Hrkn to .. Thought for the Week: Recent Episodes
Share Radio
Each week we reflect on key issues, drawn from a wide range of areas: economics, politics, the environment, matters of physical and/or spiritual life, and, often, the search for a more egalitarian form of capitalism — including opportunities for young people from all backgrounds to achieve their potential. We've published these commentaries as a written record since August 2017, and as an audio podcast since March 2022. Visit https://shareradio.co.uk for more
Enjoy this entertaining romp through capitalist economics from the demise of feudalism to Thomas Picketty’s book ‘Capital in the 21st Century’, but a careful search for any mention of inter-generational rebalancing will leave you disappointed. Welcome to the Black Hole of Economics, the elusive feature which keeps us from integrating free enterprise and individual empowerment with fair provision of opportunity for each new generation to enable them to achieve their potential in adult life. Background music: 'Generations Away' by Unicorn Heads Order 'Capitalism - A Graphic Guide' here Share Radio Webpage for links Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Last week we heard of sixty migrants dying in an attempt to reach Cape Verde across the Atlantic Ocean: young people risking all for a better life. But, as we wrote on 15th May, it's the underlying challenges, including conflict and poverty, that must be addressed. Global problems like these require global solutions: we suggest a combination of inter-generational rebalancing funding a programme of incentivised learning for young people across Africa, providing them with the resources and life skills to start achieving their potential. Background music: 'Six by Eight' by Jimmy Fontanez_Media Right Productions. 15th May Commentary link Share Radio webpage for links Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Pixar's 2008 computer-animated movie 'Wall•E' paints a depressing picture of the Earth laid waste by a combination of consumerism, corporatocracy, proliferation of waste and human environmental impact. Just fifteen years later we see this spectre emerging in front of our eyes. But is science the answer, as put forward by Lord Rees in his book 'If Science is to Save Us'? We suggest that the problem is deep-rooted in our unbridled self-interest, and that only a genuine re-building of care for others, including our neighbours of tomorrow, can save us from these horrendous consequences. Background music: 'Dance of the Mammoths' by The Whole Other Share Radio webpage for links Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Government Debt at the end of June '23 was £2.53 trillion, or £38,000 for every person living in the UK. This will be increased by 10% as a result of HM Treasury indemnifying the Bank of England for their QE losses and the cost of the dysfunctional HS2 project. Hidden away on page 54 of the Infrastructure and Projects Authority Annual Report is where you can find their assessment of the huge HS2 project: then check out William Hague's article, 'HS2 has gone from shambles to red alert'. Please visit the Share Radio webpage for links. Background music: 'Sarabande' by Joel Cummins Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dame Meg Hillier is Chair of the Public Accounts Committee, which has published its 25-page report into Child Trust Funds following the recent National Audit Office analysis. HMRC is asked to follow a series of recommendations to link young adults to their unclaimed accounts, including getting account providers to take more action. Young adults from disadvantaged households are most in need of the c. £2,000 waiting to be claimed in their Child Trust but an estimated one million 18-20 year-olds are not claiming their money because they don't know anything about it. As we said on 22nd May, don't waste the Child Trust Fund harvest! Background music: The Plan's Working - Cooper Cannell Image by Richard Townshend Share Radio webpage for links Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In mid-2022 there were 716,000 people economically inactive in the United Kingdom because of mental health and neurological conditions, including depression, nerves, anxiety and autistic spectrum disorders: an increase of 33% from 2019. 196,000 of these people were aged 16-34. Part of the explanation is the scar left behind from the pandemic. But that in itself points to a malaise which is rooted in loneliness and self-orientation. Technology is no substitute for human conversation: no amount of social media, text messaging or conversations with Alexa can replicate it. Background music: 'Digital Solitude' by Silent Partner Share Radio webpage for links Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
