This message comes not from a space, or rather not from space as Houston might have once understood this, but from built space on the ground. In short, Houston has too much new space, although in fact this is not a new problem. Th city has always had a tremendously speculative property market, and it has not been unusual for large amounts of commercial space to lie empty. However, the sheer volume of speculative real estate development in recent years, combined with the sub-prime crisis, whose aftershocks are still reverberating around the United States, has created unprecedented difficulties for home owners. To mix metaphors even more, many of these properties are "under water", a North American term for negative equity, and citizens around the country are having to get to grips with this, the ongoing problem of mortgage foreclosures and associated debts. The title of this post comes from a briefing for people in the Texas city of Houston who are thus afflicted.
The situation in the UK is different because speculative real estate development is regulated through a planning system which just about survived the previous administration and may, or may not, fare better with the present one. The appointment of Ed Balls as Shadow Chancellor last week is a timely reminder that had his good wife Yvette Cooper, Housing Minister for several years under New Labour, had her way the situation over here might be more akin to the US, Ireland and Spain. For what Balls means by "growth", and we shall be hearing a great deal more from him on the subject, is an over-developed construction and and real estate sector, notably in the form of speculative house-building on green field sites. This is precisely the kind of growth the United States experienced during the so-called boom years. Meanwhile, the managed decline of former industrial cities was encouraged, a policy which New Labour also embarked upon with the disastrous "Pathfinder Programme", now fortunately abolished by the Coalition Government. The last thing this country needs is US-style planning !
Postscript: "A Man in Full" by the American writer Tom Wolfe remains, in my view, one of the best accounts of the property cycle in the United States. Without wishing to divulge details of the novel's plot, I would also add that the hero's "journey" in one key respect resembles Tony Blair's.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Sunday, January 23, 2011
NOUGHT SO QUEER AS FOREIGN FOLK
There’s a saying in the North of England “Nowt sae queer as folk” or “Nothing so strange as people”, which I’ll expand to “Nought so queer as foreign folk”.
Britain is generally regarded as one of the most open countries in the world, particularly as regards foreign ownership of British companies and other strategic assets. Thus in many respects we are a multinational country, perhaps to the extent that it is questionable whether our elected Government actually runs things, or an oligarchy of international business and financial interests does.
The Murdoch media empire is one such group of interests, and many will support the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills’ reluctance to concede further control of UK television to this, although he no longer has a say in the matter. However, it is the conduct of the group’s newspapers, notably the News of the World, which raises most questions, particularly as regards mobile phone hacking.
I have to say, however, that when news emerged earlier today that former Prime Minister Gordon Brown has contacted the Metropolitan Police about his phone being hacked, it was not immediately clear who the suspected culprit was, and whether the News of the World, the police themselves or even the security services might be the source of the intrusion.
It does now seem that Murdoch’s men – and quite possibly women – are the prime suspects in this matter, and perhaps, therefore, BSkyB should be renamed BSpyB, although it is apparently rogue News of the World reporters who are actually in the frame. Gordon Brown is also one a number of diverse public figures who have reportedly fallen victim to such phone hacking.
The resignation of the current Prime Minister’s Director of Communications and former News of the World Editor, Andy Coulson, last Friday cannot be regarded as pure coincidence it would seem.
Nevertheless, the more important story, it seems to me, is just how the media became the story, and why press pranks have so distorted coverage of current affairs at home and abroad across the British broadcasting sector, including the BBC, that important news is often side-lined. Clearly the culture of “Spin Doctoring” which took hold during New Labour lies at the heart of the problem.
“What goes around comes around” is a lesson which politicians need to learn. Hopefully, former Prime Minister Brown now understands this, and his successor Mr Cameron does too.
The present Coalition Government would also do well to regulate relations with some foreign powers, including the Murdoch Empire, and to secure more balanced media coverage of these.
Britain is generally regarded as one of the most open countries in the world, particularly as regards foreign ownership of British companies and other strategic assets. Thus in many respects we are a multinational country, perhaps to the extent that it is questionable whether our elected Government actually runs things, or an oligarchy of international business and financial interests does.
