The Uncommon Man

The future of the UK - Roger's Manifesto

2005-09-15T01:58:00.000-07:00

My thoughts on where the UK should be headed, and what kind of Government the UK should be moving to can now be found at Roger's Manifesto.

Libertarian in outline, small Government, personal responsibility, flat tax and highly democratic.

If people take time to read it, they will see it allows them and/or their organisations to look after the sections of the community they want to.

What it does not do is allow a minority to sequester funds under pain of imprisonment to spend on their own pet projects.

If people take time to read it, they will see it reverses the abdication of responsibility that now occurs, for insufficient spending will be down to YOU, not "the Government". People will not be able to stand there and complain that not enough of other people's money is being spent on their own causes.

Please take a look.

Apple moves to Intel - a wedge in the Great Wall

2005-06-10T11:57:00.000-07:00

Forgive me while I become a tech-head...

I think Stevie Jobs has a great opportunity...

1) Right now we have entering the universe a version of OSX via the ADC route (Apple's Developer community is being offered a limited must-return hardware+software package to develop Intel based applications) that boots (I believe) on STOCK INTeL motherboards and Phoenix BIOS*.

2) This version will not be the final deal, IMHO, as I am suspecting we will see Apple using EFI* based motherboards and OSX requiring same with other tweaks.This would be to ensure we have the Mac Experience and not the Plug-and-hang-yourself alternative that is the current WINTEL offering using a 8088 CGI 640x400 16 colour steam powered BIOS.

Where am I going with this? Well, I think it may be an excellent way to allow all those WINTeL clockers, hackers and slackers to take a good long sneaky look at OSX on their beige towers using pirated bit torrent copies without diluting the real deal OSX that will emerge.

When INTeL Apple Macs emerge, they will be EFI rigs. EFI rigs will not work with anything other than Longhorn in WINTEL land. How many clone EFI motherboards will be sold widely in WINTeL land before Longhorn gets loose? Not many, especially as Longhorn is backwards compatible with Phoenix (har har, never free of the legacy, eh, Bill?)

The EFI rigs will be the catszazz. Apple rigs will be top quality and stylish to boot (in more ways than one). The PC crew will by then know OSX. They will look longingly at the Apple lineup of EFI kit and think to themselves that this is familiar OS ground, a superior architecture and drop-dead gorgeous to look at. They will not be scared.

Apple have switchers at the top of the tree asthetically and, frankly, economically. With this move, they may just get the geek-side clocker/board swappers too.

*Phoenix BIOS is the black and white clunky stage PC owners see when they boot. EFI is the Intel replacement.

Yerp

2005-06-02T03:23:00.000-07:00

The EU Constitution has opposition from both 'sides' - or is it all for corners? Left-Right and Statist-Libertarian. The logic is to kill the constitution in its current form. It cannot be 'mended'. It is not about detail. The problem with it is its very aim.

Opposition groups from all four sides can see that the EU aims to render them incapable of operation should they win power in their own countries. The EU aims to permit only one route, with various marketing details. People will be sold product from a cosy cartel if the EU succeeds in its present form. (q.v. The UK Liberal Democrats who, upon electoral failure, just rebrand and re-package to gain more 'market share').

IMHO the EU constitution needs to be stripped bare and focus on the basics of interoperation and cross border issues of commerce and trade. A separate mechanism for cross border taxation and fiscal issues is one for the Eurozone countries (now, you see the presumption and arrogance of the EU entity in blending them...).

Alas, as others have alluded to, the EU may be unstoppable, like some form of Terminator -

"LISTEN and understand. The EU is OUT THERE. It can't be bargained with. It can't be reasoned with. It doesn't feel pity or remorse or fear and it absolutely WILL NOT STOP...EVER! until you are DEAD!"

Listen here for the original...http://www.moviewavs.com/0056218974/MP3S/Movies/Terminator/listen.mp3

UK Commentators - Laban Tall's Blog

2005-05-24T10:59:00.000-07:00

UK Commentators - Laban Tall's Blog

Brown's "A Mortgage Too Far"?

2005-05-23T02:26:00.000-07:00

Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown now proposes a scheme whereby people can ‘rent’ half their new property from the banks/government to enable them to make the first step on the housing ladder.

