Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.
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American Realism for a New World
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice writes an essay in the latest edition of Foreign Affairs. It is essentially a follow up to a similar essay she wrote back in 2000. I like this bit: The United States did not overthrow Saddam to democratize the Middle East. It did so to remove a long-standing threat…
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Recession in Ireland
I should remind readers that the Economist Intelligence Unit in November 2007 said the following: * Despite an estimated increase in the euro area inflation rate to 2.6% in October, the European Central Bank (ECB) is not expected to increase interest rates above the current rate of 4%. * The fiscal position is deteriorating, and…
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The B/T account
In case anyone is in any doubt as to why the Tribunal is so interested in the B/T account. There are a number of reasons. The main reason I can discern is the volume of £5,000 lodgments. The second reason is the two large other lodgments of £19,000 and £20,000. For a moment, forget everything…
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The Economist on the referendum
This is not to say that everything in the treaty is bad. It would have improved the institutional machinery in Brussels, sorted out a muddle in foreign-policy making and brought in a fairer system of voting by EU members. But these are not the sorts of changes to set voters alight. And in truth, few…
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John Waters fucks up – again
Sigh. An awful rant today from Mr Waters. Will he ever learn? A survey of 2,000 voters conducted by the European Commission immediately after the vote revealed that more than 70 per cent of those who voted No believed the treaty could easily be renegotiated. This poll also found that many people who did not…
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Lisbon
It is clear that the decision has already been taken: another referendum. Everything else is just paying lip service to “respecting” Ireland’s vote.
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Bord na gCon exclusive
Myself and Anthony have it from a very reliable source that the person at the centre of the Bord na gCon report is a Mr Dan Lannon. We have no further details, except to say that the report states Mr Lannon has “extensive experience” in the building industry. Even more strangely, when Anthony contacted the…
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Podcast 2
Myself and Anthony put together another brief podcast. This time we discuss the publication of the Comptroller and Auditor General’s report into the Bord na gCon scandal. The report is available here. RTE report it here. The report was released the day before polling day in the Lisbon referendum. Interesting tactic. Comments welcome. Update: We…
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Conscription? Ya wha?
Nowhere during the campaign from either the Yes or No side have I heard mention of army conscription. And I watched most TV debates and listened to most radio debates. Yet today I’ve heard the word used multiple times by Government ministers. Why? Are they preparing the ground for a Nice 2 style second referendum,…
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The Nos have it?
Things look decidedly close for Lisbon. I voted No myself.
Got any book recommendations?