Kingfisher Posted March 24, 2014 Share Posted March 24, 2014 Budgets are set nationally, the squeeze in finances have left many councils with no choice but to close many public services. We've given blank cheques to 'bail out' banks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eames Posted March 24, 2014 Share Posted March 24, 2014 There are no national budgets for libraries. They are set and maintained by Local Authorities, if LA's have cut library spending that is a decision that they have made to spend on services elsewhere. Kick the government around as much as you like, there is plenty of ammo available, just make sure you pick the right stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Kingfisher Posted March 24, 2014 Popular Post Share Posted March 24, 2014 (edited) There are no national budgets for libraries. They are set and maintained by Local Authorities, if LA's have cut library spending that is a decision that they have made to spend on services elsewhere. Kick the government around as much as you like, there is plenty of ammo available, just make sure you pick the right stuff.If a library is shut because money needs to be spent on other vital services where budgets have been cut, you can't see a link between those two? Edit - Mark Steel on Question time a while back, but relevant to the discussion. http://youtu.be/fikApnMbUuU Edited March 24, 2014 by Kingfisher 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dont_do_it_doug. Posted March 24, 2014 Share Posted March 24, 2014 (edited) It was a nice try, in a Rugby sense because he has scored one there. It is typical right wing thinking - "Oh no, that might affect me!" me, me me. So in your world, when politicians of all colours going into the next general election, ask people to consider the issues that affect them, then ALL of the politicians, and ALL of the electorate are right wing. Because that's what people will be asked to vote on, particularly by Labour, the issues that affect them. So because a politician asks me to think of myself and only myself, that automatically makes me do so, thus confining me to the individualistic hell that is the right wing? How about I ignore them and cast my vote based on which party I believe will further benefit society as a whole? Am I not allowed to do that? I think that you misunderstood my comment, but at least it gave the 'holier than thou' brigade something to cheer Good. The people need things to cheer for. They should fight for their right to democracy no? Edited March 24, 2014 by dont_do_it_doug. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kingfisher Posted March 24, 2014 Share Posted March 24, 2014 Speaking of things to cheer. Bez will be standing for Parliament in Salford. http://youtu.be/hvzAlRhjVcc Shake your maracas against fracking! Ha ha. Good on him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markavfc40 Posted March 24, 2014 Share Posted March 24, 2014 There are no national budgets for libraries. They are set and maintained by Local Authorities, if LA's have cut library spending that is a decision that they have made to spend on services elsewhere. Kick the government around as much as you like, there is plenty of ammo available, just make sure you pick the right stuff. You are correct they are maintained by local authorities. However local Government funding has been slashed massively for some local authorities. Birmingham for instance has had cuts of over 30% since 2010 and need to make further savings in 2014/15 and 2015/16. Yes they do have a choice locally where to make the cuts and unfortunately libraries and leisure centres will now be considered a luxury due to having to try to protect more essential services like social care etc. Make no mistake though the cuts to libraries have been made as a result to the massive cuts in funding made by this government. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eames Posted March 24, 2014 Share Posted March 24, 2014 Speaking of things to cheer. Bez will be standing for Parliament in Salford.http://youtu.be/hvzAlRhjVcc Shake your maracas against fracking! Ha ha. Good on him. This is a monumentally shit idea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dont_do_it_doug. Posted March 24, 2014 Share Posted March 24, 2014 Speaking of things to cheer. Bez will be standing for Parliament in Salford.http://youtu.be/hvzAlRhjVcc Shake your maracas against fracking! Ha ha. Good on him. This is a monumentally shit idea. What's shit about it? There's nothing fundamentally shit about a protest vote. It's better than that protest vote going to UKIP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarewsEyebrowDesigner Posted March 24, 2014 Share Posted March 24, 2014 Vote for someone useful then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dont_do_it_doug. Posted March 24, 2014 Share Posted March 24, 2014 By the way, rather disappointed (though not surprised) that they think he's taking the piss. He's not. He may not be the sharpest tool in the box, but at least his aim is true and pure. Unlike a large proportion of MP's. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dont_do_it_doug. Posted March 24, 2014 Share Posted March 24, 2014 Vote for someone useful then. Like who? I don't live in Salford so the point is moot. I may vote for The Green Party, but lest we forget their own chequered history. My preference is revolution. Who is going to offer that? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterms Posted March 24, 2014 Share Posted March 24, 2014 Adrian Short @adrianshort 1h Facing a long stretch inside? Delight and educate your cellmates by memorising Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dont_do_it_doug. Posted March 24, 2014 Share Posted March 24, 2014 (edited) And - That's not really the point of a protest vote. A protest vote expresses disdain, it doesn't necessarily mean you'd want the person you're voting for given any real power. (Not to mention that it shows we have the power to vote for whomever we choose, not necessarily somebody you yourself deem "useful") Edited March 24, 2014 by dont_do_it_doug. