Been patriotic does mean been nationalistic!

I know these two get confused but let look at it shall we ?
Been patriotic is been proud of you county that is all. You can be proud of what your nation has archived with out it been detrimental towards other country's for example I am proud to be British but love Germany. But if your nationalistic your proud of your country to the effect  of put your country interest and everything else first no matter what. Nationalism was one of the factor the lead to world war 1 one hundred years ago not patriotism leaders where proud of their country to the negative effect of every one else. 

2014 winter storms and the UK ! Mother nature stop please we are begging you!

Since late 2013 the UK has been suffering from a series of sea storms. It has damaged buildings roads railway lines arcoss the Uk. But all that said nature is showing us how powetful it is and even with all our tech how weak we are when it comes to it.We live at mother natures mercy.

I don't know if this weather is caused by global warming or not. It does not change the awersome power of these storms. It of course will affect how often we get these types of storms. The Goverment need to prepare the country for more in the future . That a given no mater if global warming caused this or not. And the political in fighting that been going on in the last few days help no one.

Who know what the cost will be to the UK? 

It is Certain it has caused damage and destroyed. 

Peoples lives

Infstructure 

This is true of both the sea storms and major flooding. 

But one point the Somerset level were a marsh for 1000's of years. 

But should it be let go back to how nature intend? Or be better defended? 

I think the later as in the UK we have many home and citys on flood plains and letting the Somerset levels retutn to nature would be setting a dangrrous precedent. 

Of course all this does not changs the fact people are stuffering. 

But it needs examing.!

Is the UK too London Centric?

When it comes to a country be centred around one city I think the Uk take the biscuit by been very London Centric. I can think of major country where they have several city they are centred around E.g. German where it centred around 4 or so citys.

This can be very damaging to the UK.
Just one example is spending. In Hull case we have to wait for years to get a upgrade to the A63 and it still not 100% sorted with no start date. And as one of the UK major port this is wrong. But London needs more rail capacity and hey presto they get it.

Yes London is the capital.
But it is a one trick pony and is a money city. The UK needs ports, Factorys and other things that the rest of the UK provides yet seems to grt forgoten. And this can damage the country.

Is the Goverment right about cutting the HM armed Forces? NO

A very simple question.
Is it a good idea to be cutting the armed forces?
I would/will say no

We live in an uncertain world. At the same time we are reducing our forces other rouge nation are increasing theirs.What sort of message does this send them?
Simple
They are getting stronger while we are getting weaker 82,000 soliders can not do the same as 102,000 can they. Not only does this weaken our defence it weaken our hand dipomatical as well. We will struggle to enforce thing like no fly zones. And let not forget the US are reducing their armed force.
We live in an uncertain world we nothing is certain expect that rouge nation are getting stronger. Our weakened armed force sends out the wrong signal.

Sports and politics never should they tango

Sports and politic should not mix.
But they often do. Lets start with just a few examples: 1936 Berlin games Hitler turns them into a nazi propergander show. Is the worst example of this possible ever. 2014 the Winter games in Russia has been mixed into the fray on Russia stance regarding Homosexuality. In fact there never seems to be a major sporting event where politics keep it nose out. Often like Russia 2014 it the poltican causing the link. Not sports themselves.
Sport can be a great bridge across a devide a way to reunite people or even nations like in South Africa. But all this politics can also be a major distraction from the real reason for the events sports.

But why should they not mix?
Beyond the distractionnpoint I made what other reason is there?
Using the 1936 example a sporting event was corupted  by nazi poltics to a lesser degree the 2014 winter games in Russia have been by Putin. Why..? In
Hitler's case he took the ideals of an event and created a event at total loger head with it. And Russia 2014? Forgeting the rights and wrongs of Russia's gay law by linking them to the games he has created a situation against some of the events ideals granted some not all but that does to some degree distort what they stand for.
Politics can only distort sport when they are used for or connected poltical things. Yes in some case politics has used sport for good like in South Africa or great Evil like Hitler. Or like Putin connected tge two together by accident?  Good or bad it all distorts the sports used to some extent the are no longer just about the results of the sporting event.

And that is why sport and politics should not meet.

( please note the incussion of Putin and Russia is not an Attack on him or the country neither is it an endorsement of either camp regarding Russia's gay law it is just included as a modern example of why sports and poltics should be seperate)

Rule Britiania, Britania rules the waves.

We Brits are an island race. And no point in the UK is more than 70 or so miles from the sea. The busist shipping lane in the world is the Dover straights. What does all this tell you?

That we depend on the sea as a nation. 70% plus of our trade is carried by sea in and out of the UK.
A simple Fact is the Royal Navy is the oldest Navy in the World.

Once the title of this blog was a fact undisputed. Now it is the Us Navy who do that.

