Easter is coming for all of us, whatever we believe. As long time students of JG Frazer’s immortal The Golden Bough, we suspect that a major spring festival predates things like Easter and Passover by millennia. You know, Adonis, Attis, Osiris, returning vegetation, and all that stuff. And festivals imply a busy social, culinary and business calendar, especially for those of us on the writing and creative teams at LSS. Which means no more blogs for a while.
All the more reason to thank all of you- readers, followers, those who have helped with ideas or other contributions and wish all a most happy spring festival. And see you all after this happy and most welcome break
THE EDITORIAL BOARD
JG Frazer The Golden Bough 1913- 15, 1922 various editions
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Empires rise, and nations fall, largely by the quality of the people which they deploy to solve their problems. Even right wingers as impeccable as Corelli Barnett knew that.[1] The economic and social system of Victorian Britain created a stunted, diseased proletariat and an etiolated ruling class, both utterly unequal to the challenges of the twentieth century. The mighty British Empire collapsed, and the implosion of British power continues to this day, What do we do about it? (overseas readers, there are lessons for you in the UK Laboratory too, you know)
A nation’s basic resource is its human capital. It helps to have mineral resources like oil, or proximity to a large nearby market. But nothing in the end works like a healthy, well trained workforce. Which is why we believe that Beverly Barnett-Jones (we assume she’s no relation to Corelli) has an intriguing answer to the problem:invest in our children. Do it big. Do it now. She makes her case in the Guardian[2]. And we’ve backed her up with some further thoughts for those as might be interested, from the Child Poverty Action Group [3] Healthy contented children make better learners and pay a long term dividend. As every parent knows.
But where does the money have to come from? It’s a question which touches on every major problem from social issues to defence and climate change, It’s one we’ll always listen to. Well, Beverly has an answer, at least for her manor: Check this out
………the cost of not investing in early childhood is £16.13bn a year in England. This is the price of the remedial steps we take to address issues – from children in care, to short- and long-term mental and physical health issues – that might have been avoided through action in early childhood
Patriotism is claimed by many as their virtue. For some it consists in fat old men waving flags around glasses of beer and belching loyalties like gassy catechisms. For others it lies in creating healthy human societies where all members have the best chance of living prosperous fulfilling lives, and thus making their countries truly strong. We know which we choose.
thanks to Mr P Seymour
[1] Corelli Barnett The Audit of War Macmillan 1986
Identity is the central driver of politics. Which is why the agonising passions unleashed by high levels of immigration are so destructive. The attempt to preserve identities, and their attendant hierarchies, runs like wild floods through the body politic, tearing down all rationality and all hopeful reason. Closing off any roads to dealing with things like climate change, health and education. The solutions to which would allow all of us to lead happier, more fulfilling lives.
Some months ago this blog ran a series on immigration, its causes and possible solutions. But we admit-we are one tiny little blog. Our voice is small, our reach miniscule-although our thanks to our valued readers is without limits. That’s why it’s so important when someone much bigger comes along and visits our arguments with the statistics and clear writing that only a fully employed professional can bring. That someone is Larry Elliott of the Guardian. We’ve sampled him before here a lot. But if you want a level headed, rational analysis of why population migrations occur, this is it.
And we must try to understand, gentle readers for without understanding we shall do nothing effective about it. And if this problem goes unsolved, our lives will be bleak indeed. At best we shall come to live in ethnic silo states, like the Boers, Ulster Protestants and similar groups in history. Ever defensive, ever on guard, bereft of reason and true learning. Or die in wars like those in Lebanon, Israel and parts of Africa, where bloody ethnic war is the raison d’etre of those already doomed societies.
You have a busy day ahead, with many no doubt pressing assignments. But please take time out to read this. And think.
Learning, Science and Society 