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarewsEyebrowDesigner Posted March 24, 2014 Share Posted March 24, 2014 (edited) My preference is revolution. Who is going to offer that? Nobody with any sense. We have problems but problems which can be sorted democratically. I'd rather people organise a movement which promotes change rather than voting for any numpty with publicity just for the sake of a protest vote. Such votes are people's democratic right, but they aren't even a drop in the ocean. The powers that be couldn't give a toss about Bez. Edited March 24, 2014 by CarewsEyebrowDesigner 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Risso Posted March 24, 2014 Share Posted March 24, 2014 Chris Grayling has banned books in prison.http://www.leftfootforward.org/2014/03/the-prison-book-ban-is-not-just-nasty-but-bizarre/ In brazil they encourage prisoners to read books, that has to be a better way. As the article states, a bizarre and populist move. It turns out he hasn't done any such thing, which shouldn't come as any surprise. Prisoners have been banned from receiving personal parcels. They can have up to 12 books in their cell at any one time. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dont_do_it_doug. Posted March 24, 2014 Share Posted March 24, 2014 My preference is revolution. Who is going to offer that? Nobody with any sense. We have problems but problems which can be sorted democratically. I'd rather people organise a movement which promotes change rather than voting for any numpty with publicity just for the sake of a protest vote. Such votes are people's democratic right, but they aren't even a drop in the ocean. The powers that be couldn't give a toss about Bez. Organise a movement which promotes change... What did you think I meant by revolution? Blood on the streets? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarewsEyebrowDesigner Posted March 24, 2014 Share Posted March 24, 2014 (edited) Well, what do you mean then? A revolution involves replacing one system with another. How do you intend to manage that? What system would you put in place of the current one? I hear plenty of calls for revolution but none have substance behind them. Edited March 24, 2014 by CarewsEyebrowDesigner Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dont_do_it_doug. Posted March 24, 2014 Share Posted March 24, 2014 Well, what do you mean then? A revolution involves replacing one system with another. How do you indeed to manage that? What system would you put in place of the current one? I hear plenty of calls for revolution but none have substance behind them. Why should revolution involve bloodshed in a 21st century democracy? Socialist democracy please. Unfortunately I do not have a plan for how we achieve this. Mass protest perhaps, though we'd need a powerful enough voice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterms Posted March 24, 2014 Share Posted March 24, 2014 Guardian. Justice ministers have defended their ban on sending books to prisoners in England and Wales, saying it is integral to a new system of rewards and punishments. The ban on books being sent to prisoners by families and friends is part of a new "incentives and earned privileges" regime, introduced last November, which allows prisoners access to funds to buy books and other items as they move up from "basic" level. Justice ministry officials say lifting the ban on sending in books would undermine the basis of the new regime. The prisons minister, Jeremy Wright, said: "The notion that we are banning books in prisons is complete nonsense. All prisoners can have up to 12 books in their cells at any one time, and all prisoners have access to the prison library. "Under the incentives and earned privileges scheme, if prisoners engage with their rehabilitation and comply with the regime, they can have greater access to funds to buy items, including books." Prisoners who are allowed to buy books can order them from catalogues. The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) defended the new rules in the face of a growing protest by novelists and other authors against their introduction by the justice secretary, Chris Grayling. The ban was highlighted by the Howard League for Penal Reform. Prominent writers including Philip Pullman, Ian Rankin, Linda Grant and Professor Mary Beard, as well as others including the musician Billy Bragg, have demanded that Grayling drop the ban. Pullman tweeted: "It's one of the most disgusting, mean, vindictive acts of a barbaric government." The crime novelist Rankin said: "From visits to prisons and talking to prisoners, I know how important books can be in promoting literacy and connecting prisoners to society." Bragg tweeted: "People in prison need rehabilitation, not retribution. Coalition bans guitars, now deny prisoners books." The Booker prize-shortlisted novelist Grant said she was organising a protest against the rule, while Beard said: "Books educate and rehabilitate. Crazy to ban them being sent to prisoners in jail as Lord Chancellor is reported." The growing protest followed a blog by Frances Crook, the director of the Howard League for Penal Reform, highlighting the changes in the incentives and privileges regime. Crook said banning books was in some ways "the most despicable and nastiest element" of the new rules. She said: "The rules governing possessions of prisoners are arcane and not consistently applied by every prison. These new restrictions relate to a downgrading of the system of rewards and punishments, ostensibly designed to encourage prisoners to comply with prison rules. "Yet the ban on receiving books is a blanket decision, so no matter how compliant and well behaved you are, no prisoner will be allowed to receive books from outside." Crook said prison libraries were not a satisfactory alternative as they were supplied and funded by local authorities, many of which were now closing and cutting costs. A spokeswoman for the MoJ denied that any prison libraries had closed. Crook said the new rules also banned families from sending small items to prisoners, including homemade birthday cards, specialist magazines and some clothing, such as underwear. The new rules, introduced last November, also saw convicted prisoners required to wear prison uniform for the first two weeks of their sentence. Many prisoners also lost their automatic daily access to a gym and to daytime television. The change in the punishment system in jails in England and Wales also meant individual prison governors lost much of their discretion over which perks and privileges could be used to reward good behaviour; these are now prescribed nationally by the MoJ. Petty, spiteful, vindictive, and utterly unhelpful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
villaajax Posted March 24, 2014 Share Posted March 24, 2014 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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