Bananas Republics

Me again,

Have realised I need to post more regularly to keep you guys interested, and the last post was missing three things - Bridget Jones style update on weight-loss; blunt, under-researched political comment (the stable of most blogs...); and an update on the invasion.

So first, this week - Pints - 3; Wine - 7 (glasses!); Cupcakes (3); weight loss - currently 1.5 pounds! If I can push through today without doing something stupid (like drinking lots of sponsored pints at the diabetes fundraiser I'm going to tonight... ), I could be on to drop below 170 for the first weigh-in of my 30's - woo-hoo!!

Next, comment.

Bill "I didn't inhale and neither did she" Clinton was interviewed this week, and described a grand conspiracy against, originally, him and now Obama by the Republican right. Luckily he thinks they are shooting themselves in the foot. By just putting negative spanners in the works, he thinks they will alienate themselves to the electorate.

Sounds pretty common-sensical. But where would these guys have got the idea that this sort of tactic might work with a modern electorate?

How about the Tories in the UK?

Let's be honest, they've produced practically nothing over the past decade or so, but by sitting back and scoring negative political points, and occasionally dropping policy ideas nicked from other European states, they've managed to hoodwink the nation into thinking they are a better alternative - rather than highlighting the true case that the country is where it is because they have provided a completely ineffectual opposition.

By voting in the Tories we're effectively giving power to Harry Enfield's "I don't think you really wanted to do that" character - and is that what you want? Cos that's what'll happen...

Example. One of the nicked policies is Sweden's policy for school's, which the Economist gets fairly gooey about this week (yes, it's not just The Sun).

In Sweden, a voucher system operates, allowing parent's to choose which school the government will pay for the education of their child at - generally a public one or a for-profit free school. This creates what the Economist loves - a market with true competition in which good schools receive more money so their is an incentive for success, and the 'invisible hand' can operate.

Sounds great doesn't it? Needless to say there are lots of problems with it...

First, the Tories aren't mirroring the Swedish model in full. Very importantly, they aren't allowing schools to operate for-profit, which immediately lessens the incentive. In an article of April 23rd entitled OUT OF THE WINDOW, the Economist slammed Labour's education reforms on the basis that they simply mimicked the actions of markets without real consequences. Apparently the Tories plans to mimic markets without providing real rewards is not as bad though...

I'm not an economist, but I would suggest watching this space...

Secondly, and much more importantly, why are we trying to apply market principles to education at all - especially given the devastating failure of application in their own arena? Why have they become a metanarrative - analogous to fundamentalist religion - which explains everything in every arena?

The answer to that is pretty simple - because they hide the complexity of taking each situation on its own merit, dealing with its individual nuances - fiscal, logistical, moral etc..

The difference between subsequence and consequence is therefore a key one when considering the spread of market force doctrines. Yes, Sweden's schools improved after the introduction of a 'market' policy - but did they improve as a direct consequence, or simply subsequently because of 'side effects'? (Here's where it all gets poorly researched)

Well, the first thing to consider is that Sweden's 'market' doesn't really operate as a free market. There are, in fact, elements to it which look positively socialist. First, everyone is mandated the same amount of money to spend via their voucher. That is certainly not how investing usually works (intelligent investors can affect the market more by virtue of their having, in an efficient market, more capital) and isn't even how other market-driven sectors of education work (for example tertiary education in the US). Second, where does this money come from? Taxation - and taxation at a much more onerous level than in the UK. Sweden's mean personal income tax is near 50%, as opposed to just under 35% in the UK (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Income_Taxes_By_Country.svg). By taxing individuals more, the government makes them less able to operate as players in a free market, as it takes more of their capital to put into a collective pot. Money that, for example, could have been used to pay for private schooling.

Next, we have to consider what this 'market' has actually come to look like. Apparently only 10% of students are enrolled in the new independent schools. So the government still educates 90% of children. Apparently we're supposed to believe that those 90% are being better served as their schools have upped their game due to competition in the market.

