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Hamas: A vicious, medieval, racist, genocidal organisation: Michael Oren of the Zionist entity

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Category: Palestine/Israel

Jon Snow, the lead journalist on C4 News, returned from Gaza a few days ago.  It was clear from this blog  and in the one written as he flew back to Britain that he had been deeply affected by the deliberate injury and killing of children in Gaza.  This was evident too in his colleague Jonathan Miller, and in Lyse Doucet of the BBC.

Last night he tried to elicit truth from Michael Oren aka Michael Scott Bornstein, on C4 News.  Oren was 'Israeli' ambassador to a surrogate US until last year.  He is described as an historian and in the Wikipedia profile as being one of the ten most powerful Jews in the US.  There is no hint as to how that is measured.

Preliminary Reply by David

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Category: NHS and Social Services

Mr Stuart Barker   Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health Services in the County of Devon.

24-06-14

Dear Stuart,

Thank you for your prompt reply.  Although I speak strongly my motives are good.  You know that.  People who put themselves up for election to public bodies often become Aunt Sallies; many of the people chucking the wet sponges would not take on such responsibilities themselves.  I know that local government is imprisoned by several vicious circles.  For instance, you end with

'This (1.9% rise) raised just over £6m but we lost £3m because by raising council tax we lost the government council tax support grant so the net gain was just over £3m – it doesn’t go far towards the £110m.'

I thought this exemplified some of your difficulty.  Kafka portrayed it in The Castle - Das Schloss.

Mr Barker Replies Promptly

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Category: NHS and Social Services

Dear David
 
Thank you for your letter, it is difficult to disagree with the direction of your comments, the position we are in isn’t something that I would, or have chosen. Having been fighting to maintain budgets and to deliver new services for the last five years it is very hard to find that the money available is no longer there having been taken away by circumstances out of our control.  I could not agree more with your comments about looking after very elderly frail, vulnerable people. These are very difficult and emotional decisions which nobody should have to consider, however, if we want to continue to fund as many people as possible for as long as possible then we cannot carry on the way we are.  If you remove a third of the money from your pocket what are you going to do if you want the same things you have worked for but find some of them are costing twice as much as they would if you bought elsewhere.  
 

Devon Care Homes to Close

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Category: NHS and Social Services

Regarding the announced policy of closing Devon County Council Care Homes

Mr Stuart Barker Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health Services Devon County Council

Dear Stuart,

Having attended the Health and Well Being Committee last Monday afternoon, I later saw you on BBC Spotlight SW announcing the closure of 20 care homes in Devon.  I was angered by the manner of the announcement and very disturbed by the content and rationale.

This letter is no attempt to 'shoot the messenger' but to question what is going on in our country as presently directed by a Coalition government where no party gained a majority, and by your council, in this large and wonderful county.

Email to John Rom, Interim Chair, Healthwatch Devon

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Category: NHS

06.40    07-03-14

Dear John,

Thank you.  I still wish that you had answered those further points.  There is obviously no point in my pursuing these further concerns about the HW election with you.  I feel I am in an impenetrable thicket.  An example below - highlighted.  What is the point in asking for references after the election of candidates?  It is likely none will be negative or even disturbing, and thus causing HW to ask an individual to stand down.  And what would be the 'risk'?  2 hours of a good secretary's time and sixty stamps?  I did not know my 2 referees had not been asked by HW to give references.  I will have to explain the unusual set up to them.

But I am a tyro in these things; my reactions are simple and based on accepted moral principles and law, I believe.