquiry will be of a serious nature, I hope that it will also be humorous and entertaining, and widen understanding of what is meant by "regeneration" in both its practical and more philosophical manifestations.

A quick Internet word-search of "Regeneration Manifesto" offers a useful starting point for exploring the theme of regeneration. The first entry to come up is the 2005 British Property Federation (BPF) Regeneration Manifesto. This is actually rather a useful document because BPF have come up with some of the most coherent thinking, not only only property-based regeneration but also on sustainable development, transport planning, energy conservation etc, which is not to say that I always agree with them. Following on from the BPF entry, are a number of references to manifestos for community-based regeneration, including one from SURF (Scottish Urban Regeneration Forum); and, others concerned with improving the quality of the built environment and local enterprise. I will explore these and other "Regeneration Manifestos" in coming blogs. I will also consider the religious significance of "regeneration", something particularly significant in the Christian faith in the context of the Easter celebrations; and, perhaps closest to my own heart, the meaning of "sustainable regeneration" for Planet Earth and her people, animal and plant life, both globally and locally.

Gordon's Gang and Labour's New Politics of the Playground

"Worse than a crime, it was a mistake". This saying might sum up many of the government's ill-advised policy ventures, not least the war in Iraq. However, these are collective misadventures, and not just the mistake of Tony and his cronies.

Until yesterday, I had quite a lot of respect for The Fabian Society, but after they hosted last weekend's love-in (as the BBC put it) for Gordon's Gang (ie Gordon Brown and his cronies), my respect is somewhat diminished.

One of Gordon's journalist cronies suggested that the Chancellor didn't identify himself strongly with the war in Iraq because foreign policy had been largely left to Tony Blair, whilst Mr Brown attended to economic and, increasingly, broader domestic policy.

Sorry, but this doesn't wash, and if the media buy into this nonsense, they're an even dafter lot than I'd reckoned on. The only good thing about Britain's involvement in Iraq, that I can think of, is that it brought about the dismissal/resignation of Mr Lifestyle TV himself, Greg Dyke.

Now, however, the "Blair Lifestyle Years", during which Cherie was advised by lifestyle guru Carol Caplin and her conman Aussie boyfriend, have been replaced by the prospect of, the equally ghastly and potentially lethal, Gordon's Gang and their politics of the playground.

The wonder is that much of the media seem to buying into this nonsense, just as they did during Blair's "Lifestyle TV" years. Get real ! The prospect of the Chancellor's "representative on earth", Ed "fatboy" Balls, sorting out the problems of the Palestinians is a non-starter.

As the rather good government minister, Kim Howells, recently pointed out, the Palestinian people have been been amongst the most subsidised on the planet. One consequence of this is the country's burgeoning population bomb, alongside its other explosive problems.

Indeed, it could be argued that the population problem of the Middle East (ie too many people, economic and environmental unsustainability) lies at the very heart of instability there. Massive - ie $billions - United States "re-construction investment" in Iraq has achieved very little.

Alot of this, by all accounts, has been syphoned off to places like the more exclusive parts of London. If Gordon's Gang want to do something sensible, let them start by tackling money-laundering at home, but let's have no more daft playground adventures please.

Main Event or Side Show ?

Whilst I prefer not to know about the domestic lives of politicians - how they choose to educate their children, where they go on holiday etc - such insights sometimes throw light on wider and more important matters.

Although, "friends" of the Prime Minister maintain that he is much better appreciated abroad than at home (by which I mean in Britain), this may not be the case. Apparently, he is known in the Italian media as "The Scrounger" as a consequence of his (? former) policy of holidaying at the expence of wealthy political friends.

When questioned about his penchant for transatlantic holidays and air travel, the Prime Minister was yesterday robust in the defence of he and his family's regular right to this (although he is now to "offset" both governmental/business and personal air travel).

Whilst Mr Blair's policy on air travel caused much indignation amongst the environmental and green community, it should certainly have come as no surprise. For both the Prime Minister and the New Labour "Community" have clearly regarded the issues of environmental conservation and sustainability as a side show from the outset of office.

For those of us that regard environmental issues as the main event for the global community just now, the personal and political preferences of Mr Blair and his New Labour colleagues may be a disappointment. However, we should take consolation in the fact that he and his administration (and I include Gordon Brown in this) are fast becoming a side show themselves.

British General Election in 2007 ?

The possibility of a snap general election this year has been raised in an interview with Conservative Party Leader, David Cameron. This is something which bears thinking about, I feel.

"If Voting Changed Anything, They'd Abolish It"

In 1987 I read a rather good book by Ken Livingstone - Red Ken as he was then - called "If Voting Changed Anything, They'd Abolish It". This account of the abolition of the Greater London Council by the Conservative Government of Margaret Thatcher - who appeared to harbour a particular dislike for Mr Livingstone (I wonder why ?) - was quite engrossing.

The expression "If Voting Changed Anything, They'd Abolish It" seems, like Mr Livingstone, to have received something of a comeback in recent years : I wonder why ?

Perhaps yesterday's outcome of BBC Radio 4's poll of unpopular legislation throws some light on this. The following extract is taken from today's Independent :

"Row as 'Today' programme's poll is won by fox-hunting alliance
By Ben Russell, Political Correspondent
Published: 02 January 2007

"It should have been a bit of festive fun with a slightly serious political edge. But the Radio 4 Today programme's annual Christmas survey instead led to a row after listeners voted to repeal the ban on fox-hunting.

The poll, which has a long history of producing questionable results, caused more controversy this year, with claims that the Countryside Alliance had orchestrated calls to abolish the 2004 Hunting Act.

The Alliance dismissed the claims as "sour grapes".

A total of 52.8 per cent of the telephone and internet votes went to repealing the hunting ban. It was well ahead of the 29.7 per cent of the voters who wanted to scrap the 1972 European Communities Act, which took Britain into what is now the European Union."

The fact is that many people regard fox-hunting, whether or not they participate in it, as an important part of our cultural heritage. It could be argued that "The Old Fox" Mr Livingstone - by then Purple Ken as the Labour Party had expelled him - was voted in as Mayor of London in 2000 with sentiments not totally dissimilar.

If such sentiments - including legitimate concerns about European Union - upset certain elements of the political classes, then the more fool they ! If voting changed anything, they may abolish it (or want to), but, it should be remembered, that everyday dog, fox and hound, will, ultimately have his or her day.