tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31362580.post8022594278233606082..comments2023-07-04T10:34:08.502+01:00Comments on The Tin Drummer: St George And the De-Festering of EnglandBill Haydonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08357811679771159469noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31362580.post-62622473776606251162007-05-05T02:13:00.000+01:002007-05-05T02:13:00.000+01:00I think there is seriously a New Order cult going ...I think there is seriously a New Order cult going around and I can't believe I never heard of them before!<BR/><BR/>What should I go listen to?Ruthiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15800371586600838226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31362580.post-52720394632379661052007-04-24T08:53:00.000+01:002007-04-24T08:53:00.000+01:00NS, good points. Perhaps I should rephrase my poin...NS, good points. Perhaps I should rephrase my points: I used "state" interchangeably in my mind with "collection of people" and "territory" - I wasn't thinking about the actual government, except that I _would_ like the people who run the place we live in to like it, rather than to loathe it. When I talked about the state having pride in itself I kind of meant that the people who lived in England as an independent state would like it, would regard its past and its achievements more equitably than we do at present, while being able to see a future for it - which, while the union staggers on, is difficult to do. I just think that while the educational establishment and all good progressive politicians think that England is a slightly dirty and half racist idea we'll never move on, and we'll never do anything to improve our situation. But how you achieve that, I don't know. Dissolve the teacher training colleges? I know I would. I guess, thinking about it, it would take an awful lot more than just the end of the union to relegitimise England.<BR/><BR/>In terms of the form of the govt, I would prefer a dissolution of the union followed by a referendum on renegotiated EU membership (obviously our contributions would have to be cut...); a bicameral parliament with either the constitutional monarch or an elected president (no appointed presidents, please); and a clause in a (sadly, but necessarily) written constitution that says that - like the FRG I believe - English law takes precedence over EU or other law.Bill Haydonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08357811679771159469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31362580.post-40674650516103701592007-04-24T00:01:00.000+01:002007-04-24T00:01:00.000+01:00I'm with you almost all the way, until you start i...I'm with you almost all the way, until you start involving the state. Apart from the fact I shudder when people start talking about wanting <EM>a self-confident, meaningful modern state</EM> (sounds like the sort of thing Tony Blair would propose), how can a state take joy in its culture? States don't have emotions -- they're there, or should be, to play a very important role, but one limited to specific areas,like maintaining a fair and impartial legal system, defending the country and keeping a sound currency. And it isn't the state's culture at all -- it's the culture of the people who live there, and in which they may or may not take joy. <BR/><BR/>And I certainly don't want to be <EM>loved</EM> by the state, thank you very much, which will almost certainly involve using my money to shower me with gifts it thinks I should appreciate. Think how disappointed it might feel if it felt I failed adequately to reciprocate.Not Saussurehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16261214039693203494noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31362580.post-11417681407788341052007-04-23T20:32:00.000+01:002007-04-23T20:32:00.000+01:00Yes I like New Order & Joy Division. I know that J...Yes I like New Order & Joy Division. I know that JD purists think they're a betrayal but I don't agree - I think they're a natural progression. Late JD songs suggest that they would have moved in a similar direction (though the lyrics would have been more consistent).Bill Haydonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08357811679771159469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31362580.post-78654678355699449152007-04-23T19:47:00.000+01:002007-04-23T19:47:00.000+01:00I didn't know you were a Joy Division fan. I then ...I didn't know you were a Joy Division fan. I then followed New Order but that cuts no ice with purists, of course.James Highamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14525082702330365464noreply@blogger.com