The Murdoch media empire is one such group of interests, and many will support the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills’ reluctance to concede further control of UK television to this, although he no longer has a say in the matter. However, it is the conduct of the group’s newspapers, notably the News of the World, which raises most questions, particularly as regards mobile phone hacking.
I have to say, however, that when news emerged earlier today that former Prime Minister Gordon Brown has contacted the Metropolitan Police about his phone being hacked, it was not immediately clear who the suspected culprit was, and whether the News of the World, the police themselves or even the security services might be the source of the intrusion.
It does now seem that Murdoch’s men – and quite possibly women – are the prime suspects in this matter, and perhaps, therefore, BSkyB should be renamed BSpyB, although it is apparently rogue News of the World reporters who are actually in the frame. Gordon Brown is also one a number of diverse public figures who have reportedly fallen victim to such phone hacking.
The resignation of the current Prime Minister’s Director of Communications and former News of the World Editor, Andy Coulson, last Friday cannot be regarded as pure coincidence it would seem.
Nevertheless, the more important story, it seems to me, is just how the media became the story, and why press pranks have so distorted coverage of current affairs at home and abroad across the British broadcasting sector, including the BBC, that important news is often side-lined. Clearly the culture of “Spin Doctoring” which took hold during New Labour lies at the heart of the problem.
“What goes around comes around” is a lesson which politicians need to learn. Hopefully, former Prime Minister Brown now understands this, and his successor Mr Cameron does too.
The present Coalition Government would also do well to regulate relations with some foreign powers, including the Murdoch Empire, and to secure more balanced media coverage of these.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
UNCLOSETING BRITAIN'S QUEER POLITICS
Has the word “Bisexual” been banned by the BBC?
This question was raised by Britain’s former ambassador to the United States, Sir Christopher Meyer, whilst being interviewed on Radio 4’s Today Programme a few weeks ago. The subject was Russian spies, and Sir Christopher disclosed that both female and male Russian agents had been sent to tempt him during his days as a diplomat. During this disclosure, the word “bi-sexual” came out and Sir Christopher asked if he could say that on the BBC. The interviewer sounded uncertain.
I mention this matter partly because of its relevance to the topical issue of British undercover police agents having affairs with, and sometimes even marrying, the people on whom their spying. The subject of bisexuality – although the word itself was not mentioned - also came up again on the Today Programme only this week when it was disclosed that Energy Secretary Chris Huhne’s new partner was previously in a lesbian relationship.
The fact is, of course, that the heterosexual/homosexual, or straight/gay if you prefer, dichotomy does not really exist. Many people find themselves somewhere between the two. However, the majority of these choose to repress their bisexuality because at the present time this is a social taboo area, as reflected in its more or less unmentionable status, outside sensationalist soaps, on Britain’s national public broadcasting network.
Nevertheless, much of the rest of the world still regards the British as a pretty queer lot, and for good reason, in my view. Social silence, to use an anthropological term, on the subject of bisexuality seems to me to reflect a much deeper discomfort with any kind of conceptual challenge where ambiguity plays an important role. In short, we British like simple ideas, and, to compensate psychologically for this – yes I do subscribe to some Freudian thinking – we go in for administrative complexity in a big way.
The BBC itself is a very good example of this, and so are the majority of our other national institutions. Many of these enjoyed what can only be described as a “golden age of administrative complexity” under the previous government, and the prime mover in all this was indeed the former Prime Minister, Tony Blair, although Gordon Brown did his utmost equal his predecessor. Blair, I would suggest, is the archetypal repressed British queer, and Brown the lesser sort.
After all, what men in their right mind could have been seduced by their own Spin Doctors? This is why, yesterday, I expressed my gratitude for the resignation of Andy Coulson, whose presence at No 10 certainly set me wondering about David Cameron, especially with his public school boy background. Was this bit of rough to be our new Prime Minister’s undoing? The relationship with Deputy Nick Clegg is a different matter, because Coalition Government, if not yet politically endorsing bisexuality, has certainly brought Britain’s queer politics out of the closet.