But dispite having less ship than at any point in history is the Royal navy weaker?   Yes or no it does not mater as long as it fit for purpouse (yes A weak navy send out the wrong message) (it is current just about fit for purpouse but will not be if the current trend is allowed to keep happening). We still have one of the most modern upto date and capable navy in the World one of only 3 blue water navy there is. Able to defend us when needed (It has to stay that way) . It is smaller and leaner than it has been in the past but still packs a punch at the moment!

However we need the 2 Aircraft carriers and aircraft for them and they look impressive. It was a mistake to retire the previous carrier before the replacement were ready. As an island nation we need a strong navy the Goverment must remember that. The Royal Navy is vital to us and our contuined existance as a nation. It must never be let shrink into obscurity we can't afford it to be allowed to ever shrink. New ship can do more than their fore fathers but can only be in one place at a time we need a strong navy. The Royal Navy can not be cut futher in the near future even if goverment budget get shrunk. It must be ring fenched it to vital

The men and Women of the Royal Navy serve with pride and distinction often over looked in the publuc eye. They are our protecter and the First line of defence.

The Royal Navy preform many a vital role both for the UK and the world 

Does fuel cost way to much? Yes! It is killing many small business fact! UPDATED

One thing that seems to be a truth held self everdent is petrol/Diesel cost way to much (Gas) and it does not mater if your in the Uk,US,Germany,Etc. It just is.
I will try to aviod ranting and just look at the facts like I tried on the MP pay rise blog.
The cost of fuel is effected by many factors.
And is more complex to make than some people may realise.

Does Petrol cost to much ? YES!

But why?
Lets look at this in a simply as possible way.
1 finding oil Costs money
2 drilling oil costs money
3 shipping oil to be refined costs money
4 refining oil costs money
5 shipping/transporting oil to petrol stations costs money
6 selling the petrol/fuel to end user make money
That is 5 stage at the simplest before the likes of BP make any money (and that is forgetting certain things like Human resources and its costs and the like_Etc..)

But are they been greedy I mean they make billions in profit every year?
Again lets face it there used to be loads of petrol stations in the UK and loads have closed. Are the profit that big per unit? After all BP sell millions/billions  of units every year. So their profit look massive but that is primarily due to the sheer amount of petroleum products sold every year rather than been excessive profit per unit.

Lets consider this a average Truck need £1000 plus a week in fuel about £800 goes to government.(older figures please correct me if I am wrong on these +Road Haulage Association or +Freight Transport Association  ) This is where the problem lies firmly at the feet of the government not the oil companies.

As a small business Clark trading has go use fuel to do many things thankfully we can limit our mileage in a way some other sectors can not. Like haulage high fuel price have and still do push business to the wall,there is only so much you can shallow or pass along to the customer. Before they go else where.

The high fuel taxation in the UK is bad for business and the customer! It is bad for every one

It is about time the Mps saw this simple fact  ! AND ACTED.! REDUCE FUEL DUTY TO GET THE UK MOVING AGAIN/FASTER IT IS A BRAKE ON THE COUNTRY'S GROWTH BUT NO IT SEEM EVERY TIME THE BUDGET COMES ALONG EVEN MORE TAX IS HEAPED ON THE POOR MOTORIST. 

And just to prove the point why does diesil cost more than Petrol? (UK) when it is a simpler fuel because it has even more tax on than petrol. 

Fuel in the UK is double taxed. 

 +Federation of Small Businesses 

11% pay rise for Mp? No way!

Should our MP get a 11% pay rise? Simple answer no. It barmy even many mp think so.
I will be careful not to turn this into a rant but 11%
Where do they come up with these figures?
So let consider first they are paid well most of them circa 66kk I think with large expense accounts yes it can be a hard job with long hour some times I don't doubt, so 11% would = £7260 for a pay rise for a basic Mp even 1% is  £660 pounds a much more modest sum. Who suggest a 7000 plus pound pay rise? Imagen asking your boss for such a pay rise you would get laughed at.
At a time when the government is still cutting budget and some in power in regards mp wages has made this the official pay rise suggestion barmy! And to give  +David Cameron his due even he has said it wrong.
Much government employees are either on pay freeze or small rise or even losing jobs and they suggest a large pay rise are they on the same planet as the rest of us.
Say no to a 11% pay rise for mps,! Let hope sufficient Mp say it mad and wrong so this does not happen not that I am holding my breath on this.

Updated 

I was just looking at the visitor location stats and it gave me a idea in the USA it is written into the consultation that the politicians can not vote them self s a pay rise what a great piece of law why don't we have it in the UK?

I have also had a thought why not send a letter to your local MP to display your dislike of this
+David Cameron +Nick Clegg +Ed Miliband

A quick question are Mp paid to much? about right? insufficent?
and do they deserve a pay rise>?

Thanks for reading