I, frankly, find this proposal naïve or highly cunning, absurd and in no small part Socialism by stealth, which I shall explain below.

By doing this the government, i.e. Gordon Brown, props up the housing market which allows Gordon to make a smooth segue into the Labour Leadership and the nation’s PM. We are funding his succession campaign.

Alas, what he is doing, as a mere side-show as far as he is concerned, is maintaining and nurturing a bad situation, making it worse, for this will support house prices higher and higher by allowing more first timers to enter the market instead of a natural slowing/stagnation that is ideal after a period of hyperactivity. The peculiar scenario of low interest rates and plentiful credit will be magnified still further.

Not only will it maintain inflated prices, but it will also enable banks to lend when they could not have AND charge rental on ‘equity’ that they did not even have to pay capital for (for ‘lending’ is just creation of money on paper, not passing deposits on). My guess is the government will be charged an admin fee for this ‘service to the nation’.

Correction: WE will be charged via our taxes! Thanks, Gordon.

Such credit will eventually find its way to individuals who sell out and downsize. This credit supply and bubble will likely be spent on holidays and imported goods, or, to put it another way, sent abroad in huge steamer trunks bulging at the seams. Of course, Gordon gets his 17.5% cut on this and the generally higher levels of consumer spending that a buoyant housing market supports…

When the housing market corrects, it will still be the hapless buyer who will lose out. They will see their equity hit, but in this case any hit will be proportionately harder as they would have leveraged their purchase – a 10% downward correction on a £200,000 home is double that on a £100,000 that the buyer would have otherwise only been able to afford.

I do not see the banks taking any hit on any corrections.

Further, the cut-off between those who ‘deserve it’ and those who do not will make a two tier market with a sharp edge. Again, NeueArbeit slams the middle-middle class. More social engineering.

Once in place it is a pair of manacles to following governments – who will DARE remove this contraption from the market and trigger a housing crash? We will be bricked in!

Additional social engineering will occur as the housing market gets more frenzied and the percentage rented out rises above 50%. Very soon we will have people with 75%, 80% and 90% rented. New Labour will have simultaneously privatised and nationalised the housing market – spun off is, I feel, a far better term! The banks will not only control our money but will control and own the majority of the homes people live in. A cartel can quickly be formed. Restrictions on movement between ‘rental providers’ will take time to be broken, if at all. Even when established, banks will be set to charge hefty administration and break clause fees at every opportunity. Who will have control over the companies that manage their assets? What fees will they charge to ensure their properties are properly mantained? The spiral winds deeper!

People who own their own homes with minimal debt and mortgage obligations are freer and less willing to be pushed around by government. You can see where this is heading.

"NeueArbeit Macht Frei", as 'Old Holborn' says...

George Galloway bitch-slaps the Senate Committee

2005-05-17T09:56:00.000-07:00

I could not be considered a big fan of George Galloway, but I do admire the way he as soundly bitch-slapped the US Senate Committee today, leaving them and their evidence looking amateurish in the extreme.

George kicks off with a robust opening that pulled no punches and laid open whole lines of thought that, though commonly held in the UK, I doubt are to be found in the majority of US citizens.

The opening line of the first document was used as an example of what George considered the 'evidence' to be: That they asserted he had met Saddam 'many times' but it was in fact twice - and the classic followup to that, pointing out that "Rumpsfelt" had also met SH twice, but to sell guns and gas. Wonderful.

Robustness like this is the stuff of the UK Parliament and it is nice to see it getting an airing in what can only be described as a pantomime.

"Rumpsfelt"'s ears must be glowing!

UK "Immigration"? Try solving the growth in underclass first.

2005-04-23T07:43:00.000-07:00

Much handwringing over immigration and asylum in the UK. 100,000! Shock horror. Thanks in part to an effective opposition campaign and the odd whistle-blower the UK Government have tightened up the immigration and asylum system. I say 'Government' as I believe little would be different between the major parties on this issue. Thanks to the bravery of individuals and the work of our parliamentary system, faith can and should be restored in the processes so that immigrants and those gaining asylum are not treated with suspicion.

People could complain about 'crowding', but I see the absurd situation of the state funding, without limit, the expansion of the underclass as a greater cause of 'crowding' and a bigger threat to race relations and crime than immigration.

