THE POWER TO ACT. Three Examples. A Poem
I gave a Dharma talk (unrecorded) this month (August 2022) on our Dharma Yatra, an eco-pilgrimage, in Germany on the importance of direct action despite any fears, doubts and excessive thinking. …
change
We need a 21st Century Economics. Value of Buddhist Economics. Addiction to Economic Growth of Left, Right and Centre belong to 19th – 20th Century
I spent many hours researching online, read articles and books looking for a new economics suitable for application for the 21st century. Current economics as taught to students of economics in universities seems woefully out of touch with the global crisis.
Through extensive reading, taking notes and much reflection, I drew upon the insights of various economists world-wide, who recognise the urgent need for change. …
A Deep Teaching in the Song ‘Ruby Tuesday’ by the Rolling Stones
While lifting a modest number of kilos through the air in the gym, I listened to Spotify through my earphones.
An old favourite rock song came on – Ruby Tuesday by the Rolling Stones. Composed in 1966 in Los Angeles by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, the song conveys a depth of lyrics, which caught my attention. …
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Does both the Conservative and Labour Party need levelling up? Abuse of Power ends in Tears
Centralisation of power in the mind of the Prime Minister has long gone past its sell-by date.
Self-interest plays a major part in the mindset of the head of government. Popularity and personal prestige influence decision making over the interests of the country. …
Democracy. Democracy. Where are Art Thou? Parliament needs levelling up
UK often boasts of its commitment to fair play. Fair play has become a claim of our national psyche. Democracy and the election process seems far removed from fair play. Parliament stands as one of our oldest institutions.
Like other institutions, Parliament prefers living in the past rather than the present.
What’s fair about living under the control of a two-party state?
- The Conservative Party received 13.9 million votes with 365 seats in the 2019 general election.
- The Liberal-Democrat Party received 3.7 million votes and have 13 seats.
- This means that the Conservative Party has 28 times as many seats as the Liberal Democrats while only getting four times as many votes.
- The Labour Party received 10.2 million votes with 202 seats.
- The Green Party received 860,000 votes in the last general election and have a single seat in Parliament.
- This means the Labour received 12 times as many votes as the Green Party but have 202 times as many seats.
- Green Party devotes its policies in its manifesto to a sustainable world for people, creatures and the environment.
- The Green Party MP needs to be in the Cabinet and have an important voice in Parliament.
Information on the British Parliamentary System for those who live outside the UK
The Prime Minister is the leader of the Government. He or she is the leader of the party that wins the most seats at a general election. After a general election, the Queen calls upon the leader of the largest party to form the Government. The Prime Minister, whose residence and offices at 10 Downing Street, chooses 22 Ministers from his Party to run the Government.
The Party Leader achieves his office as head of the government after winning most seats at the general election out of the 650 Parliamentary seats available.
British politics lives under the control of two parties with other parties in the British Parliament marginalised. This system of control takes place through the refusal of the two main Parties to reject proportional representation of number of MPs roughly parallel to the number of votes given to a party with a minimum of 5% votes from the electorate to win a seat.
Will the system change?
Odds are 200-1 against change.