Murdoch decides it all (again!)

Once again, the kingmaker of Britain (an Aussie) has decided who shall be leading the country after the next election, and unlike the last 12 years, he’s going for the Tories. Corporate Britain has few more capable subverting democracy than Rupert Murdoch, but today his friends must be pretty happy with him.

Iran: from embers to flames

So, by the time you read this, you probably already know that things in Iran have flared up quite notably yesterday. People on twitter have had a lot to say (the topic is at number 4 as I write this) and its all very much confused by the combination of Ahmedinejad’s supporters and loathers on the streets at the same time, but the ongoing saga known affectionately as ‘#iranelection’ appears to have a new chapter.

Dan: It’ll look good on my C.V.

You know when you read something and thing “man I wish I could put it like that?”. Well, a friend posted this as a note on Facebook, and that’s exactly my reaction. Being between finishing and graduating probably puts him in a better position than myself. I don’t think its a uniquely York problem, and I think everyone, even non-students need to really stop and think about the issues he raises.

Refusing to be defeated by the BNP

I need not attempt to put into words my current feelings about the European Election results. Anyone who doesn’t feel this way needs to question their ability to make a truly human, emotional response to the elections. But sadly, there will be little time for licking of wounds and collective mourning. This is the beginning of the final phase of politics before a general election in which there are real dangers of BNP gains. Now is the time not to mourn, but to organise!

Some mathematical Euro-elections thoughts

For those who haven’t realised, the Euro-elections don’t work by ordinary “highest vote wins” methods. Instead, a group of seats are divided up between the parties, who must declare an ordered list of candidates in advance, there lead-candidate being the first to get a seat if they have enough votes. This means that in Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire, where 6 seats are contested together, 3-5 parties will most likely share out the seats.

The European Union: Empire by Consent

The European Elections are upon us, so I suspect I’ll be writing a bit about the EU over the coming weeks (and it won’t all be transport policy, so worry not). But I wanted to start out with a video I found recently of Jose Manuel Barroso, the President of the European Commission. describing how he sees the EU post-Lisbon Treaty: an empire by consent.

Open and Secret Voting

These days Facebook status’s abound during Union election time stating which way people voted. Someone commented on a friend’s status, in which he’d declared 4 of his votes, that she wondered where private voting had gone to. I slightly snapped back, which wasn’t necessary, but it got me thinking about the potential complexities of this issue.

And can it be?

This is probably going to turn into a live-feed type blog. Thankfully I now have a laptop in the room where we’re watching the events unfold.

04:06: We’ve cracked the bubbly, cheered loudly and its only just dawning on me that its actually real. We have the 44th President of the United States of America. After 15 months of supporting Obama, it just seems weird that its call come out so well. We’re still cheering states as they come in. Thank God.

I remember four years ago…

02:24 Update: What a difference 45 minutes makes, eh? Ohio has been called for Obama, and I think I’m feeling a weird sense of “this can’t be” mixed with eager anticipation, though the free alcohol isn’t helping. This all said, I won’t believe it till I see the number “270″ writ large on the projector screen downstairs.

Four years ago tonight I did the highly forgettable thing of sleeping on a pub floor. When I went to sleep, just as is happening now, the Electoral College votes were stacking up for the Democratic candidate. Now I find myself feeling excited, because Pennsylvania has been called for the Dem’s. Yet, I remember how, when I awoke, the numbers had changed so dramatically, and what had started as a build up to a win turned so quickly to a horrifying defeat. I’ve been here before, and to be honest, I don’t know what to make of it.

Hope in strange places

Well, its definitely nice that a few people have realised I haven’t posted in a while. Current plan is start again gradually. Its been a touch few weeks, for reasons I won’t go into, but some of you know anyhow. I have to admit, I’ve really struggled to find hope during this recent period; perhaps too much time spent on such an apocalyptic campaigning issue as Climate Change is not good. Its not like I didn’t have any ideas to post, and I’ve certainly come close to writing one of my standby bugbears, concerning Australia. And then, suddenly, in the place I least expected it, there’s  a glimmer of hope.