Archive for month: September, 2013

On the money

30 September, 2013 (15:17) | All articles | By: Stuart Fraser

Who couldn’t applaud George Osborne’s admirable idea that people in receipt of state handouts should do something in return for the money? I imagine he isn’t including any of the things that so many people in receipt of state handouts already do – they help out at school, for example, or do Granny’s shopping for […]

For rage, press 3

23 September, 2013 (19:24) | All articles | By: Stuart Fraser

After eight minutes of automated messages and telephonic queuing this morning, a real person answered the phone at Cornwall Council. Yes, that’s right, the council to which I pay hundreds of pounds a month. Clearly, it doesn’t spend any of that on common courtesies like answering the phone by, for example, employing Cornish people to […]

For sale: something you already own

16 September, 2013 (15:54) | All articles | By: Stuart Fraser

It was brought to my attention last week – it’s brought to our attention every week – that state ownership of essential services is a bad thing because we tried it once and it didn’t work. Hmmm. Lots of things overseen by the state didn’t work once, but do now. Computers in schools. Brain surgery. […]

Basic instincts

9 September, 2013 (17:19) | All articles | By: Stuart Fraser