With aggregate annual licence fee income of £3.7 billion, a degree of self-interest and parochialism which permeates its coverage, and swiftly-reducing interest from young people, the BBC's 100th anniversary poses more questions than answers. Meanwhile the National Health Service, celebrating its 75th anniversary, spends over £158 billion a year in England alone: but still struggles with record waiting times and dismal GP service to patients — yet more evidence of the dysfunctionality of quango monopolies. Background music: 'The New Order' by Aaron Kenny Share Radio webpage for links Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The shining towers and ivory walls of the City of London — many of our financial trials and tribulations can be traced back to October 1986, when the clear distinction between self-interest and acting in the interests of customers was abruptly brought to an end in the 'Big Bang'. Among those who saw it all happen was legendary market-maker Brian Winterflood MBE, who died on 29th June. His financial legacy, built over sixty years in the City, is massive. Background music: 'Communicator' by Reed Mathis Share Radio webpage for links Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What is the psychological effect of individual ownership — and, notwithstanding the low starting point, how can we bring a sense of ownership right across society? Is the rate at which people discount the future impacted by their sense of ownership and thereby their sense of responsibility for the future? Background music: 'Everything Has a Beginning' by Joel Cummins Share Radio webpage for links Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Last Saturday's trail of chaos exposes the challenge facing Russia, absorbed in conflict and with its people living in fear and poverty. Plans are urgently needed to find a way out of this mess: but it has to start with ending the violence in Ukraine. Could there be a role for UN peacekeepers to help while Russia looks for a new way forward? Background music: 'Russian Dance' by Joey Pecoraro Share Radio webpage for links Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
'What is Truth?', were Pilate's last words to Jesus on Good Friday. We all experience being economical with the truth, although the Privileges Committee clearly regards itself as above such a challenge. The result for Boris Johnson is a trashed reputation, alongside others who have experienced a sudden fall from grace. There should, however, be a road back from outer darkness, but not without first some serious self-examination. Background music: 'Confliction & Catharsis' - Asher Fulero Image source: https://rateyourmusic.com/ Share Radio webpage for links Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Entrepreneurial activity is the throbbing heart of business and economic growth, but Evelyn Partners have discovered that 40% of business owners are planning to exit within the next year faced by the spectre of a massive rise in Capital Gains Tax if Labour wins next year's General Election. It's therefore critically important that the Shadow Chancellor, Rachel Reeves builds a full understanding of the dynamics of entrepreneurial endeavour and the deep level of commitment and risk shouldered by those seeking to build long-term businesses. Background music: 'The Plan's Working' by Cooper Cannell Share Radio webpage for links Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Former Chancellor of the Exchequer and Children's Minister Nadhim Zahawi MP set out a strong case for abolishing inheritance tax in last Wednesday's Telegraph. It certainly needs its purpose defined and structural reform — however young people from disadvantaged backgrounds really need starter capital accounts and life skills to break the cycle of deprivation that ties them down, and hypothecation of inheritance tax receipts would transform inter-generational rebalancing. Background music: 'Everything Has a Beginning' by Joel Cummins Share Radio webpage for links Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Even if Putin were to succeed in his barbarous land-grabbing attempt, what would he inherit? A land where almost all facilities of civilisation are being bombed into oblivion, inhabited by a people filled with disgust and distrust for the Kremlin autocracy: and, bearing in mind that an estimated 11 million Russians have family in Ukraine and the close cultural relationship between their two countries, this disgust and distrust will be shared by much of the Russian population. Meanwhile the young generation is of course the most impacted by conflict, which is almost always initiated by old men. So the pointlessness of war is not lost on these young generations, whose high level of communication and mobility also gives rise to a much better understanding of the need for global interconnectivity. Background Music: 'Breathing Planet' by Doug Maxwell Share Radio webpage for links Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Far from digging the UK out of the mess that seventy years of socialist welfare have got it into, our new Conservative government seems intent on burying us still deeper. Of course fiscal responsibility must come first, but why perpetuate the myth that everyone, including the wealthy, must receive equal free rations: even if it significantly reduces the amount of public resources available for those most in need? At least the NHS in Scotland has heard the message, even if politicians across the board don't understand (or is it just electoral bribery?). What we really need is a strategy for individual freedom within an egalitarian society — we're a long way from this at present. Background music: 'Freedom?' by Dan Lebowitz Share Radio webpage for links Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The greatest challenges facing humanity - climate change, economic injustice and peaceful coexistence - are global and long-term in character. The