How is the state funding this expansion? It does so by continuing policies which directly or indirectly nurture and subsidise the underclass to remain an underclass and to fund the next generation of that underclass. People can leave school with no qualifications, get housing, get benefit for children, have more children, get additional housing for the familly on and on. Children of parents who have never really worked in their life are now leaving school with no education and no intention of working but every intention of starting a family while the country has to import people to ensure jobs are filled. I have no objection to the latter, only for former.

If people decide not to train or learn that is their choice, unfortunately. If girls get pregnant that is unfortunate too and something does need to be done for those not willing or able to support themselves and their child. What should not happen is that such a thing becomes a 'lifestyle choice'. Young single mothers-to-be often wish to escape a brutal and, frankly, dangerous home and for them a place in sheltered accomodation with resident nurse should be provided. What should not be provided is a council flat where the girl is practically abandoned.

If the girl wants her own place she will need to sort that out herself. If she wants to live with her boyfriend/partner (the secure accomodation should not support couples) the partner should shoulder the responsibility and provide for her.

Should anyone on benefits wish to grow their family then the state should not provide any increases in benefits, child support, allowances, entertain changes in accomodation to reflect that. The benefits and council system should be there to support those who fall on hard times, including those gaining asylum, NOT those who choose their situation.

What are "Vital Services"?

2005-04-21T10:13:00.000-07:00

What are 'vital services'?

I see alot of people talking about this, but when they outline what they call 'vital', I have concerns that they really do not know the meaning of the word.

To me, the 'vital services' a government provides are:

Defence and Customs
Police/Fire/A&E
Courts and Prison Services
The Central Bank
Power/Water/Sewage (in terms of 'last mile' at least).

Not much else is 'vital' inasmuch as if it were otherwise privately run it would surrender our liberites.

Health, education, transport, housing - all can be provided via the private sector.

The state sector in health and education is an enforced monopoly, and a very inefficient one at that. People should be able to pay for their own provision, not have thier pockets picked. Of course, there is a need to provide basic provision for all. Part of this provision can be provided by charitable organisations that people will surely pay into, seeing as they believe in it...or do they?

Is it right that the State hijack people under the threat of prison with what can only be described as a form of enforced charity?

It is not wrong to be grateful for charity and assistance, but what we have now is a significant ungrateful section of the population who demands ever more and more, like some cuckoo chick in our midst.

UK Election - None of the Above!

2005-04-21T07:36:00.000-07:00

I have allowed my thoughts to be open to the messages of the political parties but I see 'none of the above' as a truth for me.

All the parties infuriate. Nibbling around the edges. Taxing us. Interfering. Huge waste and socially manipulative strategies that create problems and a demand for more 'services' and 'agencies'. Social Services seem to nurture behaviours to guarantee future 'customers' for themselves and their colleagues. Council Tax is a huge burden, yet we hear it takes £600m a year just to manage rebates on this tax alone. Why are we rewarding the underclass by increasing their benefits and improving their housing when they decide to have more children they have no intention of supporting?

Something has to be done.

I think I am becoming a Libertarian.

False Economy

2004-10-04T02:33:00.000-07:00

An out-of-hours GP surgery is to close as it is 'uneconomic' for the Health Trust.

Has the Health Trust considered if "in-hours" only GP surgeries are economic for the country? I think not.

Countless half days and significant disruption is caused by people having to take time off to visit the doctor. Out-of-hours surgeries avoid lost production.

Of course, the Health Trust does not 'get' the saving, but then again why does it need to care about who pays for the Health Trust? Healt Trusts, part of the NHS, are paid for by the economy. The economy is better placed to fund the Health Trusts if the workforce does not waste countless days sitting in waiting rooms.

Too many accountants. Little or no joined-up thinking.

Rise of the Glib-Dems

2004-09-25T13:21:00.000-07:00

The UK needs a strong leader willing to make nasty hard choices but be open about it (attn, TB!).

Kennedy is not that person and his government does not have the mettle, being a bunch of flim-flammy, spineless but spiteful busy-bodies (Sir Menzies excluded).

