I mentioned recently I had written an opinion piece for the Isle of Man Examiner.
This is now available on line.
I note the paper’s front cover calls me “the island's biggest critic”.
I remain surprised by that.
And I think what I had to say fair comment. I gather not all on the island agree.
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As is the case here in Jersey, newspapers love a bit of controversy to sell more copies. You should not be surprised that a sub-editor dreams up a catchy title for you.
Of course you will feel that you made fair comment. I have never seen you admit to being unfair!
I think that there is a follow-up article in the IOM by someone from their Chamber of Commerce. Are you going to post it?
Love and Chrimbo Cheer The Girrl
Congratulations on your IoMToday article, Richard. The frightening thing is the good folk of the Manx are ignorant of most of what you say. Instead they have an absurd & misguided trust in their politicians.
Thankfully many people throughout the world on whom the IoM relies for deposits are now turning their backs on this offshore jurisdiction. 11,380,000 people have googled DON’T BANK ON THE ISLE OF MAN (or the same phrase using ‘dont’ instead of ‘don’t’). The website http://www.kaupthingiom-dag.co.uk lists the reasons why people should not risk depositing their life savings on the IoM. I think come January the published statistics for this quarter will show a further big drop.
The IoM government is spending millions on PR in a desperate effort to promote the IoM to boost its economy but unless it addresses the issues raised in your article it will be doomed.
There was quite a good piece written by the Chameber of Commerce in the following week’s edition. Personally I think they could have been a bit harder on you – but then they probably dont read your blog.
Apart from that, there has not been much reaction to it at all – suggesting that people either think you’ve made a fair point, or they’re not that interested in your view.
I think you do have to realise that the Isle of Man is populated by ordinary hard working people and not fat cats. People here have a very simple “live and let live” attitude to life, and are not very materialistic on the whole (hey, we live in the middle of the Irish Sea) So, there is really no audience for extremist politics – neither from the left or the right.
And we don’t have much faith in our politicians at all – everyone knows they are a pretty poor lot. But we do feel a little bit relieved we don’t have to put up with UK policiticians who are, on the whole, a lot worse than ours.
@Freeborn Man
I will link to the piece when it is available on the web
I have read it – and found it strangely bland: what the purpose of it was is hard to tell. The implicit argument that the IoM is doing all I want is so obviously wrong do they think anyone will be deceived?
And as for any other reaction – you seem to assume I do what I do for pubic effect. I don’t. I want change. I have already got that in the IoM. More is needed. I’ll campaign for it. And expect to get it.
Because this is not about extremes – this is about creating the rule of law, upholding democracy, making sure people can live well, and securing the middle ground against extremes: extremes like those that promote the abuse tax havens cause.
Richard
YEs RIchard, but although you do speak some sense, your views do, to the man on the street, look extreme from time to time. A good example is where you recently referred to the BBC as having a right wing agenda. Now, it wasn’t that long ago I heard Nick Griffin of the BNP state that the BBC was a leftist organisation. How can it be both? Only people on either end of the extremes can see something from a completely different perspective.
@Freeborn Man
This is absurd
To compare me with Griffin is also offensive
I work with UK mainstream political parties – Labour, Lib Dem, Green, Nationalist and even Tory sometimes
I am a social democrat – yes. But to call that extreme shows your won right wing folly
Griffin is outside the political mainstream – an enemy of society
There are left wing equivalents – thankfully we hear little of them these days
But stop peddling nonsense
If being a democratic upholding the rule of law and working with mainstream political parties is extreme in your opinion it syas your political antennae is seriously malfunctioning
Richard
The fact remains that claiming the BBC is a rightist organisation is he sort of rubbish spouted by the far left. And if I’ve insulted you, don’t worry, you insult me by labelling me right wing. I am nothing of the sort. Just not as far left as you. Your claim to want people to live well only appears to stretch to public sector workers and members of the TUC. You certainly don’t seem to want people to live well if they happen to be Manx, Irish, Channel Islander, Carribean, Hong Konger, Singaporean, Swiss etc etc etc.
Freeborn
That is nonsense!
Clearly you have wholly failed top appreciate that my work on tax is aimed at the defeat of poverty – all poverty, world wide
If this is the best you can post please presume you are unlikely to get further comments on here
You’re not adding to debate – you’re just being insulting
Richard