United Nations talks about them, but lacks authority — which can only come from democratic legitimacy. We propose a country-by-country transition to directly-elected UN representatives in order to enable global long-term solutions to take precedence. Background music: 'World's Sunrise' by Jimena Contreras Share Radio webpage for links Image source: Wikipedia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The UK Office for National Statistics reports that one person in every six was born overseas. It's evident that geographical mobility is already with us: the problem is now social mobility. Solutions lie not with parochial nationalism, but in working with business and organisations with an international governance remit such as the UN for a long-term resolve, just as we are attempting to do with climate change. Background music: 'Wandering Soul' by Asher Fulero image source: Hippopx Share Radio webpage for links: Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Following the past few turbulent weeks on stock markets, the launch of a new training course called ‘Investing Basics’ by the UK society for individual shareowners 'ShareSoc' comes at a good time. It will both remind seasoned investors of good practice, and help newbies understand the dynamics of the markets and the potential for good investment. After setting the scene for a fresh look at investing prospects, we invite you to find the links to the ten-video series here, via the webpage version of our Thought for this Week: Share Radio webpage for full commentary and links (incl. the videos) Background music: 'Dark Alley Deals' by Aaron Kenny Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
As Rishi Sunak steps into the lead role in British politics, we look at the educational choices which have paved the way for him, and discuss how the search for a more egalitarian form of capitalism can reconcile opportunity for all with individual freedom. The degree to which parents take responsibility for that education, as Rishi's parents did for him, is critical — and that poses a significant question for the huge numbers of young people who are not enjoying a traditional family upbringing. Background Music: 'Everything Has a Beginning' by Joel Cummins Share Radio webpage for links Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Our new Chancellor of the Exchequer, formerly the longest-ever serving British Health Secretary, is uniquely well-placed to understand the burden that universal health care provision places on the public finances, and why we must crack this 70-year addiction. In this episode, we analyse how heavily this burden is impacted by care for older people, many of whom are well-placed to be able to cover the costs which they incur. Now is the time to take a fresh look at the 41% of central government spending committed to the health service — we propose that in future there should be an intelligent use of mandatory private medical insurance for those who can afford it, with the NHS drawing down the cost of their treatment from their insurer, as it’s incurred. ('FCE' stands for 'Finished Consultant Episode') Background music: 'The Plan's Working' by Cooper Cannell Share Radio webpage for links and charts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The past seventy years have seen remarkable progress in so many areas, but they have also been accompanied by a growing addiction to debt. We've lost connection with the disciplines which should govern the use of debt: like the road runner who has just lost touch with the cliff edge, there is no longer any solid ground on which we can land — so we must now anticipate painful re-adjustment as markets fall. We need to move to a mindset where debt is a form of investment for the future, to be drawn down carefully and sparingly — not to be used either for chasing higher and higher prices, or for incessant Government bail-outs. Background music: 'Addicted' by VYEN Share Radio webpage for links & charts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Lord Rees, Astronomer Royal and former Master of Trinity College Cambridge, has just published a new book called ‘If Science is to Save Us’, which he discussed at a Topos Institute seminar at the Royal Society in London on Wednesday 27th September. Our 'Thought' for this week reflects on his analysis of the mega-challenges which confront us, picking up links to commentaries on his themes which we have provided over recent years, and which are accessible from the website commentary link below. Background music: 'Ether Oar' by The Whole Other Share Radio webpage for links Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