CK and the Glib-Dems do offer three things to the nation: Fudge, Flannel and Wet Nappies!

40 more forms of tax, and likely 40 more forms to fill in!

A local income tax will make urban centres at risk from the spendthrift loony-left days, when those receiving handouts could vote in councils but not have to pay a penny for it!

Apart from that, any political group that has Shirley Williams as a member gets the thumbs down if only for her spiteful handling of Education and the "lowest common denominator" approach of "Comprehensive" Education.

Sadr - a power hungry fraud.

2004-06-24T16:47:00.000-07:00

Sadr is only offering a truce so as to allow the Iraqi Govt and Coallition forces to destroy Zarqawi before they begin their attempt to grab power.

Cynical. Cynical. Cynical.

I have faith in the Iraqis who I believe are smart enough to see through such disengenuous tokens.

Land and Tax - it is being proposed as LVT

2004-06-18T15:45:00.000-07:00

Further to land and tax, the ideas I have proposed are already actively being formed over at landvaluetax, a UK org website.

The UK Greens have this in their manifesto, and it is being seriously looked at in Scotland.

I believe it has far-reaching economic and social implications for the good, and Britain could become one of the leaders in socio-economic evolution.

With no VAT or income tax, the UK would become a haven for all Europe and even America in terms of retail trade.

My main concern is evolving from the existing taxation model (income, purchase and corp tax) to Land Value Taxation and oversight/regulation.

One segment at a time would be very tricky...like trying to pull the tablecloth off slowly - it needs one quick confident action. How? First step is to assemble all land registry information and devise an initial rating system so that the impact will be known once the correct revenues are able to be collected. It will require adjustments and easements, such as allowing existing owners a few years to adjust their exposure to the tax.

Regulation will be harder. Once companies no longer pay corporation tax, PAYE or NI and that employees no longer "pay" PAYE, NI, the regulatory framework that administers such information will be a cost centre, not a revenue generator, as it will be statistical as opposed to a financial exercise.

I can see the Health and Safety body and Equal Rights Commission being used to 'police' companies to ensure fair pay, conditions and equal opportunites, though at some point employees should be flagged in some way to ensure they are working in safe environments.

Land and Tax reform.

2004-06-17T08:48:00.000-07:00

Taxation is a complex and time consuming business where the criminal and rich avoid it, the poor benefit from it but the middle classes have to pay it.

Income tax, VAT, capital gains. Messy - especially VAT if you are a small business about to become VAT-liable.

If the main tax we have is on land then much is simplified. Land tax is hard to avoid. People can choose how much exposure to it they encounter by making choices as to how they live. Low rise or high rise. Large country estate or studio flat.

It encourages sensible land use, as people will build up to cut costs in high tax areas such as city centres. Renters pay their dues as the landlord will onpass the tax to them - the demand for share of freehold property will keep a lid on avaricous private landlords.

VAT will not exist as a form of revenue collection. This frees small businesses and the state from the wasteful administration. It means there is no such thing as the 'black' economy operating outside of the VAT system.

No income tax will remove the administration. People are taxed on where they live, not what they earn. Typically, higher earners spend more on their accomodation and in a better area and this will continue to be so, but people have the choice to save more and live frugally.

Local authority tax will operate as a percentage of the land tax, set by the relevent authorities.

This system does not tax consumption, so encouraging a free and open economy. It has a very lean administration overhead, thus allowing for small government.

Landowners can defer their taxation burdens over time in cases of temporary hardship. Such a length of time will be phased in and would be limited to ensure cash flow for the state. As land is an asset, when sold any outstanding tax shall be paid at that time.

Land will have different tarriffs depending on zoning and use.

As the UK will become virtually tax-free for tourist spending, it should attract trade and commerce from Europe.

Special duties on fuel, alcohol, tabacco and other luxury goods such as cars will remain.

Voting - Polling Stations, Postal Votes and ID cards...

2004-06-11T04:10:00.000-07:00

With the UK EU and local elections, I was allowed to vote by just saying a name and address that matched.

This is pathetic - I could have got that from someone's front garden by looking into their paper recycling bin!

Postal votes are no better - If I moved house my votes may have gone to another person or even to someone spoofing multiple people in the house.

