>What is ‘Civilisation’? What is it to be ‘civilised’?
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In addition to the above questions, are we the only civilised ones?
Category Archives: Politics & Society
>The New Government of the United Kingdom
>It’s official; Gordon Brown has resigned. Labour, after 13 years in government, is now the opposition, and led by Harriet Harman.
The new government features David Cameron as the youngest PM ever, and Nick Clegg as the Deputy PM. In addition 4 other Cabinet posts, and up to 15 other Ministerial posts accross Whitehall will go to the Lib Dems.
The markets rallied in response to a decision being made at last, with the FTSE up 27 points. But much is still unclear. So I’d like to invite anyone to post up whatever they’ve heard, and obviously feel free to express your views. As Cameron spoke before going into No.10 for the first time there were huge crowds chanting “Tory Scum, Tory Scum” over and over. So this election has clearly gotten people fired up.
>Ban the Burqa?
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In 1994 France began clamping down on religious symbols, including the Muslim headscarf, in state schools. In 2004 it banned all “ostentatious” religious signs, including the veil, from many public buildings.
Last year Sarkozy famously said that the Burqa (a head to toe covering with a narrow slit for the eyes) is “not welcome on French soil”. Since France banned it Belgium has also jumped on board, angering many human rights organisations because they didn’t launch any national consultations as did France.
Do you agree with Sarkozy? Do you think it should be banned in your country?
>Is reforming the media a good idea? If so how should we do it?
>Who should we vote for in the upcoming UK General Election, and why?
>Is it right for Iran to arm itself?
>If not then should other countries with nuclear weapons dis-arm?
>Prime Ministerial Debates
>We’ve now had the second televised leader’s debate in UK history.
Let me know what you thought about what was said.
- Who won?
- Who dissapointed?
- What policy issues were you particularly pleased with or particularly not?
- Did the debate really make history? Will it affect votes?
>Should there be any control over voting?
>This leads on from the earlier debate ‘To Vote or Not to Vote”.
Immigrants have to take a ‘citizen’s test’ in order to be able to vote. Yet natives do not. Is this just or a good idea? Should all people have to take citizen’s tests when they turn 16/18 (depending on where you think the voting age should be)?
Another idea would be to give people more information, or perhaps even force people to take quizzes like that displayed here: http://www.thebigqs.co.uk/Manifestos.html (see the link under ‘confused?’ on the right side of the screen).
So some control, no control, complete control; what do you think?
>Should the rich help the poor?
>In todays culture we assume yes. But consider this example:
“Consider Joe Smith and his identical twin brother, Jim, who have identical abilities and education. Joe decides to take a job as a high school teacher of economics. He teaches six hours a day and the rest of the time he spends fishing, swimming and sailing. He is very happy. Not surprisingly [Stiglitz never experienced high school teaching], his pay is very low. Jim becomes an economic consultant. He works seventy hours a week and has no time for fishing, swimming, or sailing. […] One has a high income, one a low income. Is it fair that Jim should pay far higher taxes than Joe?”
Joseph Stiglitz illustrating problems of taxation in Economics of the Public Sector, Pg 472.
>To Vote or Not To Vote?
>I have heard many people telling me they don’t intend to vote in the upcoming general election. But what are your thoughts? Do we need to vote? Should we vote?
Battison's Blog 