There's a key missing link in Kwasi Kwarteng's mini-Budget strategy — workforce capacity. The unemployment rate is already at a record low of 3.6%, with many more vacancies than job-seekers: if we don’t tackle workplace capacity, the new Growth Plan won’t work. However there are initiatives we can take at both ends of the working age-range which could increase the available workforce by at least half a million people, together with significantly improving mobility for young adults to take advantage of work opportunities wherever they arise, and reducing public expenditure on health and care services. So, while the current focus is understandably on Government borrowing and the exchange rate, we must increase workforce capacity for the Growth Plan to succeed. Background music: 'The Plan's Working' by Cooper Cannell Share Radio webpage for links Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The ground-breaking announcement last week from the Oxford Institute for New Economic Thinking, almost totally eclipsed when it was published, is that decarbonizing the energy system by 2050 could save at least $12 trillion compared to continuing with our current levels of fossil fuel use. So, once this has transformed energy supply across the world, can we at last look forward to a silver lining to the dark clouds currently hanging over us, in terms of drawing a line under climate change, economic turmoil and international conflict? Background music: 'Solar Power' by Ashley Shadow. Image source: Institute for New Economic Thinking Share Radio webpage with links Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
“I said to the man who stood at the Gate of the Year, ‘Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.’ And he replied, 'Go out into the darkness , and put your hand into the hand of God. That shall be to you better than light, and safer than a known way.'” - indeed, the guiding light for the servant leadership that she gave us throughout these past seventy years. Our Thought for this Week comprises the tributes given in the House of Commons on Friday 9 September, beginning with the Speaker, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, and followed by - (4:46) Rt Hon Elizabeth Truss MP, The Prime Minister (11:17) Rt Hon Keir Starmer MP (20:06) Sir Peter Bottomley MP (20:36) Rt Hon Ian Blackford MP (27:57) Rt Hon Boris Johnson MP (36:31) Rt Hon Harriet Harman KC MP (41:53) Rt Hon Theresa May MP (50:05) Rt Hon Ed Davey MP Background Music: 'New Year's Anthem' by Quincas Moreira Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
As Liz Truss takes the hot seat in British politics, we explain why political leaders must embrace disintermediation and servant leadership as the way forward to a better world: indeed, this may have been the missing link in Gorbachev's Russia which might have enabled egalitarian capitalism rather than oligarchs and autocracy. Arrogance is so often the Achilles heel of leaders, and genuine humility is hard to detect. So, as she takes the reins in 10 Downing St, we call for a proper understanding of servant leadership and explain why disintermediation is critical to effective delivery, the ability for all to share both wealth and opportunity, and a legacy of continuing progress for the future. Background music: 'When All of This is Over' by The Westerlies Share Radio webpage for links & script Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Hardly a day goes by without yet more evidence of our approach to empowering the next generation being wholly dysfunctional; the gap between Baby Boomer and Millenial wealth is reaching record proprtions. Meanwhile, as President Biden made his bold move last week to cancel student debt, it provoked an explosive eruption of criticism from Wall Street Journal readers. Here in the UK, another initiative to help the young, the Child Trust Fund, has over £1 billion waiting to be claimed by young adults, almost all from low-income backgrounds, due to a lack of focus from Government. It's hard to avoid the conclusion that we are a selfish and short-sighted generation of ‘Baby Boomers’ — we need to stand back and take stock of our failure to empower coming generations. Background music: 'Future Glider' by Brian Bolger Please visit Webpage for charts and links Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The contrast between stock market reaction so far this year and that which followed the oil price shock in the 1970s suggests that there is little comparison with those days: and yet the massive increase in fossil fuel and food prices driven by Putin's war in Ukraine is every bit as severe as then. So why, notwithstanding the fact that economic recession is expected, are stock markets so sanguine about the conditions facing us today? It has all to do with the very different impact felt by different segments of society as a result of chronic polarisation of wealth, and it explains why we need to move to a more egalitarian form of capitalism. Background music: 'Sarabande' by Joel Cummins Webpage links Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Janice Turner's strikingly clear article in Saturday's Times (13/8/22) sets out why young people from low income households have such a struggle finding stability and economic security, after years of student debt, soaring house prices, and a much higher risk of split parents. In 2010 David Willetts' book 'The Pinch' was published, setting out the huge generational divide at that time: but over the past 12 years, the position has deteriorated significantly. Will Liz Truss call for change? Background music: 'Land of My Fathers' by The 126ers Links via Share Radio webpage Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Opening the Lambeth Conference last week, Archbishop Justin drew his colleagues' attention to the ‘lions’ threatening humanity with attack, hostility, danger and uncertainty, summarising them as climate change, religious extremism, war and government oppression, economic injustice and poverty, and culture wars. His comments on science and