So, yeah . . . 46 million eligabe to vote in the UK, of which 17.5 million said “leave the EU”. (Actually one third of the electorate).
So the rest either didn’t vote, or voted “stay”.
And the majority of the leave voters based their decision on pub talk, on the lies and filth pedalled by The Daily Mail, and chats with their mates in the van.
Not quite the informed and considered decision that was needed really.
On the 18th January 2010, I blogged here that cycling on Pavements was the only safe way forward at the time. Just stand by a painted cycle-lane on a busy road (so, all of the UK then) – look at the speed, the vehicle sizes, the behaviour of the motorised traffic – what’s your first thought as a potential cyclist? It’s “Noooooooooo . . . . . ”
“Dealing with a busy road” advice includes: Assertiveness – ride with the traffic, not in the gutter, it includes wearing hi-vis, helmets, light yourself-up like a Christmas tree.
It makes me wonder if some drivers need to consider their eyewear options – isn’t a person on a bike big enough to see?
I remember typing – I wanted Mrs Jenkins to be quite able to pop onto her bike and cycle down to the corner shop – in normal clothes. I wanted Toby to get to school safely, not secured down in an enormous fashion-wagon, spewing exhausts out as it sits in the jams of other Tobys and Melissas – all heading for the some Ofsted graded emporium five miles away.
You see, what happens is the Cyclists that do brave the streets adopt guerrilla tactics, they see the motorised road users as ‘the enemy’ and behave accordingly. Consequently the motorised road users find these ‘Assertive’ cyclists much more of a nuisance – because they are!
Doing a deal with Europe
Notice the language – we’re trying to ‘do a deal’.
I wonder if the agreements collectively could be termed ‘a bundle’ – then we could align our aspirations with any damned BT TV advert.
It’s the same with Services in the UK, you get a Car Insurance quote, it’s a hundred pounds more than anything on a comparison site, call the company, and they magically find a ‘deal’ that’s three-quid less than the best quote online. Electricity, Gas, Internet, Bank accounts, Mortgages, Rail tickets – go online, find a better deal.
Dealers – Back-street spivs who open their overcoats to display rows of knocked-off wristwatches you can choose from.
Dealers – Young hoody types on dark corners leaning into cars.
Whatever happened to ‘coming to an agreement’ – or for that matter, what ever happened to costing services we all need so they’re affordable – no less, no more. No ‘Market Forces’, shareholders = the Public. Ooh dear – a little bit socialist eh?
And you know what? I’m 62 years of age, and since I was 15 I’ve known to my very quick that the only mechanism that could ever really work for the planet – is some form of socialism, of sharing resources, of collective responsibility.
Dr. Ralph Speth, JLR CEO, called the cuts a response to “multiple geopolitical and regulatory disruptions as well as technology challenges facing the automotive industry.”
Let’s just read that again shall we?
Join me in the fantasy imagining of a company that can read what is needed for the good of us all – planet-wide, and actually manages to be ahead of the curve, instead of citing rubbish in the news.
