Are politicians finally beginning to 'get it'?
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As with all Government policies the problem is dithering and indecision, they constantly take a narrow minded short term decisions based on keeping themselves in power and not what is good for the Country..
The road and rail infrastructure as an example has been blighted by this for years, no one party will take the step of implementing a 10 to 15 year costly spending programme to address the underspending and bring a rapidly failing infrastructure into the 21st Century, simply because it would see them lose the next election. Instead the nibble around the edges whilst patting themselves on the back. The same goes for the power industry, replacement generating capacity should have been started 15 years ago and gas storage should have been addressed last year.
The same goes for the military, the lack of a cohesive and clear cut direction means programmes are chopped wasting billions while we prostitute ourselves around the world trying to borrow other countries capabilities to bolster our failing infrastructure.
Half of the problems when we do finally decide on a programme are compounded by ill thought out contracts and budget over runs such as the AEW 3 and MR4 without any plausible cap on costs or clear cut contract deadlines with penalty clauses. And then you have the Chinnok HC3 fiasco.... People should know that will be sacked over farces like that, and those companies will be frozen out of future contracts if they do not deliver on time and on budget to the Spec in the contract.
The Government condemn the banks for poor decisions and losses, but they need to take a step back and look closer to home, no bank would or could operate with the wastage, borrowings and losses that UK PLC presides over.
The road and rail infrastructure as an example has been blighted by this for years, no one party will take the step of implementing a 10 to 15 year costly spending programme to address the underspending and bring a rapidly failing infrastructure into the 21st Century, simply because it would see them lose the next election. Instead the nibble around the edges whilst patting themselves on the back. The same goes for the power industry, replacement generating capacity should have been started 15 years ago and gas storage should have been addressed last year.
The same goes for the military, the lack of a cohesive and clear cut direction means programmes are chopped wasting billions while we prostitute ourselves around the world trying to borrow other countries capabilities to bolster our failing infrastructure.
Half of the problems when we do finally decide on a programme are compounded by ill thought out contracts and budget over runs such as the AEW 3 and MR4 without any plausible cap on costs or clear cut contract deadlines with penalty clauses. And then you have the Chinnok HC3 fiasco.... People should know that will be sacked over farces like that, and those companies will be frozen out of future contracts if they do not deliver on time and on budget to the Spec in the contract.
The Government condemn the banks for poor decisions and losses, but they need to take a step back and look closer to home, no bank would or could operate with the wastage, borrowings and losses that UK PLC presides over.
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Do any of you ever engage with your elected politicians?
Do you ever write to them and express your views and pretty well learned opinions?To be fair you are all pretty well clued up. I've written to my MP on at least 3 occasions and received replies or least acknowledgement, on the simplest of issues. They can engage with you up to a point.
But "Defence" is not a massive issue to Joe Public compared to housing, health and money. They simply expect our Ministers and Service chiefs to run and sort it for them, in a nutshell.
However I detect a growing lack of trust in service chiefs as well as politicians when it comes to defence or the "foreign wars office" as it could be called - I cant put my finger on why I'm saying that, I just somehow feel it, reading the media and talking to people.
But "Defence" is not a massive issue to Joe Public compared to housing, health and money. They simply expect our Ministers and Service chiefs to run and sort it for them, in a nutshell.
However I detect a growing lack of trust in service chiefs as well as politicians when it comes to defence or the "foreign wars office" as it could be called - I cant put my finger on why I'm saying that, I just somehow feel it, reading the media and talking to people.
I have written to MPs on several occasions, and found their responses excellent in resolving direct issues, including contacting Ministers and actually answering the question asked. Mind you, I've been fortunate enough to have MPs who were widely acknowledged to be among the 'few good men'.
When I wrote to my MP about the more long term policy problems we are discussing here, and the fact I couldn't see Parliament reaching a solution and was contemplating emigrating, his response was "...sadly, you are right. Enjoy Canada".
When I wrote to my MP about the more long term policy problems we are discussing here, and the fact I couldn't see Parliament reaching a solution and was contemplating emigrating, his response was "...sadly, you are right. Enjoy Canada".
Nope, but since my MP had done the same job as me before becoming an MP, it did rather confirm there was no hope. I note said MP now has a position of some responsibility in that policy area, so he's clearly still trying, but he won't have fixed it before my retirement age.
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Well, if the politicians haven't got it yet, maybe this will get their attention; BBC News - Military cuts mean 'no US partnership', Robert Gates warns Britain
Military cuts mean 'no US partnership', Robert Gates warns Britain
Mr Gates told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "With the fairly substantial reductions in defence spending in Great Britain, what we're finding is that it won't have full spectrum capabilities and the ability to be a full partner as they have been in the past."
Mr Gates singled out cuts to the Royal Navy as particularly damaging and he noted that - for the first time since World War One - Britain did not have an operational aircraft carrier.
Mr Gates warned against nuclear disarmament by the UK, but acknowledged that there was scope for changes to the way the deterrent was deployed.
Mr Gates's comments echo the concerns of other senior military figures.
Mr Gates told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "With the fairly substantial reductions in defence spending in Great Britain, what we're finding is that it won't have full spectrum capabilities and the ability to be a full partner as they have been in the past."
Mr Gates singled out cuts to the Royal Navy as particularly damaging and he noted that - for the first time since World War One - Britain did not have an operational aircraft carrier.
Mr Gates warned against nuclear disarmament by the UK, but acknowledged that there was scope for changes to the way the deterrent was deployed.
Mr Gates's comments echo the concerns of other senior military figures.
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If we sell the aircraft carriers that we cant man, defend, or dont have aircraft for we can fix maritime patrol. Subs can always be used to sink the baddies.
Most forgotten part of the Falklands war - the entire Argentine navy including an aircraft carrier was confined to port by a nuclear submarine.
Most forgotten part of the Falklands war - the entire Argentine navy including an aircraft carrier was confined to port by a nuclear submarine.
But the slightly more prominent part that is well remembered in some quarters, is that a relatively basic air force with some very brave pilots came close to (and would have succeeded in) defeating the third most capable navy in the world at that time - had it not been for the residual capability provided by fixed-wing carrier air.