technology were more circumspect, accepting their capacity to deliver solutions as well as to present challenges. It is, however, important to recognise how long-term and short-term motivations to tackle these challenges are so often in conflict. In a world where our actions today influence the long-term more acutely than at any time in history, we must re-balance our search for solutions in order to avoid the long-term being continually eclipsed by, and often sacrificed to, the short-term. Background music: Brass Chorale and Motet by Sir Cubworth Links via Share Radio webpage Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The dilemma between whether to engage or detach has challenged humanity for millennia. In all walks of life, from international tensions to faith, and from living in a civilised society to personal relationships, it challenges us — whether to work hard at finding solutions, or to stand aloof. As we've seen in Ukraine, with international relationships detachment leads ultimately to conflict. It's an outcome which our ancestors have had to suffer throughout history but, since the mass deployment of nuclear weapons, it is now an existential threat every bit on a par with the other great issue of our time: climate change. In both respects, engagement is now not only the preferred way forward — it's the only way which makes it possible to see a long-term future. Background music: 'Resolution' by Wayne Jones Links via Share Radio website commentary Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak are both understandably focused on the economy, challenged by massive public debt and soaring inflation, but who will tackle the 'elephant in the room' of the gargantuan health and social care budget, which has resulted from seventy years addiction to socialist universality? We update our proposal first made in June 2018, since when the cost per adult of health and social care has doubled. Background music: 'Addicted' by VYEN Links: June 2018 Commentary, with original proposal HM Treasury Public Expenditure Analysis Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Publication of the Austin Report by HM Treasury should herald a new era for a vibrant UK stock market and much greater profile for personal investors. However there needs to be significant improvements for the latter, including strengthened rights to share owner communication and voting for those whose holdings are in nominees, normalising the threshold levels for partaking in circularisations and resolutions, and the ability for personal investors to take part in the 'rump' sell-off of nil-paid rights so that personal investors as a genre are not diluted. It's a time for change .. Background Music: Hopeful Freedom by Asher Fulero Links: Austin Review explained Share Owner Enfranchisement Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
People come in all shapes and sizes, and there are many people who have that strange combination of seemingly boundless energy and inherent unpredictability which are found in Mr Johnson. People who are more measured and reliable find them intensely frustrating, but there should still be a place for unconventional people, albeit not as prime minister. In this episode we find other examples in history of unconventional individuals who were also not accepted by many of the people with whom they worked, and we look not so much at weighing their offences but counting their merits in asking how the undoubtable strengths of someone like Boris can work for the benefit of all. Background music: 'Enable the Tiger' by JAde Wii Links: https://www.shareradio.co.uk/thinkingaloud/newsletters/comment-wc-2022-05-09/ https://www.shareradio.co.uk/media/8400/mark-antony-speech.pdf https://www.shareradio.co.uk/media/8401/how-do-you-solve-a-problem-like-maria-lyrics.pdf Image source: By Ben Shread / Cabinet Office, OGL 3, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=83764351 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Are rich people who come from poverty more likely to be sympathetic to others in poverty because they understand their lives? Jack Ma, founder of Alibaba, clearly isn't: here he is speaking in 2014 'You are poor because you have no ambition'. And a new study confirms that those who make the journey from rags to riches are more likely to pull the ladder up behind them. It goes to show that, if we want a fair and just society where young people have not only the life skills but also some resources to achieve their potential as an adult, we must build the strategy into the structure of our economic governance: much as public health and addressing climate change are accepted by an all-party consensus. Background Music: Waterfall by Aakash Ghandi Links: Research Article https://www.shareradio.co.uk/podcasts/the-hypnotist-the-bathtub-of-money-02-jul-22/ https://www.shareradio.co.uk/podcasts/the-bigger-picture-the-politics-of-nothingness-young-activists-secular-britains-rituals-30-jun-22/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Welcome to our 250th commentary, all produced over these last five years since Share Radio moved to 100% online broadcasting. It's been a period of massive change and increasing clarity on what we need to do to sort out the problems of the world, and we hope these thoughts are making some contribution in that respect. To mark this staging