Being mugged

It had to happen sooner or later, living in East London, or anywhere in the UK for that matter.

I was jumped by about 8 'hoodies' on the way home this evening, who brandished a knife, smashed both my bottles of wine and made off with a £10 mobile phone and £20 in cash. And who have condemned me to spending the next couple of weeks without bank cards etc etc*.

I felt a tad guilty at the UKIP conference when I joined in the knee-jerk applause when Gerard Batten announced that a UKIP government would double the number of prison places, right now, I'm wishing I'd clapped a damn' sight harder and shouted "Treble! Treble!".

Bastards.

* Having cancelled the whole f***ing lot in the space of 20 minutes once I got home.

Selection in education

As a rabid libertarian, and parent of two young children in the catchment area of a truly shit state primary school, I am of course a big fan of vouchers for education. To be redeemable at any school you like, whether it is selective by sex, intelligence, religion*, sporting ability or race. Or not selective at all, for that matter. With no restriction on schools being able to charge top-up fees.

So far so good.

Now, the Lefties always say that private schools get better results because they are more likely to be selective than State schools. This is probably true in the case of secondary schools.

But, we are now sending both kids to private NON-selective primary schools (the fees are roughly the same as spending per State pupil) and the difference is absolutely staggering. So that dispels the myth that private schools only do better because they are selective.

* In theory, one would like to keep an eye on all the Madrassahs that will open up, but what's the point? You just get a load of grief when you shut them down, and they will then just re-open it once the dust has settled.

Doubleplusgood news for education!

In a speech later today, The Goblin King is to announce that:

"Minimum standards in schools will be raised over the next five years, with all schools needing 30% of their pupils achieving five high grade GCSEs by 2012-13."

Note the use of the word "will". Nulab have had ten years to prove, beyond doubt, that they can spend more per State pupil than the best-value private schools and still turn out crap. So how the f*** is he going to achieve this? What new fantastic trick has he thought up now?

What a piece of shit that man is.

Brendan Barber might have a point

Vindico lays in to Trade Union-twat Barber, here.

Actually, BB's summary of the reasons for runaway boardrooom pay is pretty accurate:
"institutional shareholders should remember that they are looking after the savings of millions of ordinary employees, not setting the pay of their city chums".

This is easily fixed. End tax breaks for pensions, pension funds, unit trusts and other 'institutional investors' and/or reduce taxes on direct shareholdings (higher rate tax, Stamp Duty, Capital Gains Tax)*. That will lead to there being more small, private shareholders, who are far less likely to nod through** these fairly outrageous pay rises for crap directors.

There, no extra rules and regulations required, in fact no extra rules at all, it's more a question of getting rid of all the rules that gave rise to these 'institutional investors' in the first place. The fewer rules the better.

* Preferably both, of course.

** s318 Companies Act 1985, directors' service contracts have to be open to inspection by members. s303, members can sack a director by simple majority, regardless of his contract of employment. Most quoted plc's actually have a vote on the directors' total remuneration package, but this does not appear to be in the Act. Perhaps it's a Stock Exchange requirement?

Arnold Schwarzenegger on drugs

Another fine Arnie quote in The Metro:

'What would you rather have? A politician taking stuff and not saying, but making the best decisions and improving things? Or a politician who names all the drugs he or she has taken but makes lousy decisions?'

He seems to be becoming more libertarian by the day!

But then he spoils it all by naming Tony Blair as one of the greatest leaders in history, who definitely falls into the second category. Ah well.

SNP don't understand economics

"The SNP has already pledged to match the UK's growth rate by 2011 by cutting business rates and channelling investment in enterprise, transport and education more effectively", it says here.

Wrong on two counts.

If you cut business rates, landlords just put the rent up and/or your premises go up in value. Our governments have tried this several times, and that is exactly what happens.

As to 'channelling investment', that sounds like 'subsidising' to me. Which is always a bad idea.

Stat porn (4)

I am happy to say that this 'blog passed a milestone today, with 5,000 visits in the two months since I turned on Sitemeter.

The real fun part of Sitemeter* is the referrals bit, where you sometimes find yourself coming number 1 where you wouldn't expect it.

As ever, thanks to everybody who visits and everybody who has left a comment.

* No doubt there are other similar services that do it even better, but hey.

The Dark Side

I have finally caved in and acquired a mobile phone.

The contract* effectively costs me 2p a month: I had broadband and land line for £29.98 anyway, and now I'm on the "3-for£30" deal.

The 'phone itself cost me £9.99: I just bought the cheapest one in the shop and they knocked off a fiver because I had my own SIM card.

* 300 minutes and 300 texts.

The Non-jobbing enemy class (part 2)

John Trenchard has compiled a summary of our Cabinet's pre-politics business/real life experience.

In brief, one of them was once a shelf-stacker and a postman.

So it's hardly surprising that they find it difficult* to get proper jobs once they lose their seats.

* Via The Remittance Man.

MPs in call for new climate body

In brief, the 'Environmental Audit Committee', not content with having a 'cross-government Office of Climate Change', wants there to be a 'Climate Change and Energy secretariat' as well.

I'm sure that once the Chinese and the USA hear about this, they will promptly shut all their coal-fired power stations and stop driving 4-by-4's.