Monday, November 27, 2006

The energy debate - gaining a systemic understanding is not easy

Why is this the case? Because there are so few analyses being done by disinterested parties and because the methodologies adopted are not up to the job. Few make transparent the boundary judgements that are made in relation to any costings (i.e. what is internalized and what is externalized). It also seems that the worldviews of the investigators rarely consider the extent to which energy use minimisation and/or energy use efficiencies might be gained (mainly because this is seen to threaten economic growth, as currently calculated). Ultimately the energy is for the benefits of citizens and it will be citizens who decide. A new website with informed factsheets is aimed to help citizens make up their own minds.

Sunday, November 26, 2006

Bryan Appleyard in an article entitled 'Blair's barmy army'

outlines how much money has been spent and wasted by the Blair government, including on the NHS Connecting for Health project. The claim is made that the government:

'has blown £70 billion hiring management consultants to do the work of ministers and civil servants — badly'.