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"There's Some Strange Stuff Going On Here"

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Category: Free Citizen
Hits: 1550

2023-12-19

So what "strange stuff" might be going in within the hallowed walls of Westminster Hall in Parliament?

The long-awaited Parliamentary debate on e-Petition 635904 on the proposed WHO measures (including the so-called "Pandemic Treaty" and the changes to the International Health Regulations) took place yesterday Monday 18th December.

We applaud Dr John Campbell for publishing selected speeches from this debate (which would otherwise be long and perhaps difficult to navigate - but there is a link below 🙂).

If you ask me, these 3 speeches represent Parliament at its finest - concise, clear, and on point. Strange stuff indeed ...

1) Mr Philip Davies MP (Shipley) (10 minutes)

 

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2) Sir John Redwood MP (Wokingham) (7 minutes)

 

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3) Andrew Bridgen MP (North West Leicestershire) (25 minutes)

 

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Watch the full debate on Parliament TV. (2 hours)

 

None of the Above!

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Category: Free Citizen
Hits: 1144

2023-12-17

For those dissatisfied with our "democracy", one of the problems that presents is how to demonstrate that dissatisfaction at the ballot box without voting for somebody that has little or no public standing.

It is true that one can spoil one's paper, which whilst it does indicate dissatisfaction is also not very effective, since the reasoning behind such spoilage cannot be reliably ascertained and is never formally reported (except to the candidates in person at the count). In short, dissatisfaction thus demonstrated is readily brushed aside, and many who don't want to vote for any candidate on offer will simply stay away from the poll and thus be (wronly) presumed disinterested.

But what if ...
... there was a NOTA (none of the above) option on the ballot paper in addition to the names of the candidates? Well, probably not of itself effective, since this too could be brushed aside ...
... unless of course NOTA could actually be elected!

What would this mean?

It could mean that the seat in Parliament (or the local council) would simply be left vacant, thus proving an embarrassment to the system but little else, barring a vanishingly unlikely mass vote for NOTA across the entire electorate. 

But with an appropriate process to rectify the vacancy to the electorate's satisfaction, this idea could hold promise.

Would it be enough of itself to bring meaningful reform to the overall system?

In my view, given the stranglehold that the main parties have on our voting habits currently, very probably not, but as part of a wider package of electoral reform, I would suggest that it should have a place. After all, if NOTA comes in first past the post, then it's hard to argue that the electorate would be happy to be represented by any of the actual candidates on offer.

"The huge show of public support for NOTA that this provoked compelled the PCRC to recommend in it’s final report (published 05/02/15) that the next government hold a public consultation before May 2016 specifically on inclusion of NOTA on ballot papers"

So it looks as though there is significant support by the public for such a facility, even if the government of the day somehow didn't find the time/resources to mount that pubic consultation.

And the monetary costs of adding NOTA to every ballot paper would be as near zero as makes no difference for electoral purposes, so what's not to like?

(11 minutes)

 

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None of the Above UK

The Ability to Formally Withhold Consent at elections (Download)

An Encouragement for Our Time

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Category: Free Citizen
Hits: 966

2023-12-16

Once more Neil Oliver articulates our thoughts, and does it much better than I could ever achieve.

As the Christmas season approaches, it's easy to get overwhelmed by all the things we think we should have done but haven't (yet) - and at such times as this, even in the midst of global uncertainty rampant, it's important to take a step back, establish a moment of calm, and review what went right as well as what did not go so well, and what remains to be done.

Neil, we salute you!

 

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Will AI Rule the World?

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Category: AI
Hits: 3367

2023-12-14

So what is it with AI? Will it rule the world?

What are its limitations?

Will it take my job?

Well, maybe it depends ...

Maybe it won't do my job any time soon, but listen up, and form your own conclusions.

 

"The Great NHS Heist"

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Category: Free Citizen
Hits: 1123

2023-12-07

The NHS is lauded by many as our "national treasure" - much like the BBC really - and set up for ostensibly laudable reasons. Who would not want competent but expensive medical treatment free at the point of use?

But did the NHS deliver?

Well, here we are in 2023 and those on waiting lists may feel that promise rapidly receding over the future horizon.

How far has the rot set in?

" ... it saddled the NHS with a toxic burden of debt ... "

Ah, debt ... the cause of all modern ills it would seem. Who created that debt?

" ... the Health and Social Care Act ... in effect in law abolished the NHS ... removed the duty of the Secretary of State to provide health care" (see also the Health and Care Act 2022)

If you still trust the system, or believe that it just needs a few tweaks, you really need to watch this - you may feel that the problem goes a lot wider and deeper than just the NHS ...

(57 minutes)

 

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Selling the NHS? If you ask me, they sold it / gave it away long ago.

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