ID cards are the answer. People should turn out at a polling station WHEREVER and cast their vote. Technically you do not even need to cast it in a specific place, as your ID check at the reception desk can produce a form which you then use to cast your vote (i.e. this avoids someone having 2 IDs, showing one but voting with another or others).

All this is doable, though I can see the government and the rapacious ICT companies spinning this out into a decade long, £100M project!

Oil the wheels of change

2004-06-03T00:24:00.000-07:00

The latest oil price rises may continue.

The Iraq war, far from bringing this on, probably delayed the onset of al-Qaeda attacks against Saudi interests. Attacks on infidel oil activity may have begun a year ago.

The price rises, apart from risking Tony Blair's position, may have a useful knock on effect - making people live conveniently to where they work, recycle plastics, cut out the school run and to stop the current madness for gas-guzzling SUV/4x4's.

Maybe God/Allah/JHWH just does not like off-roaders?

Saatchi Gallery Warehouse Burns...

2004-05-26T02:20:00.000-07:00

Why don't they just re-enter the burnt pieces for the Turner Prize. They'd probably win it again.

Now really. Unmade beds, mediocre wargamer models, picked pigs and heads made of frozen blood are hardly 'classics lost to civilisation' (weeps).

All those pieces could be reproduced with almost no loss of impact and unlikley to be discernable as unauthentic.

This begs - were they in fact artistic, or just artisan? Art or Craft?

I say Craft. Loss? Minimal.

Queen of Hearts.

2004-05-12T14:48:00.000-07:00

Off with his head. A tragedy exposes people for what they are. Far from winning support for and weakening opposition to random acts of violence and lawlessness, this beheading seems to be rousing the rational, decent majorities on all sides into expressions of outrage.

Out of that, we have hope for the future.

Crime and Punishment

2004-05-11T03:02:00.000-07:00

Two thugs get 3 and 6 years for beating and racially abusing two Chinese nationals in Lothian, Scotland. One is now permanently brain-damaged after being repeatedly kicked in the head whilst unconscious on the floor.

Correct me if I am wrong, but I was under the impression that ignorance is no defence. So how come these Neanderthals are not up for attempted murder? Probably because the intent was not to kill. We do not have 'attempted manslaughter'. Kicking someone repeatedly in the head has a high risk of killing them, so why is it only GBH or ABH? Being ignorant of the violence of one's actions should not be a defence. Pleading ignorance at the likely outcome of one's actions is not a defence. There needs to be new sentencing laws to ensure aggressive violent acts that are clearly endangering life are dealt with. 30 years or 60 years is a more appropriate sentence.

Kicking anyone repeatedly while they are down has a high risk of killing them...unless it is kicking them in the arse and there are a few people (sentencing judges, legal precedents, bleedin heart excusers) who need a good kicking in the arse right now, not innocent people about their lawful business who are forced into a confrontation by repeated abuse.

Liverpool Red Curry.

2004-05-11T02:46:00.000-07:00

A few facts are coming out about Thaksin Skimawad's bid for Liverpool FC.

1- the 30% stake is being bought from another investor (Moores), so will any money go to Liverpool?

2- the money is "public funds", not the PM's (as if he is short of a few baht...). Thai politicians are rarely able to distinguish between private and public funds, except for the direction of flow, anyhow.

3- The PM wants a say in proceedings...

4- A private company formed by a group of "Thai businessmen" has been formed to exploit the connection (merchandising, marketing etc)

So, Thaksin does not pay for it but gets influence. The club does not get the money. A group of already rich Thais get, basically, free-of-charge control(*) over Liverpool marketing and revenues in Thailand without having to pay up the £65M!

So thats all right then, isn't it.

(*) Liverpool merchandising is guaranteed cash cow - it is not an investment bearing any risk, but a license to print money.

Postal Woes

2004-05-10T02:28:00.000-07:00

Royal Mail is having trouble delivering post. Of course, they have only had 150-odd years to work out how to do it. Great concepts like mail trains are being withdrawn and we have unchecked temporary workers drifting in and out and worthless besuited 'managers'.

Fraud is very hard to perpetrate if the same person sorts a round each day and the same person delivers that round each day. It is hardly rocket science, unlike trying to sort mail in the back of a moving van.