Search results

What evidence - link etc. Ownership does not infer efficiency or competence in using the infrastructure - although the same could be said of the private sector. Most nationalised industries are under the supervision of a government appointed regulator - sadly ineffectual as it turns out. The...

Completely wrong. Post Office new system started in 1999 at the beginning of the Labour government. Their current woes arise because they failed utterly to adapt to an age where services traditionally provided went on line - car tax and registration, pension payments, passports, parcel...

Through the regulator (energy, water, rail, etc) the government seek to manage service delivery. They have unambiguously failed. To assert they would do a whole lot better if they also had control of service delivery is IMHO an assumption too far.

Your faith in the public sector is touching. Nothing to see at the Post Office, infected blood scandal, numerous NHS cover ups, countless project over-runs (HS2, London Olympics, etc etc etc). No doubt all these failures are the fault of private sector subcontractors - even though contracts...

Assume an engine when running consumes all the oxygen in the air it ingests, and: 2.0 litre 4 cylinder engine idling speed 700 rpm gas exhausted per revolution = 1 litre (4 cycle engine) gas exhausted per hour = 4.2 cu m (700 rpm x 60 mins x 1 litre) assume volume of garage = 45 cu m (length 6m...

With 73m voters I am quite sure any report on their intellect could represent them as inconceivably thick and stupid, or exceptionally bright and articulate. If you have been fed the former and believe it to be true, you have uncovered an echo chamber not a serious piece of commentary.

I assume sustainable means the weight (or more strictly the CO2 content) of wood harvested is equal to the new growth of the remaining + newly planted crops. The main barrier to feasibility as a power source is that currently sustainable wood reserves in the UK would meet only a small fraction...

On a purely personal level I find Trump a repulsive individual with manifold faults. Harris seems a nicer person without the unpleasant baggage and conforms more to political norms. The US public voted for him because they believe he will be far more effective in delivering what they and/or...

Within a few years all functions that need to be engaged whilst driving will be voice activated - a number of functions in my car already are. There will then be legislation (probably EU inspired) to ensure all other vehicle settings and configuration will only be possibly with the vehicle...

The origin of the word "Tory" is 17th century and linked to outlaw and brigand. How it evolved to be used interchangeably as a member or supporter of the Conservative Party s unclear. Attributing common social and economic beliefs to all who vote C/T is grossly over simplistic. It merely...

Sixty three pages of speculation over that about which most contributors have zero influence. The basic arguments made would fill no more than 2 or 3 pages - lots of repeats. In just a few hours (possibly after a couple of weeks of protests, recounts etc we will know the answer. We will...

In the link attached the 6 boys were students at a boarding school - one assumes the offspring of (at least) well to do parents being privately educated. In generally well ordered societies social interaction is based upon mutual benefit - it makes absolute sense to cooperate to improve...

Every man (or woman) for themselves. Survival of the fittest where fittest equals "man with woodstove". Would you share it unreservedly, or harbour your stock of wood so it lasts as long as possible?

Few issues - the UK has too many homes/people to provide wood as fuel for all households on a sustainable basis - so who gets and who doesn't burning wood creates huge pollution - in the grand scheme of things it just circulates through a carbon cycle to new growth - but in the process will...

There are ~30m vehicles in the UK. By the time gas turbines are decommissioned most will be replaced by EVs each of which will have a capacity of averagely 60kwh. If all were fully charged and vehicle to grid (V2G) capable, they would provide 1800gW - enough to power the UK for for 60 hours...

That the withdrawal was botched is beyond doubt. Whether due to operational incompetence or an ill thought through plan and agreement is almost academic. The alternative would have been to extend the "occupation". This was a political non-starter in terms of economic cost and casualties...

DC basically caved in. He promised a referendum without condition, and was utterly complacent in selling the benefits of EU membership to voters. His tour of Europe to try and wrest concessions from the other members was a half-hearted affair lacking real commitment. Although a personal view...

It is difficult to know whether the water companies have done a good job or not - their income and investment plans are regulated. That the quality of the service is below that reasonably expected is beyond reasonable doubt. The policy of fining water companies for poor performance is...

Elections have little to do with the merits of individual policies and the ability of contenders to lead effectively with integrity and the country's interest to the fore. Flip-flopping, telling folk what they want to hear, egos dominating, half truths, selective statistics, image management...

Gas is about 25% the cost of electric.