point we thought it might be helpful to set out some of the guiding principles which have steered, and will continue to steer, our comment. For our full list of commentaries, please visit https://www.shareradio.co.uk/thinkingaloud/newsletters/ Background music: Hovering Thoughts by Spence Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In much of modern life we value the present much higher than either the past or the future; the latter because, if we'd like our descendants to remember where they came from, we would need to leave them a legacy — which we’re clearly not prepared to do, either in our personal and civic lives. So in this episode we consider some of the range of areas afflicted by this timeline poverty, and how this focus on the ‘now’ threatens the whole prospect of a legacy for our species as a result of both climate change and international aggression. Links: UN video & Thought for the Day 2 March 2004 (BBC Radio 4) Background music: Turn by The Tower of Light Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Boris Johnson clearly hopes that an increased focus on home ownership will restore his fortunes as we approach the next election in the United Kingdom: we've certainly slipped a long way from the focus on ‘right to buy’ and popular capitalism over the decades since Margaret Thatcher was in power. Politicians often speak glibly about ownership as if it's a definitive term, but the sense of ownership depends on a whole range of features. We look at a number of different styles of, and pressures on, ownership, and how they weaken or strengthen that sense of connection for which Boris Johnson is no doubt seeking. Background music: Timeless by Slenderbeats Visit https://www.shareradio.co.uk/thinkingaloud/newsletters/comment-wc-2022-06-13/ for links Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Commonwealth's extraordinary ability to reconcile and accept diversity of politics and faith in this huge and growing family of nations started with Elizabeth seventy years ago. Democracy works well within nations, but her generosity of spirit has proved how an appointed leader can bring about real reconciliation between nations. The British people have yet to learn what this lesson of true partnership in the Commonwealth of nations and faith really means. We are too quick to recall our sense of history and importance, too quick to reach for our Union Jacks and our ‘Rule Britannia’. We have a lot to learn from our Queen, and perhaps we should start by paying much more attention to the Commonwealth which she has fostered so brilliantly over the past seventy years. Background music: Airline by Geographer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
It's sad to see the demise of Raleigh International, which has arranged for 55,000 young people to join expeditions to developing countries over the past 44 years. Not only have they helped many communities in countries such as Nepal, Tanzania, Nicaragua and Costa Rica, but they have also helped open the eyes of young adults to the wider world. In this episode we look at Raleigh as an example of an organisation that failed to adjust to the challenge of the pandemic and other global impacts, and that had allowed itself to become too reliant on Government over recent years. At a time when global convergence and inter-generational rebalancing are urgently required, we hope a solution will be found by the Raleigh administrators to recover and rebuild their activities.
Background music: India Fuse by French Fuse Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
'Consult not your fears, but your hopes and your dreams. Think not about your frustrations, but about your unfulfilled potential. Concern yourself not with what you tried and failed in, but with what it is still possible for you to do.' - Pope John XXIII The old saying ‘Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it’ (George Santayana) has its place, but only to the extent that it helps us to move to a better future. It is a feature of our material existence that time marches forward at a constant pace — we cannot revisit the past, for better or for worse: so why dwell in it? At a time when there is a perfect storm of convergent problems, it's worth looking beyond our present experiences and seeing how we can make the world a better place. Background music: 'Communicator' by Reed Matthis Visit https://www.shareradio.co.uk/thinkingaloud/newsletters/comment-wc-2022-05-23/ for links Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Bank of England expects the price inflation peak to be high, but short-lived: however if it feeds into wage inflation it could seriously undermine both national debt servicing and the property market: that's why the Government appears to be adopting a tight fiscal stance and announcing a large reduction in the civil service. Carefully targeted support with the swiftly rising cost of living is urgently needed for those most in need and, if the Government can't or won't respond, it could be enabled through the voluntary sector: with Government acting as catalyst. However this is a role to which they're not currently accustomed. Background music: 'Everything has a Beginning' by Joel Cummins. Please visit https://www.shareradio.co.uk/thinkingaloud/newsletters/comment-wc-2022-05-16/ for links Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Will