This question was raised by Britain’s former ambassador to the United States, Sir Christopher Meyer, whilst being interviewed on Radio 4’s Today Programme a few weeks ago. The subject was Russian spies, and Sir Christopher disclosed that both female and male Russian agents had been sent to tempt him during his days as a diplomat. During this disclosure, the word “bi-sexual” came out and Sir Christopher asked if he could say that on the BBC. The interviewer sounded uncertain.
I mention this matter partly because of its relevance to the topical issue of British undercover police agents having affairs with, and sometimes even marrying, the people on whom their spying. The subject of bisexuality – although the word itself was not mentioned - also came up again on the Today Programme only this week when it was disclosed that Energy Secretary Chris Huhne’s new partner was previously in a lesbian relationship.
The fact is, of course, that the heterosexual/homosexual, or straight/gay if you prefer, dichotomy does not really exist. Many people find themselves somewhere between the two. However, the majority of these choose to repress their bisexuality because at the present time this is a social taboo area, as reflected in its more or less unmentionable status, outside sensationalist soaps, on Britain’s national public broadcasting network.
Nevertheless, much of the rest of the world still regards the British as a pretty queer lot, and for good reason, in my view. Social silence, to use an anthropological term, on the subject of bisexuality seems to me to reflect a much deeper discomfort with any kind of conceptual challenge where ambiguity plays an important role. In short, we British like simple ideas, and, to compensate psychologically for this – yes I do subscribe to some Freudian thinking – we go in for administrative complexity in a big way.
The BBC itself is a very good example of this, and so are the majority of our other national institutions. Many of these enjoyed what can only be described as a “golden age of administrative complexity” under the previous government, and the prime mover in all this was indeed the former Prime Minister, Tony Blair, although Gordon Brown did his utmost equal his predecessor. Blair, I would suggest, is the archetypal repressed British queer, and Brown the lesser sort.
After all, what men in their right mind could have been seduced by their own Spin Doctors? This is why, yesterday, I expressed my gratitude for the resignation of Andy Coulson, whose presence at No 10 certainly set me wondering about David Cameron, especially with his public school boy background. Was this bit of rough to be our new Prime Minister’s undoing? The relationship with Deputy Nick Clegg is a different matter, because Coalition Government, if not yet politically endorsing bisexuality, has certainly brought Britain’s queer politics out of the closet.
Friday, January 21, 2011
THE NEW SECRET POLICEMAN'S BALLS ? *
Before returning to the subject of Ed Balls' appointment as Shadow Chancellor, I would like to express gratitude for the resignation of Andy Coulson, the Prime Minister’s outgoing Head of Communications. However, on a day when Tony Blair made a further appearance at the Iraq Inquiry, I do wonder why the Coulson story has received so much media attention.
Alan Johnson’s resignation yesterday, we have subsequently learnt, appears to be the consequence of his wife having an affair with a police protection officer, or rather the forthcoming appearance of this story in the media. But is all as it appears?
This blog generally supports the cock-up theory of events rather than the conspiratorial one, although in the case of Alan Johnson’s resignation perhaps both theories are equally applicable. So let me give a little spin of my own to this story.
The present Government is presently engaged in cutting back the state, including the police state. Chief Constables and other senior officers may lose their jobs. There will be less money available for undercover surveillance operations of the kind instigated during the New Labour regime.
Then someone has a bright idea: “What we need is Ed “Big Spender” Balls in the role of Shadow Chancellor”. So the story of Mrs Alan Johnson’s liaison with a protection officer, apparently going back to the days when her husband was Home Secretary, conveniently comes out in the media. Gotcha!
* The original Secret Policeman's Balls were events in support of Amnesty International
Alan Johnson’s resignation yesterday, we have subsequently learnt, appears to be the consequence of his wife having an affair with a police protection officer, or rather the forthcoming appearance of this story in the media. But is all as it appears?
This blog generally supports the cock-up theory of events rather than the conspiratorial one, although in the case of Alan Johnson’s resignation perhaps both theories are equally applicable. So let me give a little spin of my own to this story.
