One of the attractions of writing your own blog, is the fact that although Thanet currently has five weekly newspapers, frequently, journalists or editors, seem either unable or uninterested in questioning the news they are reporting, so the likes of me, can actually add something thats not otherwise available.
Two classic examples, are on the front page of last week's isle of Thanet extra, first a rather innocuous story, concerning Southern Waters completed waste treatment plant, with no reference to the years of pollution coming from virtually untreated sewage courtesy of the same southern water company.
A story which might also have benefited from a more creative analysis was the one concerning, councilors Sandy Ezekiel, Rodger Latchford the chief executive of Thanet Council Richard Samuel and a another council employee who apparently have bagged tickets to China.
There are several aspects not covered historically, in the nineties, Thanet lost 350 manufacturing factory jobs, to China when Hornbys moved their production, secondly the question of who's footing the bill, admittedly we are told that the Chinese government are playing for the trip, so no problem there about waste of taxpayers' money, unless of course you include the time taken by Richard Samuel chief executive and his colleague who will be of course away from their desks, and interrupting the vital work they do for us taxpayers.
Councilor Ezekiel pointed out, that taxpayers will not be funding the trip, and that there'll be a little time for enjoyment. Which pleases me immensely, since I wonder how you can enjoy yourself, when you're receiving hospitality from a repressive regime such as China.
Hopefully those representatives of Thanet's, will be briefing themselves on their hosts, but just in cases their missing a few facts and figures perhaps they would care to take a glance through amnesty international's 2007 report on china.
Finally the ordinary people of China will not be able to read these comments, but perhaps our democratic representatives will mention something of democracy and freedom. I'm not suggesting we don't trade with China but maybe we could pass on some of our values, I think it would be rude not too.
I suspect our local "leaders" will be enjoying too much hospitality to be sober enough to make comments about anything. Just proves these greasy gravy-trainers are in politics just for what they can get personally.
ReplyDeleteTony, Sandy E. tells me that he invited you to a private meeting with him, when you met at the Theatre Royal, to discuss the trip and any concerns you may have but you haven't taken him up on it?
ReplyDeleteThere's an awful lot resting on a succesful outcome to this meeting wth ChinaMex in regard to developing the local economy and creating local jobs. Greasy-gravy doesn't come into it and from experience, I wouldn't envy anyone the jet-lagged itinerary that's involved between Hong Kong and Beijing
Sandy told me his door was always open, which is a good thing.
ReplyDeleteWhen I spoke to him at the Theatre Royal it was before news of this trip had been made public.
I asked Sandy what would happen to the money from the sale of the Rendesvous site when its eventually sold, and understood that its, outside the control of thanet council and assume those funds will disappear into KCC hands never to be seen again. (nothing new there).Secondly I mentioned Dreamland
If he mentioned an I misheard then accept my apologies
Anon 10;05 has given an opinion which to fair is the other side of whats acceptable. And i should have rebuked them.
Principle is something which non politicals like me can hold on to.
Maybe you ought to imagine the plight of those who live in Tibet and China under a dictatorship, China is not the only country that invests overseas I think some democratic nations do as well.
Got to go to work know maybe I should have given more consideration to that reply.
ReplyDeletePresently the choice is a little limited. Russia or China. The latter has £trillion to spend and is investing heavily both here and the United States. The former is also investing, in energy and football clubs!
ReplyDeleteTo be frank though, our options here in Thanet are very limited and regardless of how we might all feel about China, principles of conscience are a luxury that we may not be able to afford or indeed have any say in, here in Thanet.
The balance of world economic power is now moving inexorably to Asia and Europe and indeed, Britains own future economy looks a little unsteady. That's a fact not an expression of poltical affiliation.
Tony, you miss some essential points;
ReplyDelete"There are several aspects not covered historically, in the nineties, Thanet lost 350 manufacturing factory jobs, to China when Hornbys moved their production"
Hornby, pre the closure of local manufacturing, was going bust. Zero, Zip, Finish. End of story. Ho jobs, no Hornby.
Carrying on as it was, was not an option. Revitalised, it is now going from strength to strength (not my opinion, look at the stock market figures). Of course, I mourn the loss of local jobs, but the current workforce is building, it's high value, and expanding (and anyone who signs up Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso when both were unknowns gets my vote).
"Principle is something which non politicals like me can hold on to."
Politicals like me are just ordinary people who choose to try and do somehing other than moan. It does not mean we abandon principles. In fact, it's quite the opposite. After a few months of experience, I can assure you it needs a thick skin.
Why not come on board? (get elected and have a hand in these decisions) There's no curative stronger than discovering just how tough it actually is.
I won't overly bother with the first comment on this thread, but whoever posted it is lost in the mists of gravy (or, more probably, worse). I confess to receiving a free sauage roll from Southern Water at the Weatherlees water plant opening, but I did take (unpaid) time off work to go and see this place.
Regards
Ewen Cameron
(guilty of being a "politico" - District Councillor for Bradstowe Ward)
I accept the need to be pragmatic ewen.
ReplyDeleteEwen ,I didn't elaborate on the Hornby issue but would say that as employers I cannot recall them ever being referred to as generous at any time as far as production workers were concerned. Now low pay in manufacturing is often as result of either innefficient manufacturing or a desire not share wealth in an equitable way, since I'm no expert in Hornby I am not qualified to comment.
Just on low pay I feel that if anyone is paying less than around £7.50 then quite honestly they shouldn't be employing people since you and I have to bail the employer out by high taxation so that employees can by food and shelter.
On the anonymous commentator I agree that they went to far, I'm sure that the delegation have the best intentions as their motivation, but would not be surprised if they were enjoying the trip and why shouldn't they. Working on the railways I sometimes get excited going to a new work site, just to shovel ballast (honest).
Simon principle is not a luxury its what guides us through life.
Ewen my job would not fit in with Politics and I reckon I can make more of contribution by standing back and looking at the big picture.
anyway I have just woken up so these aren't the most consider thoughts
Sadly, when it comes to feeding a family or keeping a job to pay the mortgage I suspect most of us are pragamatists when it comes to principles - would you agree?
ReplyDeleteI did a corporate for a fag company once. But being a principled person I thought I'd better put my money where my mouth was and started smoking their product. Strangely I haven't been able to stop since.
ReplyDeleteThere. A little allegorical tale about accepting the Chinese Dong, or whatever it is.
The Chinese currency is the rather unpronouncable Renmimbi, often (mis)spelled Remnimbi as well.
ReplyDeleteLiterally, it means "the People's Currency". Some people call it the Yuan.
The Dong is the surrency of Vietnam. My favourite, though, is the Haitian Gourde - or perhaps the Colon (Costa Rica), and maybe the Albanian Lek should get a mention.
Regards to all
Ewen Cameron
Aaargh - typo syndrome is getting to me.
ReplyDeleteIt's Renminbi, not Renmimbi
Ewen
Pity you run out of steam, tony, as soon as you get the attention of the tory heavys and they steer you away from your annoynace. i'm sure sandy beach is delighted to be making a trip to china that he doesn't have to pay for. and let's hope old rog (latchford) doesn't do a prince phillip and offend the locals.
ReplyDeleteI've got several conplaints in against TDC which they takes months to respond to, clearly too busy packing their suitacases for their free holidays!
ReplyDelete