1/ I am listening to @IanDunt’s book “How Westminster works and why it doesn’t” and thought I’d write a thread of my thoughts as I go through it. A developing thread as a sort of homage to Ian’s coverage of parliamentary debates.
2/ I’m currently about half way through and can say already, it’s brilliant, buy this book if you can, borrow it if you can’t, join audible.Com is the cheapest way to listen (it’s free if you don’t have an account already) but read it. And then recommend it to others
3/ 1st thoughts. Our system is insane & the MPs in it equally so though they probably aren’t when they first join, full of fire and idealism.
I used to think as a country we don’t do long term planning because of 4 year parliamentary terms.
Please join me on a trip, a story if you will. Take my hand and step through the gateway to .....
A party.
There's food, and drink and laughter and surrounded by happy people is Charlie - explaining about this picnic he has planned and how it's going to be amazing and we're all invited and everyone is buzzing and wants to go
Everyone that is except Brian ...
Brian who says "I've checked the forecast and the weather's going to be shit. Your picnic is going to be shit"
and a few people check the weather and decide maybe they won't go after all but most still want to be with Charlie because he's bright and energised and optimistic.
1/ It’s why I don’t believe in total freedom of speech and do agree with Karl Popper’s Tolerance Paradox.*
Anyone who believes in the propagation of misinformation has failed to understand how it is used to create and maintain autocratic regimes and undermine democracy
2/ nor is it restricted to the political. Consider the enormous harm done by the anti vaxxers. That started by MSM popularising a lie.
3/ The Tolerance Paradox states that if the tolerant allow the intolerant to amplify their message in the name of freedom of speech (FOS) then sooner or later the intolerant will become strong enough to crush the tolerant and FOS will be lost.
Most of the people you see on your stages, hear on the radio and even many who you watch on tv are independent.
It’s great the government is supporting venues but venues also need acts and acts are mostly unsupported.
2/. Covid is a serious problem but over time it’s impact will diminish, either because of vaccines, better treatments or yes, a degree of herd immunity (eventually).
3/. Even if you never watched or listened to a show or music on any medium I would hope you would regard the loss of the arts as a problem. Here’s why.