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In response to Sweeney’s critique of John Pilger, I think Sweeney is overlooking one very important fact–that regardless of which weapons are used by whom, war leaves a terrible residue of death and destruction. Cancer deaths are a summation of the weapons used on the battlefield, and to pick them apart and put some blame on this and some on that is ludicrous. War is evil and should not be used to solve Man’s problems.
Frank E Heinrich
Comment on Small wobble in Labour party: no one killed by Peter Mandelson (28/06/2003)
Mandy’s article is exactly the sort of note the Labour party should have been striking for some time now – in contrast to the incredulous braying of apparatchiks like Ben Bradshaw, etc., when Paxmanned or Humphryed.
So, well said, Mr. Mandelson. Spot on. But much too late to get anyone to believe. Labour might not yet be wobbling quite like a jelly, but to the majority of the populace, they’re about as see-through.
Jonathan Jones
The article by Peter Mandelson couldn’t be more clear. Or could it? Because what he says can mean one of two things.
If he actually believes what he has written, then he is deluding himself and wants us to also accept this other world. Almost everything he says is at odds with reality.
If however he is just trying to manipulate opinion, as has always been the New Labour way, then he is behind the times. The number of people still willing to call themselves stupid (or New Labour supporters) is dwindling fast.
We simply will not believe New Labour is doing well, just because they tell us they are.
Ian Cook
Comment on Self abuse by Sean Thomas (28/06/2003)
Bravo! One of the funniest and most honest pieces on porn addiction I have read. Perhaps Sean could post a follow up article listing his all-time favourite porn sites for the thousands of us researching Open University thesis on the social ramifications of prolonged exposure to internet porn. It would save time and very possibly my remaining eyesight!
Adrian Hook
Comment on Public scandal by Ross Clark (28/06/2003)
Poor intellectual effort and political naivety regarding GPs pay. First and foremost – GPs are not, thanks God, public sector workers. GPs are self-employed private contractors, owing their premises and equipment. The author obviously is confused on this point. There is no pay rise of 26%. Another trap the author is falling in. The author is not alone in this, millions of people read ads saying that this or other very good deal starts from whatever, but on further enquiry you find that deal has either gone or is subject to such conditions that you decide to give up. There will be 26% in remuneration of practices if certain targets are met. The targets are constructed in such a way that in order to be met one has to hire additional staff and pay them too! This will boost employment of data input clerks, computer people and admin. Stay assured, most money will be swallowed by bureaucracy, very little will go into GP pockets, perhaps on par with inflation. GPs earning is not GPs salary – another confusion in the authors mind. GPs have to pay their bills in the surgery, postage, disposable, staff and dozen other items before you arrive at the earnings. There will be no opt-out for £6000. In order to opt out GPs need locums to work for them. Currently there is no major pool of free hands to take the work/slack so locum workers will put up the price – it will be much more than £6000 and in some areas, where no GPs want to go, you cannot do it at any price.
Regarding GPs part of the article – polemic is good, but facts are inaccurate, a pity, makes one wonders how accurate is the rest of the article.
Nick Manassiev
Like most of my colleagues I’m pissed off at being portrayed as a greedy, work-shy public servant responsible for all of society’s ills. I’ve spent 26 years as a nurse and never realised I was so fortunate. Much of the time was spent worrying when the hospital was going to shut. I’ve had to move on many occasions to secure employment on much less than Ross and his fellow Hacks, and did not have the luxury of appearing at work in “a tired and emotional state!” I suggest Ross takes a shower; he’s not a well man.
Chris Dowling
Comment on Diary by Antonia Fraser (28/06/2003)
Lady Antonia Fraser need not worry that her strongly accented French would have disqualified her from being parachuted into wartime France as an SOE agent. At least one genuine SOE officer, a schoolteacher and former Conscientious Objector named Harry Ree, was told by his first contact in France that he should return to England at once, as he spoke French with a strong Manchester accent. This was after Ree had walked several miles down a road, in broad daylight, with Sten gun barrels poking out of his bag. None the less, Ree went on to sabotage one of the largest tank factories in Occupied Europe. He later survived being shot through the lung by a German Military Policeman, whom he overpowered by biting off his nose.
Dan Hardie
Comment on Come fly with me by Richard Branson (28/06/2003)
Many thanks to you and Sir Richard for the article about Sir George Cayley. You will be pleased to know the new Cayley replica flew successfully several times over the weekend. Weather providing this magnificent replica will fly across Brompton Dale the original site of the first manned flight at noon next Saturday.
Ian Wormald
Chairman of Cayley Commemorations,
Brompton by Sawdon
Comment on Your Problems Solved by Mary Killen (28/06/2003)
PW, of London with the ‘delightful girl friend who doesn’t bat an eyelid when he spends a bundle on her… try saying “My credit card bill came in and it was a monster – I’m a bit short for a month. Lets go to McDonalds for a feed.” She should either a) say ‘Oh, fine’, in which case she IS delightful, or “No, let’s go to our favourite place, it’s on me this time.” She then gets to see the facts of life (and might be REALLY delightful.)
Michael Redhill
I am shocked that such a bastion of good form should suggest such a nouveau-riche display as to count (with props) piles of banknotes in order to impress upon P.W’s lady friend the size of his outlays. Perhaps you feel that, as he is so concerned to impress her with money, he deserves the certain dumping that would follow such horrific behaviour.
Russell Furzer
Comment on Book Review of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by Philip Hensher (28/06/2003)
“Quite simply, these are books which will be remembered very fondly, but which their readers will, in the end, grow out of.”
Very true, but the point here is that they will have read long enough to “grow out of” an activity that many children once would never have contemplated. And yes, they will move on, to better written, better plotted books, but isn’t that what makes Harry Potter wonderful!
J Mann
Comment on Book Review of Mussolini by John Charmley (28/06/2003)
One more thing ought to be mentioned in Benito Mussolini’s favour. He was the only European statesman who looked Hitler straight in the eyes and said; “NO.” That was in the summer of 1934 when the Austrian Nazis murdered Chancellor Dolfuss and was set up to take over Austria. Mussolini made it clear to Hitler that if he did so Italy would go to war with Germany. Only later, when he found out that he would have to fight Germany single-handed that neither France nor Great Britain would have backed him up did he have second thoughts. The rest is history.
Leslie Dale
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