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FMNews
Email List Archive
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IN THIS BULLETIN...
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WEEK IN WEBLOG: Enviro-myths, the fair-trade myth, and the coming boom
STUFF: Bogus jobs and bogus ID cards both crowd out real ones
GONE WESTMINSTER: More gut-wrenching stuff from our leaders
EVENTS: Two-brains, water man, and foundation hospitals chief
BUT FIRST...
Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and Alastair Campbell were on a train with the
press pack. Suddenly the train stops, so Blair goes up to the front to find
out what is up. He reports back: "The engine has failed. So I have set up a=
n
inclusive task force on engine repair issues." Still the train does not
move, so Gordon goes up, and reports back: "The engine is still broken, so =
I
am announcing an extra =A32b package of tax credits to the engine-repair
industry." Still the train does not move. So Alastair Campbell pulls down
the window blinds and tells the hacks: "There. The train is moving now."
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THE WEEK IN WEBLOG: Think and write on http://www.adamsmithblog.org
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SKEPTICAL ENVIRONMENTALIST: Forget Kyoto, we can make a bigger difference
for less money elsewhere, says Bjorn Lomborg at an ASI lecture.
http://www.adamsmithblog.org/archives/000240.php
If you want to order a copy of Bjorn Lomborg's book, by the way, visit:
http://www.adamsmith.org/shop
TRADITIONALIST OR REVISIONIST: Why some people are forecasting continued
misery, and others a boom, by Madsen Pirie.
http://www.adamsmithblog.org/archives/000237.php
FAIR TRADE, OR FREE TRADE? Never mind your conscience, just say no to
subsistance farming, says Alex Singleton.
http://www.adamsmithblog.org/archives/000232.php
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STUFF: Bogus jobs and bogus IDs
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OPEN GOVERNMENT? Following ASI's revelations about the number of daft publi=
c
jobs, a disgruntled Ayrshire reader tells me that he recently wrote to ask
how many Five-a-Day-Coordinators, Social Inclusion Officers, Smoking Contro=
l
Officers and suchlike South Ayrshire employed.
"I have discussed your request with the Chief Executive and we feel that it
would be inappropriate to provide this information," wrote back the Leader
of the Council, Andrew Hill. Hmmm. I always assumed that local taxpayers
have a perfect right to know how their money is spent. Anyway, threats to
invoke the auditors have now brought some grudging response, so I will keep
you posted.
SHARP: Years ago, the ruling Democrats brought in a Bill to give America ID
cards. So some impish Republicans obtained fake IDs bearing pictures of the
Democratic bigwigs, all bearing unlikely aliases. "Outrageous," fumed one
bigwig. "They've broken the law in advance of the law." An odd concept.
Still, the ruse showed the scope for fraud and killed IDs stone dead.
I mention this because I just came across fakecard.co.uk (no wilting violet=
s
they), who will supply any fake ID you could wish for. I offer a small priz=
e
for whoever furnishes me with a jpeg of one of their products, bearing the
most amusing alias under a picture of Home Secretary David Blunkett. Visit:
http://www.fakecard.co.uk
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HOT AND NOT
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WHO'S HOT: Centre for the New Europe -- I've just come back from their
glitteringly free-market "Capitalist Ball" in Brussels
http://www.cne.org/index.htm
WHO'S NOT: Most other people in Brussels
http://www.europeancommission.com/
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GONE WESTMINSTER: More Village scandals from http://www.ePolitix.com
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It's nice to know that the old certainties are back with us; the Tories
are worth people hating once more, and (just like in the old days) if you
want a low-stress way of committing suicide you can jump under a train and
WAIT to death. The same old certainties abound in Westminster too:
Raiding the public purse
------------------------
The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy say the average
council tax rise will be 6.6% -- against an inflation rate of 1.4%.
The Daily Telegraph says that by 2006, another 650,000 public sector jobs
will have been created. We're mentioned in their piece, check it out:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=3D/news/2004/03/02/nciv02.xml&=
s
Sheet=3D/news/2004/03/02/ixhome.html
The cost of the Holyrood parliament (estimate: 40 million pounds) is up
again -- to 430 million. Is this a record?
Last year, Robin Cook made half a million from his book and Michael Portill=
o
earned quarter of a million from his media appearances. And I always though=
t
representing your constituents was supposed to be a full-time job!
The Strategic Rail Authority is to spend 48 grand on spin-doctors...
...while the RAC says that 40 per cent of all public money earmarked for
transport goes on the railways, which the poorest people rarely use.
Other oddities
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The DWAP has admitted that six billion pounds' worth of benefits is going
unclaimed. (Maybe because they're too complicated...?)
The DTI Secretary wants to see curbs on excessive pay for poor performance.
(Start in Westminster and Whitehall would be my advice.)
Teachers' leader Jean Gemmell says school drug-testing would add an
"untenable burden" of social responsibility on schools.
The Met plans to sell off half its buildings and put cop shops in
supermarkets. (We told them to do that in a report twenty years ago.)
Health adviser Derek Wanless says Downing Street's (bizarre) plan to
subsidise gym membership will encourage membership, but not exercise.
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EVENTS: Full list on http://www.adamsmith.org/policy/news/forward.htm
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HEALTH BREAKFAST: The first wave of Foundation Hospitals start in April, an=
d
more in June or July, so on 26 April we have invited Foundation Hospitals
regulator BILL MOYES to outline how it is going and the issues coming up.
Contact asiprojects@matthewyoung.co.uk for information and invites.
OTHER EVENTS COMING UP SOON:
15 March: The ASI's International Energy Summit in Westminster
18 March: Tory Two-Brainer David Willets at an ASI Power Lunch
29 March: Power Lunch with top FT columnist and trade expert Martin Wolf
8 April: Water Regulator Philip Fletcher at an ASI Power Lunch
23 April: Lunchtime seminar with NAO head Sir John Bourn
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AS ADAM HAD IT...
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The rich...divide with the poor the produce of all their improvements. They
are led by an invisible hand to make nearly the same distribution of the
necessaries of life which would have been made, had the earth been divided
into equal proportions among all its inhabitants.
Adam Smith, The Theory of Moral Sentiments, Part IV Chapter 1
=20
e
Dr Eamonn Butler, Director
Adam Smith Institute, 23 Great Smith Street, London SW1P 3BL, UK
E-mail butler@adamsmith.org - Visit us online at www.adamsmith.org
Tel +44 (0)20 7222 4995 - Fax +44 (0)20 7222 7544
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In December 2004 this page was modified significantly from its original form for archiving purposes.
, founded in 1995, is now a part of ISIL.
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