Prohibition Noun: The act of forbidding something, especially by law In 1919 the US government attempted to reduce levels of alcohol consumption. They passed legislation that prohibited its production, transportation and sale. The ban was almost complete, bar a few exceptions for religious and medical use. During the 1920’s the U.S government spent about $220m […]
A Culture of Fear, Intimidation and Retaliation
The scandal In 2011, a state report to the Governor’s office in Georgia claimed that there was “organised and systemic misconduct” in 44 of Atlanta’s 56 schools. 2 years later 35 teachers, head teachers and administrative staff were brought to trial and charged with racketeering and other offences. The smoking gun The accusations revolved around […]
Is £500 a Lot of Money?
The BBC has reported that the Department for Communities and Local Government is publishing all spending over £500. It states that last year the department spent £310k on catering. That sounds like a big number until you look at the graph that is also published. Personally I would be a little more worried about the […]
Have You Heard The News?
I read a Hodding Carter quote today: “Television news is like a lightning flash. It makes a loud noise, lights up everything around it, leaves everything else in darkness and then is suddenly gone.” Politicians manage to the news, think about the recent furore over bonus payments to bankers. I wish they would worry a […]
Tony Hayward
Has been sacked. (With a year’s salary and a pension of £600,000 p.a. BP are welcome to sack me as well). Does sacking Tony help clear up the mess in the Gulf? I imagine he knows more about it than most people and I guess he is a capable person, you don’t get to run […]