Mailto: links have been driving me mad since I switched to Chrome as whenever I click them it wants to bring up outlook that isn’t configured. What I wanted was the links to load a new message window in gmail.
Thankfully ChromeMailer is just the application I needed. It’s very no frills as all it does is set Gmail as the default e-mail client.
Peter Davies, the newly elected mayor of Doncaster, has been making the news recently with his rather radical agenda. The top and bottom of it is, he’s not afraid of the PC brigade and hates waste.
Today I stumbled across a radio interview of Mr. Davies speaking to a presenter on BBC Sheffield and I couldn’t contain my frustration. The presenter was aggressively “questioning” the mayor by asking questions requiring hard numerical answers that, having not actually stepped foot in office, he reasonably couldn’t answer. From there the DJ started making grand claims about the illegality of his manifesto pledges.
Davies walked out of the interview in frustration in the end, realising the interviewer wasn’t going to let him make any points. The problem with the interview is the unfairness of the battle. All the media savvy interviewer has to do is read some scripted questions, while the retired school teacher, with little media experience, is expected to return his questions with accurate answers. I respect Mr. Davies for not fobbing the presenter off with wishy-washy answers, but in the circumstances, you could see why a politician may resort to doing so.
Policies
Here are some of his pledges, with the criticisms offered by the radio DJ:
Assuming that the DJ meant European Convention on Human Rights (since something can’t be illegal under a court) he is quite wrong. A council is doesn’t seem to be under any human rights obligation to employ translators. The only mention of language in the convention is regarding arrest and fair trial. Therefore the only people who need to employ translators are the Ministry of Justice and the Police.
I get a local council newsletter, and even with an interest in local politics it is unreadable. They are biased and quite dull, and every important issue is covered in local press of one medium or another anyway. Communication will not be stopped by scrapping such a publication, if anything it will be improved by stopping the bias.
Writers may lose their jobs, but that’s just the way things go. I’d maintain one writer to put every council document online to ensure full transparency and put the rest on notice.
Given they go to every home in the area, normally quarterly, I suspect the cost including staff nears £1millon/year.
The DJ here made a good economic argument. It’s entirely possible that the gay pride parade actually generates money for the area but he is only guessing. The mayor chose to take an ideological stance based on sound, non judgemental, grounds (he made it clear he’s happy for the parade to continue, just without public money). The DJ however, is speculating on an issue that really needs an evidence base.
National Perspective
Overall, I’d vote for a candidate like Peter Davies, on the simple grounds that he makes it clear what he wants and will work to achieve it. I may disagree with a few of his policies but at least I know where he stands. The problem with politics today is politicians being afraid of the media. The media are slick and brutal and the only tactic politicians have to fight them with is the non-committal-answer. These non-answers are pushing the public to feel more and more apathetic about voting, as they don’t really have anyone left of substance to vote for.
