In yesterday's Preston Reporter, their main story was about how Lancashire County Council is so short of money that they keep selling off council buildings and have in some cases made workers share a desk.
Today, the LEP website reports six council executives earn more than £100,000 a year, with the chief executive earning £188,677 in 2006/7.
A few weeks ago the LEP also reported that 640 council employees get free parking, whereas the rest of the council workers have to pay £8 a day.
Council tax keeps rising. I had a quick look at the amounts in Preston, and for most areas in band A you have to pay £1009.89 a year in 2008/9. In 2007/8 it was £974.78. This is a massive increase, especially for lower income homes. And the council use this money to give free parking permits and to pay executives over £100,000 a year salaries? This is ridiculous.
As anyone who reads the news will know, there are high amounts of crime in the Preston area. Every day it seems you hear about a gang attacking someone. One of the most high profile recently was the death of Sophie Lancaster in Bacup last August.
Surely the council should be spending the money they get from their residents on making the area they live safer instead of overpaying fat cat executives?
Sources:
Lancashire Evening Post: Cash-stapped council makes workers share a desk
Lancashire Evening Post: Revealed: How much council fat cats get paid
Lancashire Evening Post: Row over council workers' free parking
Preston Council: Council tax bands 2007 - 2008
Preston Council: Council tax bands 2008 - 2009
BBC News: Boy convicted of goth park murder
Friday 28 March 2008
Wednesday 12 March 2008
Stock up on booze on Saturday...
....because its budget time.
To try and combat the problems caused by drinking in our society, the government has today announced that alcohol duty rates will go up by 6% above inflation. Which means, a pint of beer will cost an extra 4p, a bottle of wine will be 14p more and spirit prices will rise by a massive 55p a bottle.
Is this really going to make any difference?
The problem is not the cost of alcohol. The problem is how society views alcohol. Kids are caught drinking these days at younger and younger ages. Their excuse? They're bored. People see alcohol as a way of forgetting your life and problems.
Even if the costs go up, people will still drink. Its just going to upset people who like the odd drink or two a few times a week.
The government needs to do something to make life better for the people they're aiming to hurt with this budget. Better education, better social activities, even helping with a better home life.
Its these sorts of things which can fix our drink problems, not making us pay more for our alcohol.
Source: Q&A: What the budget means for you
To try and combat the problems caused by drinking in our society, the government has today announced that alcohol duty rates will go up by 6% above inflation. Which means, a pint of beer will cost an extra 4p, a bottle of wine will be 14p more and spirit prices will rise by a massive 55p a bottle.
Is this really going to make any difference?
The problem is not the cost of alcohol. The problem is how society views alcohol. Kids are caught drinking these days at younger and younger ages. Their excuse? They're bored. People see alcohol as a way of forgetting your life and problems.
Even if the costs go up, people will still drink. Its just going to upset people who like the odd drink or two a few times a week.
The government needs to do something to make life better for the people they're aiming to hurt with this budget. Better education, better social activities, even helping with a better home life.
Its these sorts of things which can fix our drink problems, not making us pay more for our alcohol.
Source: Q&A: What the budget means for you
Monday 10 March 2008
student debt.
I just got an email reminding me that I signed a petition asking the government to scrap student debt and saying that the government had responded.
Here's their response.
I hate politicians and the way they make excuses and throw in pointless facts to distract from real issues.
Here's their response.
I hate politicians and the way they make excuses and throw in pointless facts to distract from real issues.
Sunday 9 March 2008
China & cruelty
This isn't really directly related to politics, but for my journalism issues assignment I've been having to buy the "fabulous" piece of journalism that is the Daily Mail/Mail on Sunday.
Today I saw this article, which made me sick & really upset.
Olympics clean up Chinese style: Inside Beijing's shocking death camp for cats
This is absolutely disgusting. As if China's policy on baby girls isn't bad enough, they do this to poor defenceless animals?
I cannot believe the world supports this sick, perverse country by allowing them to host the Olympic games. And I especially cannot believe our own government wants to have good relations with this country. Trade between the UK and China amounted to about £20.2 billion in 2007. Surely we should be distancing ourselves from this country until they sort out their human and animal rights?
And yes, I do feel sort of dirty for agreeing with something in the Mail!
Sources:
The Mail on Sunday article
BBC: Brown's first China visit as PM
Today I saw this article, which made me sick & really upset.
Olympics clean up Chinese style: Inside Beijing's shocking death camp for cats
This is absolutely disgusting. As if China's policy on baby girls isn't bad enough, they do this to poor defenceless animals?
I cannot believe the world supports this sick, perverse country by allowing them to host the Olympic games. And I especially cannot believe our own government wants to have good relations with this country. Trade between the UK and China amounted to about £20.2 billion in 2007. Surely we should be distancing ourselves from this country until they sort out their human and animal rights?
And yes, I do feel sort of dirty for agreeing with something in the Mail!
Sources:
The Mail on Sunday article
BBC: Brown's first China visit as PM
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