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Gavin Oldham

Thought for the Week: The Pointlessness of War

Gavin Oldham
Original Broadcast:

Thought for the Week

Thought for the Week: The Pointlessness of War
Even if Putin were to succeed in his barbarous land-grabbing attempt, what would he inherit? A land where almost all facilities of civilisation are being bombed into oblivion, inhabited by a people filled with disgust and distrust for the Kremlin autocracy: and, bearing in mind that an estimated 11 million Russians have family in Ukraine and the close cultural relationship between their two countries, this disgust and distrust will be shared by much of the Russian population. Meanwhile the young generation is of course the most impacted by conflict, which is almost always initiated by old men. So the pointlessness of war is not lost on these young generations, whose high level of communication and mobility also gives rise to a much better understanding of the need for global interconnectivity. Background Music: 'Breathing Planet' by Doug Maxwell

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Gavin Oldham

Thought for the Week: Conservative Socialism

Gavin Oldham
Original Broadcast:

Thought for the Week

Thought for the Week: Conservative Socialism
Far from digging the UK out of the mess that seventy years of socialist welfare have got it into, our new Conservative government seems intent on burying us still deeper. Of course fiscal responsibility must come first, but why perpetuate the myth that everyone, including the wealthy, must receive equal free rations: even if it significantly reduces the amount of public resources available for those most in need? At least the NHS in Scotland has heard the message, even if politicians across the board don't understand (or is it just electoral bribery?). What we really need is a strategy for individual freedom within an egalitarian society — we're a long way from this at present. Background music: 'Freedom?' by Dan Lebowitz

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Gavin Oldham

Thought for the Week: Empowering the United Nations

Gavin Oldham
Original Broadcast:

Thought for the Week

Thought for the Week: Empowering the United Nations
The greatest challenges facing humanity - climate change, economic injustice and peaceful coexistence - are global and long-term in character. The United Nations talks about them, but lacks authority — which can only come from democratic legitimacy. We propose a country-by-country transition to directly-elected UN representatives in order to enable global long-term solutions to take precedence. Background music: 'World's Sunrise' by Jimena Contreras

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Gavin Oldham

Thought for the Week: Barriers to Social Mobility

Gavin Oldham
Original Broadcast:

Thought for the Week

Thought for the Week: Barriers to Social Mobility
The UK Office for National Statistics reports that one person in every six was born overseas. It's evident that geographical mobility is already with us: the problem is now social mobility. Solutions lie not with parochial nationalism, but in working with business and organisations with an international governance remit such as the UN for a long-term resolve, just as we are attempting to do with climate change. Background music: 'Wandering Soul' by Asher Fulero image source: Hippopx https://www.hippopx.com/

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Gavin Oldham

Thought for the Week: Investing Basics

Gavin Oldham
Original Broadcast:

Thought for the Week

Thought for the Week: Investing Basics
Following the past few turbulent weeks on stock markets, the launch of a new training course called ‘Investing Basics’ by the UK society for individual shareowners 'ShareSoc' comes at a good time. It will both remind seasoned investors of good practice, and help newbies understand the dynamics of the markets and the potential for good investment. After setting the scene for a fresh look at investing prospects, we invite you to find the links to the ten-video series here, via the webpage version of our Thought for this Week. Share Radio webpage for full commentary and links (incl. the videos): https://www.shareradio.co.uk/thinkingaloud/newsletters/comment-wc-2022-10-31/ Background music: 'Dark Alley Deals' by Aaron Kenny

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Gavin Oldham

Thought for the Week: Educational Choice

Gavin Oldham
Original Broadcast:

Thought for the Week

Thought for the Week: Educational Choice
As Rishi Sunak steps into the lead role in British politics, we look at the educational choices which have paved the way for him, and discuss how the search for a more egalitarian form of capitalism can reconcile opportunity for all with individual freedom. The degree to which parents take responsibility for that education, as Rishi's parents did for him, is critical — and that poses a significant question for the huge numbers of young people who are not enjoying a traditional family upbringing. Background Music: 'Everything Has a Beginning' by Joel Cummins

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Gavin Oldham

Thought for the Week: Health and the Economy

Gavin Oldham
Original Broadcast:

Thought for the Week

Thought for the Week: Health and the Economy
Our new Chancellor of the Exchequer, formerly the longest-ever serving British Health Secretary, is uniquely well-placed to understand the burden that universal health care provision places on the public finances, and why we must crack this 70-year addiction. In this episode, we analyse how heavily this burden is impacted by care for older people, many of whom are well-placed to be able to cover the costs which they incur. Now is the time to take a fresh look at the 41% of central government spending committed to the health service — we propose that in future there should be an intelligent use of mandatory private medical insurance for those who can afford it, with the NHS drawing down the cost of their treatment from their insurer, as it’s incurred. (* 'FCE' stands for 'Finished Consultant Episode') Background music: 'The Plan's Working' by Cooper Cannell

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Gavin Oldham

Thought for the Week: Excess Debt is not the answer

Gavin Oldham
Original Broadcast:

Thought for the Week

Thought for the Week: Excess Debt is not the answer
The past seventy years have seen remarkable progress in so many areas, but they have also been accompanied by a growing addiction to debt. We've lost connection with the disciplines which should govern the use of debt: like the road runner who has just lost touch with the cliff edge, there is no longer any solid ground on which we can land — so we must now anticipate painful re-adjustment as markets fall. We need to move to a mindset where debt is a form of investment for the future, to be drawn down carefully and sparingly — not to be used either for chasing higher and higher prices, or for incessant Government bail-outs. Background music: 'Addicted' by VYEN

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Gavin Oldham

Thought for the Week: Science to the Rescue

Gavin Oldham
Original Broadcast:

Thought for the Week

Thought for the Week: Science to the Rescue
Lord Rees, Astronomer Royal and former Master of Trinity College Cambridge, has just published a new book called ‘If Science is to Save Us’, which he discussed at a Topos Institute seminar at the Royal Society in London on Wednesday 27th September. Our 'Thought' for this week reflects on his analysis of the mega-challenges which confront us, picking up links to commentaries on his themes which we have provided over recent years, and which are accessible from the website commentary link below. Background music: 'Ether Oar' by The Whole Other Share Radio webpage for links: https://www.shareradio.co.uk/thinkingaloud/newsletters/comment-wc-2022-10-03/

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Gavin Oldham

Thought for the Week: Workforce Capacity is the Missing Link

Gavin Oldham
Original Broadcast:

Thought for the Week

Thought for the Week: Workforce Capacity is the Missing Link
There's a key missing link in Kwasi Kwarteng's mini-Budget strategy — workforce capacity. The unemployment rate is already at a record low of 3.6%, with many more vacancies than job-seekers: if we don’t tackle workplace capacity, the new Growth Plan won’t work. However there are initiatives we can take at both ends of the working age-range which could increase the available workforce by at least half a million people, together with significantly improving mobility for young adults to take advantage of work opportunities wherever they arise, and reducing public expenditure on health and care services. So, while the current focus is understandably on Government borrowing and the exchange rate, we must increase workforce capacity for the Growth Plan to succeed. Background music: 'The Plan's Working' by Cooper Cannell

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