Johnny go marching home, after this awful set of mid-term elections for the Conservatives? He has the intelligence needed to steer this country forward, as he's shown with both Brexit and the Covid-19 vaccine strategy. However, he has a major handicap: he not only lacks a firm foundation in Conservative values, but he's also prone to falling foul of the cult of personality. As he can't seem to get to grips with this handicap, the Conservative Parliamentary Party should take steps to build a new leadership to move it forwards, closely aligned to its core values. Background music: 'Johnny comes marching home' by Cooper Cannell Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Theos Think Tank has demonstrated that the ‘angry hostility towards religion engineered by the new atheist movement is over' in their report ‘Science and Religion: moving away from the shallow end’. This shows how young people are increasingly open to exploring the meaning of life, and prepared to explore the bridge between science and faith. This podcast brings out some of the key points emerging from their work and provides insights from economics and the book of Ecclesiastes in order to argue that the best way to tackle these dilemmas is through the application of logic. There are a wide range of links from the webpage version of the commentary, which can be accessed at https://www.shareradio.co.uk/thinkingaloud/newsletters/comment-wc-2022-05-03/ The background music is the track 'Resolution' by Wayne Jones. F0e9Ee0KfKxc2GItoKR0 E5dxz8N6yGqOGsqdOi6y Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The range of major drivers which will steer inflation over the years ahead is wide and diverse, but their duration must be considered as well as their positive or negative impact on rates. For example, the drivers most affected by Putin's war in Ukraine are energy shortages and supply chain disruption, and the threat of de-globalisation in future. These all contribute to higher inflation but it is only a more cautionary approach leading towards de-globalisation which will persist. Meanwhile technology, demographics and a swifter transition to low cost alternative energy will all bear down on price rises. In this commentary we take a look at nine major influences on future rates of inflation, and conclude that central bankers are right to be cautious about chasing after inflation with their interest rate policy. Webpage version of commentary: https://www.shareradio.co.uk/thinkingaloud/newsletters/comment-wc-2022-04-25/ Image source: License: Creative Commons 3 - CC BY-SA 3.0 Attribution Link: Pix4free.org - link to - https://pix4free.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Helping young people to achieve their potential as an individual is a key objective for those who believe in a more egalitarian form of capitalism. So in this episode, we focus on some initiatives which will help us move in that direction in the years ahead. Included in this programme is an excerpt from the epilogue of Antoine de Sainte Exupery's 'Wind, Sand and Stars'. Background music is 'Solar Power', by Ashley Shadow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
How can Patriarch Kirill, head of the Russian Orthodox Church justify his support for Putin's murderous assault as in keeping with Christian teaching? Former Church of England Archbishop Rowan Williams, whose long affinity with the Orthodox Church brings a deep awareness of its history, is right to call for Russian Orthodox expulsion from the World Council of Churches. In this week before Easter we need to re-visit basic Christian teaching on respect for others, however different they may be to ourselves. As our quote from author D.B. Harrop says: 'Have a big enough heart to love unconditionally, and a broad enough mind to embrace the differences that make each of us unique'. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The contrast in wealth distribution between key regions and countries around the world is as stark as ever. In this commentary, using analysis in the Credit Suisse Global Wealth Databook, we look at the convergence we need to achieve in order to help encourage a more egalitarian form of global capitalism. The music accompanying this episode is The Nexus Riddim by Konrad OldMoney Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
There's no question over Rishi Sunak's commitment to a strategy to encourage people to work; however, faced with a major cost of living crisis for those on the breadline, there's a real need to complement it with a strategy for sharing. If HM Treasury is not inclined to assist, it should at least set out a plan to encourage those who will. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The sight of Putin seeking to rally his 'supporters' at Moscow’s Luzhynik Stadium is nothing new: the use of mass charisma as a tool for controlling people goes back millennia, and remains a major challenge for those who believe in individual liberty. This week we look at how the technique, recognised by German sociologist and political economist Max Weber as one of three tools of political domination, is used to inject a subconscious herd mentality into humanity and how, at a personal level, it can be controlled. Accompanying music is 'Russian Dance' by Joey Pecoraro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices