Euthanasia

Margo MacDonald seeks to open the debate on the subject of euthanasia.

She has made her position quite clear, sadly the manner of her speech betrays someone with, apparently nothing to live for. My view on this is different, in that I cannot accept the principle of assisted suicide, which is nothing of the sort. As soon as someone else is involved it becomes murder, or any variation thereof, as by definition suicide is taking one’s own life.

This brings me to the next premise. Is it acceptable for someone to demand that someone else kills them? I think not, as it violates the principle of the sanctity of life.

For those who argue that a person, who has a right to life, must surely have a right to die, it is not as simple as that. You see, while it may be difficult to argue against the right to die (and for those able bodied, the opportunity always exists) it is only a short step from the right to die to an implied, or even explicit duty to die so as not to be a burden on, family, friends or society at large.

For those who say that safeguards must be put in place, let me point you to various parts of the world where euthanasia is becoming routine. We do not want to go there.

You also need look no further than our country and the abortion act to see how what was proposed as a last resort to be used only in exceptional circumstances has become (without any change in the law) abortion on demand as a means of contraception.

No, we must resist the proposals put forward by Margo MacDonald and espoused by various Liberal Lords MP’s and MSP’s (Joffe, Harris and Purvis come to mind). The answer is to ensure that everyone who needs it receives the highest possible quality of palliative care so that people suffering from terminal illnesses do indeed die with dignity, That is what I am fighting for.

Banks are in business to lend

Edinburgh West Liberal Democrat MP John Barrett called on banks to make more money available to local businesses. Somehow I wonder what planet Mr Barrett is on.

Banks are in business to lend money, that is what they do. If businesses are finding it difficult to borrow money it will be because the businesses cannot make the case that they are a good risk and will be able to repay the loans made.

Surely with all the government money invested in the Banks the public would be rightly enraged if they thought that the Banks were being irresponsible in their lending? After all, is this not how they got into this mess in the first place?

Sale of Edinburgh Airport

John Barrett MP has called for the competition commission to think again over the sale of Edinburgh Airport.

I disagree.

My personal experience of the airport is not good and I have witnessed displays of what can only be described at best as indifference and at worst breathtaking incompetence. The management that seem to care little about the travelling customer which is a symptom of a monopoly operator who knows that the customer has no choice.

The sale of Edinburgh Airport will introduce competition with Glasgow and Aberdeen that will lead to growth and improved services, the staff employed there can look forward with confidence to a bright future.

Charities and social services

There is a myth put around by the Labour party that the Conservatives are against social services and that we will be cutting social provision.

This is of course complete and utter nonsense. One of the main motivators for my political activities is a desire to improve the lot of the entire population.

Where I take issue with the Socialists is that they believe that only the Government can and should provide.

The problem with this philosophy is that it ignores the message of history which shows very clearly that Government is very bad at providing caring services. You only have to look at the enourmous sums of money spent by the Government on Social services and the number of stories of failure that accompany them. Examples being Victoria Climbie and Baby P.

Social care only really works where there is an extra element, that is where people are motivated by love for their fellow man. Where this is there, you will deal with the real problems and not simply seek to plaster over the symptoms to meet targets.

Take Homelessness. People become homeless for many reasons, but ultimately it happens because the person has no one they can turn to. In other words, where family has broken down, there is a greater risk of homelessness.

There are many agencies and charities dealing with homelessness. In Edinburgh where I live there are various. There is of course the social services department of the council. By and large they do a reasonable job, within the restrictions that they have, ie the target driven culture of the Labour Government.

Compare that however with (for example) Bethany Christian Trust. Established 25 years ago and working mainly in Edinburgh seeking to relieve homelessness. What is startling is that they operate on a shoestring (as do most charities) yet they are able to do their work at a 10th of the cost of social services and their success rate is phenomenal. 75% of all referrals to Bethany move on to permanent accommodation and are still there and in employment two years after leaving Bethany.

A 10:1 success rate simply cannot be ignored. Indeed I've brough this to the attention of the senior members of the party. Recently Francis Maude was in Edinburgh, and we took the opportunity to take him along to meet with Bethany and to see some of their work. It's fair to say that Francis was mightily impressed.

Looking to the future, you have to ask, should government not encourage more work of this nature in preference to the tried, tested and failed government provided social services?

Yes, I believe in social provision, I believe that the poor and underprivileged should be helped, it's just that government has a bad track record, and charities, doing it out of love for their fellow man seem to be much better at it. For the sake of the homeless and the taxpayers, let's encourage the likes of Bethany.

Lib Dems and the local income tax

The Council tax, like any tax is not popular, although much of the reason for theis can be laid at the door of the Labour government which over the past 11 years has heaped more and more responsibilities onto local authorities without a corresponding increase in revenue to cope. Given the gearing effect of the tax, the increases have been disproportionate. It has been the ultimate Labour stealth tax.

Alex Salmond’s SNP want to replace this with a so called local income tax, which is not local. Given their lack of a majority in the Scottish parliament the SNP need help. Step forward the Liberal Democrats who seem keen to support the SNP in making Scotland a less attractive place to live not to say more expensive for young couples where both are working. I’m sure that the voters of Edinburgh and elsewhere will remember the Lib Dems support of this flawed idea at the next elections and will vote accordingly.

Far better the solution proposed by the Conservatives which seeks to reform rather than replace the council tax and in so doing will cut bills for everyone.

Government advice on Pets

Cat and dog owners are to be told to provide "entertainment" and "mental stimulation" for their pets under new government advice.
The code of practice also includes advice on diet and providing "somewhere suitable to go to the toilet". (bbc 4/11/08)

At a time of economic crisis when government spending is mushrooming out of all proportion it says something about this government that they employ people to do something as pointless and idiotic as to tell people how to look after their pets.

If ever there was evidence of the opportunity to cut government spending to reduce taxes without having any effect on services then this is it.

Bankers Bonuses

The Lib Dems have criticised banks for apparently putting money aside for bonuses to be paid next year.

As would be expected they huff and puff about how wrong this is, all the time exposing their complete financial and economic illiteracy.

They fail to understand that bonuses in industry are paid as a reward for success. The people so paid have delivered beyond agreed targets , therefore have made a positive contribution to the profits of that company. If a company makes profits, it will pay taxes, and those taxes pay for the workings of Government.

Just where do the Lib Dems think government money comes from?