en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/725412 Comments by More http://hythlodaeus.com/2010/06/the-slow-death-of-english-education/#IDComment78979278 I'd be very tempted to agree with that sentiment. I hadn't actually realised how dominated by independent schools and academies had become, not least because my main source on the matter is Private Eye. It is certainly lacking the coherence that the SQA, GTC and Scottish Government have managed to maintain in Scotland (although I have doubts concerning CfE). The suggestion from the Tories that we should be looking to adopt English education policy here is truly obscene. Mon, 7 Jun 2010 18:06:10 +0000 http://hythlodaeus.com/2010/06/the-slow-death-of-english-education/#IDComment78979278 http://hythlodaeus.com/2010/05/david-laws-falls-on-his-sword/#IDComment77721370 I wouldn't trust my predictions. I also said that Nick Clegg would be out of a job by now a few months back ;) I'm undecided on Michael Moore. I don't know very much about him or his career, so I'm deferring comment for now. It will be interesting to see how things go within the Lib Dems however. Sun, 30 May 2010 08:08:59 +0000 http://hythlodaeus.com/2010/05/david-laws-falls-on-his-sword/#IDComment77721370 http://heresycorner.blogspot.com/2010/05/new-birth-of-freedom.html#IDComment75092562 Don't count you're blessings. There is no mention of what this repeal act is going to include. I would put money on it not being nearly as much as it should and several things it shouldn't. Wed, 12 May 2010 17:29:08 +0000 http://heresycorner.blogspot.com/2010/05/new-birth-of-freedom.html#IDComment75092562 http://hythlodaeus.com/2010/03/tory-candidate-in-western-isles-gaffe/#IDComment73171415 I suspect I may be one of a minority of politically active young people who disagree your opinion. Yes young people play an important part in society and should be represented, but that doesn't mean they need to actually be in parliament. I'd much rather see a politician in their 30s, with a good deal of experience outside politics and a desire to represent young people then MPs in their early 20s. It's too easy to forget that democracy is about representation, not necessarily representatives. Thu, 6 May 2010 07:16:27 +0000 http://hythlodaeus.com/2010/03/tory-candidate-in-western-isles-gaffe/#IDComment73171415 http://hythlodaeus.com/2010/04/an-open-letter-to-england-regarding-the-snp/#IDComment68408887 I believe that current SNP policy is to support the establishment of an English Parliament, although I do concede it's probably not the first priority of many SNP members or voters. Personally, I'm open to either resurrecting the idea of regional assemblies or seeking a more federal solution, with all four countries holding parliaments strongly empowered on domestic issues. This could be complimented by an Upper Chamber dealing with foreign policy, the armed forces and so on. What is shocking is that none of the main parties have made the lack of English representation an election issue. I'm pretty sure that given recent discussions about the Welsh Assembly's powers and Scotland's funding, more then a few votes would be won by promises of reviewing England's constitutional settlement. Fri, 16 Apr 2010 18:34:30 +0000 http://hythlodaeus.com/2010/04/an-open-letter-to-england-regarding-the-snp/#IDComment68408887 http://hythlodaeus.com/2010/04/a-future-past-for-all/#IDComment67503952 Watching Labour\'s party political broadcast today, it's very much aimed at middle England. The so-called core voters. Kirsty Wark described it as a "Sunshine Soat advert" on Newsnight, so it's definitely ringing bells with other people. Mon, 12 Apr 2010 22:31:49 +0000 http://hythlodaeus.com/2010/04/a-future-past-for-all/#IDComment67503952 http://hythlodaeus.com/2010/03/the-committee-room-names/#IDComment64325497 When I wrote my previous post, I initially only included one women, Mary Slessor, who I chose over Livingston. The inclusion of just one woman did seem rather unjust, hence the addition of Margaret MacDonald who is also under-acknowledged. Sat, 27 Mar 2010 10:58:38 +0000 http://hythlodaeus.com/2010/03/the-committee-room-names/#IDComment64325497 http://hythlodaeus.com/2010/03/six-great-scots-for-one-great-parliament/#IDComment64258766 I corrected my post to reflect Slessor's true place of birth. Thank you for the correction. Serves me right for doing my research late at night. I chose Margaret MacDonald because she really is undervalued when it comes to Scotland's art and design history. As far