The present Government is presently engaged in cutting back the state, including the police state. Chief Constables and other senior officers may lose their jobs. There will be less money available for undercover surveillance operations of the kind instigated during the New Labour regime.
Then someone has a bright idea: “What we need is Ed “Big Spender” Balls in the role of Shadow Chancellor”. So the story of Mrs Alan Johnson’s liaison with a protection officer, apparently going back to the days when her husband was Home Secretary, conveniently comes out in the media. Gotcha!
* The original Secret Policeman's Balls were events in support of Amnesty International
Thursday, January 20, 2011
BALLS MAY RAISE THE POLITICAL GAME BUT...
Readers of my blog will know that I'm not a fan of Ed Balls, and had supported the appointment of Alan Johnson as Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer. However, few would deny that Johnson's performance in this role has been poor. Moreover, the current public inquiry into the disastrous management of a Staffordshire hospital whilst Johnson was Secretary of State for Health has also revealed the weakness of "Corporal Johnson"*, as one Midlands Labour councillor called him after the local government elections in 2009.
Nevertheless, whilst Johnson's replacement by Ed Balls may raise the Labour Party's game in the short-term, it must be remembered that his record in office is no better than that of his colleague. Indeed, Balls is regarded as one of the architects of New Labour's highly flawed economic policies. Former Chancellor Alistair Darling also seems to have regarded him as a bullying thug. Balls' main strength seems to lie in the fact that as a former journalist the media can relate to him, but that is no recommendation.
* Recalling Corporal Jones in Dad's Army and his words of "Don't Panic, Dont Panic !" whilst doing precisely that.
Nevertheless, whilst Johnson's replacement by Ed Balls may raise the Labour Party's game in the short-term, it must be remembered that his record in office is no better than that of his colleague. Indeed, Balls is regarded as one of the architects of New Labour's highly flawed economic policies. Former Chancellor Alistair Darling also seems to have regarded him as a bullying thug. Balls' main strength seems to lie in the fact that as a former journalist the media can relate to him, but that is no recommendation.
* Recalling Corporal Jones in Dad's Army and his words of "Don't Panic, Dont Panic !" whilst doing precisely that.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
CLIMATE CHANGE FOR ENERGY ISSUES
As he took up the role of Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, the Liberal-Democrat Chris Huhne also took up with a new partner, and is recently divorced from his wife. So BP has taken up with the Kremlin, now set to become the company's largest shareholder, in a move which has upset its previous major partner, the US.
Meanwhile, it turns out that whilst Britain has been taken up with Russian spies, the previous government, via the Association of Chief Police Officers, had been funding under-cover agents to spy on climate change activists. One of these has now changed sides and given evidence in support of his former green comrades.
The political climate it seems - and not just the weather - is increasingly difficult to predict.
Meanwhile, it turns out that whilst Britain has been taken up with Russian spies, the previous government, via the Association of Chief Police Officers, had been funding under-cover agents to spy on climate change activists. One of these has now changed sides and given evidence in support of his former green comrades.
The political climate it seems - and not just the weather - is increasingly difficult to predict.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
JOURNEY WILL BE SUBJECT TO DELAYS
As someone who hasn't read Fitzroy Maclean's "Eastern Approaches", but heard an interesting account of the man and his work over the Christmas period, I have to inform readers that my journey is likely to be rather less exciting, and will inevitably be subject to delay. However, the opening of Maclean's journey and the start of my own virtual progress in 2011 share the same mode of travel: the railways. But whilst his account begins with a sense of excitement as he departs from Paris destined for Moscow, my first proper posting of the New Year begins rather closer to home: the Conservative Home website in fact, and the subject of the Government's new Regional Growth Fund and strategic rail investment between London and the North of England. Please see http://janetmackinnon.wordpress.com Like many rail journeys in this country I anticipate that this one will be subject to delays.
Saturday, January 01, 2011
2011 - MY YEAR FOR NEW INTERNATIONALISM
As someone who's yet to warm to the the UK Coalition Government's New Localism agenda, I'm making 2011 a year for New Internationalism. Yes, I've resolved to revisit the "Eastern Approaches" of former Soviet Europe, and perhaps some even more distant places.
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