However, given that it is well known within education that smaller class sizes improve attainment, isn't it equally likely that the expansion of provision has led to more optimal class sizes, and that that has led to the overall improvement - not the response to competition? Is it in fact even competition if teachers are teaching less students, and therefore getting less money but doing less work in a better environment?

So the introduction of market forces in Swedish education was followed by an improvement in educational attainment, but could it not be a 'side-effect' of centrally funded equal expansion of provision leading to smaller class sizes?

If so, there's only one way to equally expand provision in the UK - raise taxes to Swedish levels. Can't see the Tories proposing that one...

Right, done with the ill-informed rant. Next up - invasion plans. I'm not getting anywhere on my own so have decided to join forces with an overwhelming existing contingent... British actors!! http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2009/sep/30/american-tv-invaded-british-actors
I have been cast in a Christmas production (so sadly not coming back) and booked a voiceover gig. Yay!

Got to get off to the latter now, so...

DD Out

Little house on the zen garden

Hi All!

I've been rather busy over the past few weeks, so blogging kind of went out of the window.

This one will be short too.

Basically - the new house is lovely and we continue to improve it, pictures and video for you embedded here.

My Birthday (the second this year!) was excellent, with drinks and nibbles in a wine bar on the ground floor of our building.

Theatre over here continues to go well - I've been cast in a production for Christmas, so sadly won't be back...though will be back later instead. Should be lots of fun - it's called "Sherlock Holme's Christmas Carol"

As I still haven't had the economist changed to my new address, and also just got the cable we needed for CNN and MSNBC (for a steal!!) I have absolutely no political thoughts at all this time. Just colour charts and feng shui ideas I'm afraid. For example, did you know a table that is slightly lower than an existing bar counter can accentuate the counter and create a useful dining centre? I had no idea until a few weeks ago, but now I do... and for some reason it feels important... what has happened to me?!?

Anyway, enjoy the photos





DD out (for now...)

Land of the Free Market

It's been an unseemly time since my last missive, so here goes with an update...

It's still fingers-crossed time, but it looks almost definite that we have a new home! Everything is set up and we just need to go in and sign documents at Escrow on Friday. Whoop Whoop!

Things are looking up slightly on the work front too. I've connected with a number of theatre companies and it looks like I am directing an Opera in November (La Fille Du Regiment) and possibly another event in October, as well as linking up with Education departments around that time. Before that I'm doing some work for my old friends at FreshMinds - researchtastic! - and playing a 50 year old Irish Police Chief/ Vampire in a reading!

So, things are getting busy busy, which is good after 3 months of virtual lethargy.

On to other matters - I have been accused by various people of being overly negative toward my new homeland. I think this is unfair - we Brits bond with others by pointing out their faults, and we're the one country that is allowed to do it to the US without being invaded (the special relationship) so I like to take advantage of that - but nevertheless it may be time to redress the balance.

America is great! It is big and beautiful. The scale of everything is awesome, from the mountains and forests to the Grocery stores, where you can buy everything you could ever need! And it's all pretty reasonably priced (bought a very nice crockery set for 8 the other day, for less than 100 bucks). The pace of life is a little slower, and having fun in the outdoors is mandatory. People are also pretty predictable - downtown dwellers = liberals, suburbanites = independents/ centrist republicans, those in the countryside (otherwise known as real America) = far right crazies. So as long as you stick to the cities or certain suburbs all is good!

They brew fantastic beers here, not the sharp lagers so prevalent in the UK, but very flavourful ales and bitters. Their food is varied and of a high quality, with excellent and knowledgeable service. TV is constant, and includes highlights of UK TV, particularly premiership football at all hours.

Seattle in particular is like living in a city and in the country at the same time. Right on Puget Sound with a beach and numerous lakes, and easy access to many sights of natural beauty and vacation spots. And you can get a place in the equivilent of Zone 1 for the price of something in Zone 6. Public transport downtown is also better than expected, as I have been riding the buses for fun. In the downtown section riding buses is also FREE!

So - there - I love America. Yes, I said it. Now I can go back to finding fault, as I remain an Englishman at heart - and sure of the inate superiority of anything Blighty based. Rar.

DD out