Removing knighthoods and other stupid acts!

I see that that great bastion of all that is morally right and proper (The Sun) is calling for Sir Jimmy Savile to be stripped of his OBE and knighthood. That's the way to do it, hit the man where it hurts!

Oh yeah, forgot that he is dead and so taking away the honour would do? Exactly nothing, unlike taking Freddy Goodwin's knighthood from him in an act of public vengeance. Now that did something (didn't it?).

How I wish that we would stop the bitter, revenge-ladeen, bleating that is so much a part of this society of ours. We don't seek justice nor do we engage in dialogue that seeks understanding and craves peace but instead we lash out to redress the balance and gain the upper hand (regardless of how Phyrric it might be).

Four years ago the prime Minister of the day (Gordon Brown, remember him?) launched a bail out of the banks and promised a balanced and more moral banking system as a result. here we are four years on and the Chancellor (George Osborne - wouldn't you like to forget him?) is talking about cutting benefits to the tune of £10bn to help balance the books of a financially (to go along with morally) bankrupt nation, thanks to the Bankers and the Labour Party (who last week with their sans Gromit leader promised more 'spend. spend. spend' profligacy).

Seems we have three undesirable parties vying for power  and bankers still living as they did and making money at the top end whilst the drones find themselves redundant and paying for the excesses of the privileged (much like the Church of England according to one critic this weekend!!!).

Forget knighthoods and throwing stones at dead people and let us instead concentrate of those who knew and were complicit in the acts that Savile did. Let us ask questions of those who were, and are, in power regarding PFI scams, the imminent demise of the NHS (a jewel in our nation's fast dimming crown), the excesses of bankers and the so many other real, and accesible, excesses and errors. Let's call upon the Lord for justice (for He does hear and does act).

As for revenge?

Paul has a good thought for the day in the words of Romans 12: 19:

Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, "I will take revenge; I will pay them back," says the LORD.

George Osborne - Guilty of fiduciary mismanagement?

I'm sorry to potentially upset those who might think that George Osborne is a safe pair of hands at the helm of UK plc's financial dealings but following the sale of Northern Rock to Northern Rock to Virgin Money for £747m I have to say that this is past 'Virgin on the ridiculous' it is downright blesséd criminal (or perhaps, to do him a favour, merely totally incompetent!)!

We are seeing members of the armed forces facing redundancy should they be silly enough to find themselves wounded in combat. We have libraries closing as Councils cut back their spending (CCTV in cabs excepted of course)! The number of young people without employment and the rising number of NEETs (post 16 Not in Education, Employment or Training) all add up to make one concerned and to crown all things there must be . . . .

Let's do the sums and see?

Northern Rock has cost the British Taxpayer something in the region of 1,400,000,000.

The Company was then split into two: Northern Rock plc and Northern Rock (Asset Management), the former being the 'good' business and the later being used as a receptacle for the 'bad' debt.

The company has shed some 3,000 staff (many of whom are probably now are receiving benefits)

And we sell it to one Of that nice Mr Branson's companies for £747,000,000

1,400,00,00 - 747,000,000 = £653,000,000 (it could be less, but it couldn't be worse!)

Northern Rock (Asset Management) is a black hole that accounts for c.£21,000,000,000 (but rest assured, we are not going to sell that to anyone - it's all ours!!!).

There is a bright side in that there potential for another £150,000 and then (possibly) another £50,000,000 and if Virgin sell the business on or relist it on the Stock Market within a five year period there could be another £50,000,000.

So, if they make money out of it, and one has to ask, "How could they fail, they have the good business," we might see another £250,000,000 in all.

Back to the abacus and we find a minimum loss of £403,000,000 (and we still have the Asset bit)!!

I just love Virgin Money's Chief executives view of it all, "We think we have made a great offer!"

It certainly is, but for whom?

The disabled in Birmingham who were to have their care cut to fund cuts?

Those whose library (and related services) are, or have been earmarked, to be cut?

Those local government workers who will find themselves unemployed (and paid by us through increased benefits)?

I'm sure you can add to this list (you are welcome to) and on a week when protesters have been told to move from St PAul's Cathedral I can but applaud the timing and the demonstration of just who benefits from the way our society, nation and the government operates. If anything was designed to see people take up the protester's cause, it is surely this.

Well done Mr Osborne!!!

Now what's this week's OT Lectionary reading about 'fat' sheep????