Tories from a German perspective

Fascinating, if a little scary viewpoint from Germany about national soveriegnty and the Tory Party.

German government advisors are insisting on concerted efforts to politically neutralize British EU-skeptics. As explained in a recent paper published by the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP), the British Conservatives' attitude will have a "decisive influence on helping to set the EU's future radius of action," because the ambitious possibilities in EU foreign policy making, opened through the Lisbon Treaty's coming into force, will depend, to a certain extent, on London's cooperation.

Well that is true. Interestingly, like so much from the euro-fanatics this will be something promoted from the centre,

The fragile shoots of a burgeoning Conservative euro-pragmatism should therefore be nutured. They will from from the top down".

Genuinely democratic then I see. But you can see that the federasts have not given up hope. They go on about what they see as

"Cameron's secret appetite for constructive pragmatism on Europe shows even the pessimists that there is scope for action".

As this post makes clear when talking about this paper

The main reason for British EU-skepticism remains the fear that in the future the EU could usurp the sovereignty of the nation-states and blatantly rule the member states, even Great Britain from abroad, bypassing the elected national parliaments. That this fear is justifiable can be seen in the recent developments in Greece.

It goes on developing a theme mention by Ambrose Evans-Pritchard in yesterday's Telegraph,

The German chancellor is demanding that Brussels should be granted new rights of intervention into central areas of national sovereignty, for such cases. If, for example, an elected parliament refuses to enact substantial cuts in wages, Brussels must have the power to order these cuts against their will. "National parliaments do not like to have things imposed," observes Angela Merkel and demands "we have to discuss this type of problem."

Is Post Normal Science to Science what post Democracy is to Democracy.

When the technocrats presume to govern our lives have a problem with the population, they tend to ignore the population. (qv - The ratification of the Lisbon Treaty by Parliament's in France and Holland after conclusive No votes). This they describe as post-democracy. When the realities of governing get so complicated that the public cannot be allowed to influence policy as, they just wouldn't understand.

This position was put clearly by Peter Mandelson before becoming a European Commissioner whe he is reported as to have said

"The age of democracy is over. We are now in the post-democratic age"

during a speech in Poland.

Now it seems we have the scientific equivalent, Post-Normal Science. What do you do when the science doesn't add up, and the scientific method fails to arrive at your pre decided conclusions? Well you denounce science as out of date and invent a new concept.

"Post-Normal Science (PNS) is a new conception of the management of complex science-related issues. It focuses on aspects of problem-solving that tend to be neglected in traditional accounts of scientific practice: uncertainty, value loading, and a plurality of legitimate perspectives. PNS considers these elements as integral to science. By their inclusion in the framing of complex issues, PNS is able to provide a coherent framework for an extended participation in decision-making, based on the new tasks of quality assurance. "

You see the problem with climate alarmism is that it claims to be based on science, but when held to account under the traditional concept of the scientific method,

1. Observation and description of a phenomenon or group of phenomena.
2. Formulation of an hypothesis to explain the phenomena. In physics, the hypothesis often takes the form of a causal mechanism or a mathematical relation.
3. Use of the hypothesis to predict the existence of other phenomena, or to predict quantitatively the results of new observations.
4. Performance of experimental tests of the predictions by several independent
experimenters and properly performed experiments.

It fails. So instead a new theory is required that allows for the problem of skewing evidence (qv The CRU emails).

The approach used by normal science to manage complex social and biophysical systems as if they were simple scientific exercises has brought us to our present mixture of intellectual triumph and socio-ecological peril.

So we need to change our comprehension of what distinguishes scientific truth. Got that?

"Under these new conditions, the appropriate style will no longer be rigid demonstration, but inclusive dialogue."

Yes, yes. Of course it will come as no surprise to discover that this paper in The Encyclopedia of Earth only refers to climate science,

"With PNS we are characterising the changes in science which will be necessary in this new century for our civilisation to become sustainable, and whereby worthy of survival".

So are the authors suggesting that anybody that fails to go along with their bowdlerisation of science as "worthy of survival"? Charming. And how do they propose my unworthiness should fail to survive? No doubt through drowning due to man induced sea level changes.