as I know, there are no actually memorials to her in the same way there are to Alexander Thompson and Mackintosh. Muir and Palmer are both interesting choices who I suspect may well have made the Parliament's long list. Fri, 26 Mar 2010 22:21:03 +0000 http://hythlodaeus.com/2010/03/six-great-scots-for-one-great-parliament/#IDComment64258766 http://hythlodaeus.com/2010/03/the-difference-between-a-pornographer-and-a-pr-man/#IDComment64124760 It\\\'s no problem at all. I have to admit, I wasn\\\'t happy with that the post was putting what I wanted across, but I am a strong believer in \\\"publish and be damned\\\" ;) Fri, 26 Mar 2010 01:48:23 +0000 http://hythlodaeus.com/2010/03/the-difference-between-a-pornographer-and-a-pr-man/#IDComment64124760 http://hythlodaeus.com/2010/03/the-difference-between-a-pornographer-and-a-pr-man/#IDComment63569904 That is certainly part of what I am saying. I was more aiming for the idea that many people enter politics with backgrounds which could be considered morally dubious, yet we don't attack them for it. After all, while there are some morally bankrupt lawyers and PR man in this world, I don't think the majority of either profession is actually morally bankrupt. It would be nice if we could "promote candidates who are not " immoral and exploitive" in any way", but I believe the problem with that is that everyone has a few skeletons, habits or opinions which could be judged to be immoral. There is of course, the problem with divining what is and what is not morally good. Ridiculous was maybe the wrong word to use in quite that context. Aspects of it certainly are not sensible. If Ms Arrowsmith enters Westminster, it doesn't mean we are going to suddenly be seeing hardcore pornography on day time TV and lapdancers in the chamber as some of the more hysterical commentators seem to believe. You are right however to say that there is a wider debate about pornography, which I am ignoring. I'm happy to admit that I haven't approached it because I don't know where I stand on it and I certainly don't feel informed enough to pass an opinion on it at this point in time. It's also complicated by various stands of feminist thought, only a few of which I'm familiar with. I certainly wouldn't consider your comment conservative. I've found that the issues surrounding pornography can be extremely divisive and don't really reflect on either side of political spectrum or even small-c conservatism. Tue, 23 Mar 2010 01:05:55 +0000 http://hythlodaeus.com/2010/03/the-difference-between-a-pornographer-and-a-pr-man/#IDComment63569904 http://hythlodaeus.com/2010/03/why-i-dont-vote-for-the-other-parties/#IDComment63385590 I'm afraid I may have slightly misled you there, probably down to the fact I wrote the post in two sittings and slightly lost track of what I was writing. I did spend a lot of time considering voting Green, until the point I was in the booth in fact, but didn't. I did still make them my second preference in the council vote though. I've now amended the post. I think in 2011 my vote will be firmly set as SNP-SNP given the possibility of a second term and maybe even a coalition. Sun, 21 Mar 2010 22:41:16 +0000 http://hythlodaeus.com/2010/03/why-i-dont-vote-for-the-other-parties/#IDComment63385590 http://hythlodaeus.com/2010/03/why-i-dont-vote-for-the-other-parties/#IDComment63381847 If I may eulogise for a moment, I am rather glad I don't base my all opinions around science. It may be important, but the majority of issues in politics are moral and ethical rather then scientific and cannot be quantified quite so easily. Sun, 21 Mar 2010 22:28:11 +0000 http://hythlodaeus.com/2010/03/why-i-dont-vote-for-the-other-parties/#IDComment63381847 http://hythlodaeus.com/2010/03/on-steven-purcell/#IDComment61125005 I don't think it could be called agist. I certainly thought it was unusual that the job went to him when there must be much more experienced people in the Council. I suppose part of the reason behind his appointment was that he came across very much as New Labour, and not as one of the old Labour boys in the council. "Scotland with Style" was a Glasgow council advertising slogan, introduced in 2004 I think. It was trying to play off the reputation of the Merchant City and the West End, but ended up being much criticised because it didn't really help the vast majority of the city. It would make a good name for an anthem though - it sounds like something the Red Hot Chilli Pipers might do. Wed, 10 Mar 2010 11:58:09 +0000 