Kill these preachers of hate

As Israel continues to hammer Gaza with missile strikes the radical, detestors of the West that are Hamas continue to encourage not only more missile attacks into Israel but also urge it's supporters to carry out suicide bombings in Israel. On this day I have one simple statement to make; kill these preachers of hate.

These preacher's of hate are the same people who hate Western civilisation, the people who don't believe women should be educated, the people who hate democracy in it's every form and the very same people who hate the people they claim to protect. Hamas is an organisation consumed with hate, they are a terrorist organisation that has the sole aim of destroying Israel; a moderate, free and democratic country and for this Israel has every right to kill those who seek to destroy it.

Middle East, what a pickle.

Christmas; a time for peace and goodwill was two days ago and the Middle East is once again a tinder box. It is once again time to play tit for tat, this bomb for that one and that life for another one. Have these lunatics ever heard the saying 'two wrongs don't make a right?'

This Crisis has challenged many of the World's top thinkers and leaders and there is no doubt it will continue to do so. Today's attacks were provoked by missile fire into Israel from Hamas and Israel was right to strike Hamas' terrorist camps. The fact is that no peace or prosperity can be expected in this Palestine when it's Governments main political aim is the destruction of Israel. The message from me; a person who tries so hard to be positive, is simple and direct to the people of Palestine . . . if you want peace and prosperity: do not elect terrorists, the same people who claim to be building your schools and hospitals are the people who provoke others to destroy them.

The power of positivity

My post today is not for political purposes, for any party or for anyone in particular. It is for all those out there who rely on positivity to get them through the day.

This subject may seem a bit random, and as you get to know me you'll find it the norm - I am a random! My message to all you out there, all of you sat drinking wine and watching a repeat on telly, all of you considering what the hell you are going to do next and to all of you who dread getting up in the morning - be positive, it's the only way to be!

Till next time, Joe

We are the party of the economy

For some circles in our great country the above statement would provoke a rather bemused, puzzled or even shocked face, this would no doubt worry David Cameron with an election due in the next year or two. This is not because we saw Britain through the recession in the 90s (and put us on track for the economic boom which was to follow,) it is because for the following years we have shyed away from the issue and stressed our knowledge and experience on cornerstone issues like immigration, crime and taxes rather than our true area de la expertise; the economy.

We are the party of the economy, the party of the new service economy, the party of independence and the party of economic sense. Labour has promoted a dangerous debt culture and built the economy on foundations that were bound to collapse, Labour has not eradicated the days of boom and bust; it has delayed the bust for the boom for electoral gain. Instead of thinking of future economic challenges, Gordon Brown has had his eyes on one thing - a calendar counting down the next ballot, not the next budget.

Now is the time for saving, responsible tax cuts that don't break the budget and help for British workers and employers with a freeze on National Insurance. I urge the party of economic sense and competence - the Conservatives to stand up and tell Britain what we will do, how we will stand up for them and how we will champion British industry.

George, speak up!

Joe

Darling sets Britain on course for bust

Following today's pre-budget report and the news of tax cuts (or should that be con?) that could bring Britain to the brink of bankruptcy I have one response: liars.

It is not the minimal tax cuts or rising debt that particularly upsets me, although important, it is the massive deception that the Brown government is taking part in. Not only are the tax cuts minimal and what Labourites hope to be a public relations coup, they will affect British people not one iota. This budget will swell the national debt to £1 trillion, mean tax rises in the future and will do nothing to boost spending; thanks to the constant media gloom.

While the Government cuts one tax, they increase the other. I believe that we should put the future stability of Britain's economy first and introduce a budget that promotes responsibility and saving. Taxes should stay as they are, we must promote savings, provide incentives for foreign investment and bring vital projects forward to create British jobs. Any borrowing needed for the above could be prevented by cutting bureaucracy and improving efficiency in Government.

As someone who will be able to vote in the next election, this budget and Government has failed massively to win my vote.

Something a little local

As an advance warning this may seem like a negative post, and by negative I don't mean politically or personally but the subject in general.

I always use public transport as much as I can, this is for two reasons; one it is easy and number two it is environmentally friendly (although I will be the first to admit this is not the most important to me.) I always use Wakefield Kirkgate station, the station itself paints a bleak picture and abysmal impression of the city, which is in fact up and coming. The station is used by hundreds of people a day and to be honest when dark, it is quite intimidating.

Now the main issue I have with this is not the building or the impression it makes on the city, that is irrelevant, it is that someone was recently sexually assaulted here. While I concede that this could happen in many places, not enough is done to prevent it. There is subway that links the platforms, it has several blind spots for people that use it. There were mirrors on each corner, allowing users to see round the corner, these have been vandalised and removed leaving blind spots in a subway.

This is a dangerous gap in security and the prevention of not just sexual assault, but practically any crime. I have written to the operator of the station, Northern Rail and requested that they install the mirrors as a preventative measure.

Thanks for reading, Joe

It's the economy . . . stupid.

I woke up this afternoon (after a well deserved lie in) to find my staple news site, the BBC full of stories about the present economic problems. I avoid the word 'crisis' as I do not want to take part in the general media's obsession with pushing us over the edge into a recession. I would argue that the entire crisis is the media's own doing and it's own creation, but this would not be true; we have all had a role in the current crisis and we must learn the lessons that it will teach us.

A solution that I would throw my whole political will behind, which admittedly amounts to very little apart from my occasional musings on this blog, will surprise many of you; keep taxes as they are. A tax cut as Gordon Brown is reported to be mulling, would serve purely as a politically motivated action with the next election getting closer by the day. A tax cut it would seem would play into Gordon Brown's chances of clinging to power and is part of a strategy others have pointed out to woo voters.

In the media circus surrounding the economic downturn, a minimal tax cut would do extremely little to boost consumer spending or confidence. The media would simply cite the cut as another step toward economic catastrophe. Not only would this not boost the economy in the slightest, it would also be completely irresponsible and would leave the nation in massive debt for future generations.

I would argue that taxes should stay the same for the next financial year, or maybe slightly higher . . . I believe that we should embark on a sensible public spending bout. This would create jobs in sectors that are on life support (construction for example,) improve public services, prevent the national debt from exploding and generate investment in the areas that may be hit hardest.

Till next time, Joe