Methinks our civilisation doesn't need their approval, all it needs is the enlightenment method that has improved the lives of countless billons over the past few hundred years and will continue to do so.

Anyhow, who are these charlatans, these quack scientists?
Silvio Funtowicz is the lead author, and bugger me, what a surprise, when I google his name what do I find?

Silvio Funtowicz is a scientific officer at the Institute for the Protection and Security of the Citizen (IPSC), European Commission Joint Research Centre (EC-JRC).

.
His colleague is one Jerry Ravetz
Associate Fellow at the James Martin Institute for Science and Civilization at the University of Oxford. An organisation with Sir Crispin Tickell running its policy foresight program.
Better still its Director is

The Director is a lead author on Working Group III of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

.
It hosts the Environmental Change Institute which is Funded through the EU'S Framework Program.

You get the picture.

Day without whiskey

Another set back for the veggie green campaigners in the European Parliament. Following the comedey performance of Paul Macartney at the European Parliament, and its follow up Bar-Be-Que in Place Luxembourg just outside hosted by Paul Nuttal and Godfrey Bloom comes news just in from the Parliament's Conference of Presidents.

It appears that the organiser of the Parliament sponsored "Day without Meat" rather upset the CAP funded and very powerful farming lobby. Thus the CoP rounded on Edward McMillan-Scott, Parliament Vice-President and maybe Tory MEP, and denounced the idea.

At one point the physically glowing and florid EMS was taunted by Martin Schulz, PES leader.

"Maybe next time we should have a European parliament "Day without Whiskey".

Ouch.

What do MEPs do during a financial crisis?

Give themselves more money of course, what else?

According to some notes smuggled out the Parliament's Bureau meeting last night the Parliament has realised they have given themselves more work to do due the Lisbon Treaty. More power, more work, more staff more cash. Your cash

"Adjustment to Parliament's 2010 budget following the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty.
The Bureau of the EP has decided the reinforcement of the committee's secretariats by the creation of 75 additional posts; an extra 75 temporary posts for the political groups and the reinforcement of personal assistance to members of an additional 1.500 € per month per Member".

That's about £1350 per MEP pwer month.

What planet is the EU on

Marta Andreasen points out that increasing the EU's budget by 6% this year is from "another planet".

It is obscene she says to vote to increase MEPs salaries. Here here. Stick it to them Marta.

Was he already employing a press officer? Because he doesn't seem to be now

Bercow's literary talenst.

According to PA, John Bercow is disclaiming his authorship of the Tories guide to shagging. Now he says it was a satire on his piss poor attempts to pull.

"This article was not written by me but about me, mocking the fact that I was the last person likely to express the sentiments cited in the piece.

Which goes against comments made by his spokesman,

"A spokesman for Speaker Bercow said: ‘This article appeared in a magazine that specialised in being both funny and provocative. It in no way reflects the Speaker’s views today.’"

Which given that Tim Hames is getting nigh on £100 grand for doing the job doesn't bode to well for his further employment.

Sliding off the scale

UK now 7th largest economy, and soon to be smaller than Canada and Australia says the Centre of Economic and Business Research.

Does his matter, well yes it does if it means that our competitiveness is the reason for this slide.

The people one the bridge of state have been asleep.

I suppose it makes it harder for us Eurosceps to argue we can remain fully independent in a global economy. We have often used the arguement that we are the world's 4th biggest economy. Well we can say that no longer.

I can see the Millibrown saying,
"It's good news really. If we have screwed us as badly as they say then nobody can argue for independence".

Of course one way to resucitate the ecomony would be to leave the EU, but they wouldn't mention that.

Sinecure anyone?

I read in the papers about the ghastly bombing in Mogadishu yesterday. That three Ministers had been amonghst the 22 dead.

And then I read that one of the Ministers that had been injured was this chap.

The Somalia Minister for Tourism. Yes, that's right Tourism (including wildlife).

That has just got to be the biggest fake job in the history of fake jobs. How much is he being paid, and by whom? To do what?