http://hythlodaeus.com/2010/03/on-steven-purcell/#IDComment61125005 http://hythlodaeus.com/2010/02/on-anonymity/#IDComment60104558 Thank you for the kind complements. Personally I had no quibbles over the reality of your existence. Although it had occurred to me that there may be a degree of similar circumstance between us. I can't say for certain that I also blog out of modesty, but I suspect that in some ways, the fact I don't want to be recognised for my contribution does come into play. I would tend to differentiate that from modesty however. I would say, however, that it you very much continue the tradition of Hamilton and Matherson if you blog anonymously out of modesty. As you say, I do hope that people pay more attention to the arguments, queries, and writing because of anonymity. I make no bones about who I support, but I do so in order that people look past that and engage in discourse. After all, I was taught that discourse was the foundation of education and while that doctrine might be four thousand years old, I believe it still works. However, I will admit, I'm far more confrontational and partisan on Twitter. The instant reaction brings out the worst in me. Sat, 6 Mar 2010 22:01:06 +0000 http://hythlodaeus.com/2010/02/on-anonymity/#IDComment60104558 http://hythlodaeus.com/2010/03/raging-against-the-westminster-machine/#IDComment60100850 Excellent. I regret not helping out with John's campaign first time round, but personal circumstances at the time dictated otherwise. He certainly deserves to win a second term. His methods, and those of Bob Doris (who I was referring to above), are exactly what the SNP need play on this year and keep going. I'm more then fed up of only hearing about my MPs and MSPs at election time and the SNP do (in general) make that extra bit of effort all of the time. Hopefully I'll be able to get out on the doorsteps with the Edinburgh in the next few weeks, but deadlines (unfortunately) come before election campaigning. No use in the short term, but hopefully far greater use come 2011 ;) Sat, 6 Mar 2010 21:24:31 +0000 http://hythlodaeus.com/2010/03/raging-against-the-westminster-machine/#IDComment60100850 http://hythlodaeus.com/2009/12/has-environmentalism-become-embedded-in-british-politics/#IDComment59647117 In a world where language is constantly evolving, one cannot please everyone when it comes to word-choice. In this particular case, however, the wording was foisted on me by another. Wed, 3 Mar 2010 23:16:46 +0000 http://hythlodaeus.com/2009/12/has-environmentalism-become-embedded-in-british-politics/#IDComment59647117 http://hythlodaeus.com/2010/03/investigating-polling-disparity/#IDComment59267532 Very true. After all, 20% vote for the SNP could be half a dozen seats with the SNP getting massive amounts of votes or 70 seats with the SNP getting just a few thousand in each in each. Of course, people (including myself) tend to get far too carried away with polls and what they mean, when the only poll that really matters is the big one ;) Mon, 1 Mar 2010 23:20:53 +0000 http://hythlodaeus.com/2010/03/investigating-polling-disparity/#IDComment59267532 http://hythlodaeus.com/2010/02/on-anonymity/#IDComment59148286 Apologies for taking so long to approve your comment. I had tried to do it via email from my phone, but for some reason it decided not to work. Of course, I was out all day with the Rugby, so only got to a computer this morning. There is a degree of hypocrisy amongst the big parties. They seem quite happy to encourage their own anon-o-bloggers, but shout down others. It's all a bit ridiculous. Mon, 1 Mar 2010 00:50:01 +0000 http://hythlodaeus.com/2010/02/on-anonymity/#IDComment59148286 http://hythlodaeus.com/2010/02/has-devolution-changed-electioneering/#IDComment57637550 Oh dear, that really does just go to show how confused the Tories are about this whole devolution thing. Slightly disheartening to see they are getting a (small) upsurge in support in Scotland despite their politics being utterly disconnected from ours. Fri, 19 Feb 2010 15:50:08 +0000 http://hythlodaeus.com/2010/02/has-devolution-changed-electioneering/#IDComment57637550 http://hythlodaeus.com/2010/02/camerons-hypocrisy-in-scotland/#IDComment57231863 Don't worry, I agree that there are links between the release of the two men. It's just annoying that it's going to be a very long time before we find out just what went on behind the scenes before Megrahi was released. Wed, 17 Feb 2010 10:39:05 +0000 http://hythlodaeus.com/2010/02/camerons-hypocrisy-in-scotland/#IDComment57231863