Multinational Tax and Free Money for Multinationals

I was not astonished to learn that Amazon had only paid £2.4 million in corporation tax notwithstanding having effected sales to UK residents of more than £4.3 billion last year.

The End is not a Desirable Consumation

The tornado that ravaged parts of Oklahoma recently was one of the most powerful tornadoes that have been recorded. It was formed by cold air meeting hot air meeting winds, and demonstrates that in the face of the worst that nature can offer humans are relatively powerless.

The Doors Die

Today the BBC Radio 4 news announced the death of Ray Manzarek, the keyboard player of the Doors. When his more famous group member died in Paris in 1971 I cannot remember any BBC news programme mentioning the fact, but times change and art changes with them.

Indifference to great Crimes

Familiarity breeds indifference, not contempt. There can be no other explanation why those who were in charge of prisons and torture centres and those who commit crimes that fill us with dread do so for long and extended periods of time.

Influence

I simply do not understand the argument that Britain should have influence in the world. That argument is used as a justification for remaining in the European Union, not trying too hard to change the constitution of the European Union, and a whole host of other political, economic and environmental decisions.

The proposition that Britain should have influence in the world seems to be based upon either or both of  underlying propositions

Processing Cases

I wonder what people think of justice when they meet it for the first time; perhaps it would be more accurate to use “the legal process” instead of justice, because judges of most kinds seem to be intent on processing their work as a matter of priority; processing cases is important, but it is only worthwhile if it done justly, and so much is not done justly these days; perhaps it was always thus. 

I despair when so much judicial time is wasted on process, instead on being devoted to seeing justice done.

James Hansen and Norman Baker

The debate about climate change goes round and round in circles. Each time the debate starts we seem to learn less about climate change because we get more confused. The problem with going round in circles is that eventually the destination is the same as the departure point. You never reach the end of the journey. Your energy has been wasted.