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Beyond Prisons:
- An Insider's Take on Restorative Justice
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An Insider's Take on Restorative Justice
Forty years since prison, Patrice Gaines still fights to get free.
It was the summer of 2009. I was on my second day of work for the U.S. Census Bureau, knocking on doors in rural South Carolina.
My cell phone rang. It was my supervisor.
"Patrice, headquarters called me and told me to send you home immediately and to take back all government property," she said. "I don't know why."
She knew me as a 61-year-old gray-haired mother, a former Washington Post reporter, an author and motivational speaker. She knew nothing about me 40 years ago, when I was a 21-year-old heroin user. I knew exactly why they were sending me home: I am a convicted felon.
The more time I spent in prisons, the more I came to believe that there had to be a way to keep our streets safe without throwing people away.
In 1970, I spent part of a summer in jail for a drug charge and received five years probation. But that was just the beginning. In the decades since, I have learned what it's like to try to change your life in a fearful society that believes it's safest to lock up or discard anyone who has ever made a criminal mistake or had a problem with addiction. And I have learned that there's another way—a way that offers the possibility of restoring dignity and hope both to the people who make mistakes and those victimized by crime.
Throwaway People
The U.S. Department of Justice reports that one in 32 adults in the United States is behind bars or on probation or parole. One quarter of the prison population is locked up for nonviolent drug offenses, according to the Center for Economic and Policy Research.
Each time a person is locked away behind bars, it leaves a void in a family, neighborhood, or community. Most often, the burden of incarceration falls on communities of color. The Drug Policy Alliance (DPA), a leading organization promoting alternatives to incarceration, writes, "The war on drugs has become a war on families, a war on public health, and a war on our constitutional rights."
"We are exiling millions of mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, sons, and daughters—making them missing persons," says Carol Fennelly, director of Hope House, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit organization that helps children stay connected with incarcerated parents.
I was lucky. I was becoming an addict when I was convicted. The system that sent me to jail did nothing to address my drug problem: It put me on probation and ordered me to pay more than $2,000 in fines, which only made me more bitter. I was a single mother who could not find a job because of my criminal record. I did not see any connection between the high fines and my behavior. I did not see how I was expected to dig myself out of the hole I was in.
Anyone labeled an "offender" or "ex-con" has a difficult time finding employment. Even though I served a short sentence, once I got out of jail, I could not find a job. I didn't know how to answer the question, "Have you ever been convicted of a felony?" Some days I lied; some days I told the truth.
If I lied, I usually got fired within two weeks when the results of the background check came in. If I told the truth, I didn't get past the interview.
I searched for a job for at least three months before I finally received a break: A woman at a mental health center took a chance and hired me to work as a clerk in the business office in spite of my criminal record. Over the next several years, I took creative writing courses at night, got accepted into a journalism training program, and eventually became a newspaper reporter.
But I have never forgotten that those doors probably would never have opened without the woman who was brave enough to give me a chance.
Finding Real Justice
Years later, as a reporter at the Washington Post, I wrote my autobiography, Laughing in the Dark, and started giving motivational speeches and running workshops for women in prisons around the country.
The more time I spent in prisons, the more I came to believe that there had to be a way to keep our streets safe without throwing people away. Everywhere I turned, I saw myself. I met women, most of them mothers, serving too much time for crimes (embezzlement, check fraud, prostitution, burglary) committed because, like me, they had a drug problem.
Then I discovered what I had been looking for—an alternative to incarceration called restorative justice.
In restorative justice, all of the parties impacted by an offense—offender, victim, and community—are involved in determining a resolution that addresses the harm caused by the crime. Restorative justice acknowledges that crime is about more than breaking the law: Therefore, the resolution is about more than simple punishment.
In North America, restorative justice has roots in the very communities that have been hurt most by the prison system. There is evidence that similar approaches were used by West African slaves brought to the Sea Islands of South Carolina and Georgia and by Native Americans.
While researching restorative justice, I found cases such as one in Norfolk, Va., where a youth stole his parents' car, crashed it into another woman's car, and ran. Instead of serving time in juvenile detention, a restorative justice program allowed him to work and pay the woman back for damage to her car and income she lost while her injuries prevented her from working. The youth and the victim met, and he was able to see the connection between his bad decisions and the harm he had caused. It struck me that he received what I missed. He was given work to help him pay his restitution. The process was respectful to everyone: The young man left changed but not labeled a criminal.
Restorative justice acknowledges that crime is about more than breaking the law.
I met Morris Jenkins, a criminal justice scholar at the University of Toledo. Jenkins' work demonstrates how communities have historically resolved crime. The Sea Islands have preserved much of the unique Gullah culture of the West Africans who were brought there as slaves generations ago. Jenkins found that before there was a bridge from the islands to the mainland, the island people used restorative justice to settle civil disputes and some criminal complaints. "They called it the Just Law," Jenkins told me recently. "One of the ladies in her 90s told me a story about how they used to have these community meetings at faith houses—little shacks, not churches. They would bring together the offender and his folks, and victims and their folks, and the elders—and they would come up with a resolution."
As I investigated these stories, I realized restorative justice offered everything my experience with the corrections system did not. I had wanted to change my life, so I could be a good daughter, sister, and mother. But I didn't know how to change. Being on probation, paying restitution, and being disregarded when I applied for a job did not address my desire to be a good person or help boost my self-esteem. The punishment and judgment against me crippled me even more.
Once I committed my crime, I never felt as if I was part of a community. No one saw the power in getting me to realize the harm I had caused to my family. My parents were ashamed. I disappointed friends and neighbors who had helped me over the years. I knew that some of them probably even felt I had brought shame to our close-knit neighborhood. No one ever considered finding a way for me to give back, to feel forgiven and accepted again. I had to put all of the pieces together myself—find a way to repair the harm I caused, forgive myself, and be a part of the community again—a process that took years.
Transforming the System
Over the years since I discovered restorative justice, the number of programs has grown slowly. Today, as federal and local governments search for ways to save money, more attention is being paid to alternatives to incarceration. Many restorative justice programs are now operating in partnership with the court system.
My friends, Ivy and Saleem Hylton, receive clients referred by the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency in Washington, D.C. The couple co-founded Youth and Families in Crisis, which runs innovative restorative justice sessions in Prince George's County, Md.
The Hyltons have seen incredible changes in former perpetrators of violent crimes who have attended their restorative justice sessions. They teach relaxation and meditation to clients to give them tools for controlling their emotions and refocusing their attention. Using a restorative justice practice from Native American traditions, they hold discussion circles in which each person has an opportunity to speak without interruption and learns to truly hear and respect others, often for the first time.
I spoke with Antonio Addison, who spent 15 years in prison for a murder conviction: He believes participating in the circles and learning to meditate has saved his life.
"We started with prayer and then the circle," said Addison. "Some spoke up; some were not open. I would share my deepest emotions. The only peace I had felt in my life was when I was in the hole in prison, in solitary."
Addison found he could create a feeling of peace by using sounds introduced to him at the sessions, such as the sound of the ocean or soft bells. "I would play the CDs to relieve stress before I went to sleep. Then I started using them when I got upset or angry, and I found they relieved me of those things so [my emotions] didn't build up and explode."
In one year, with the Hyltons' help, Addison accomplished something he could not do in 15 years of incarceration: He is able to control his anger before it explodes into rage. Now, at 41, Addison is married, has two-year-old twins, is a supervisor for a major utility company, and gives back by volunteering with the Hyltons, encouraging new participants by sharing his story and answering their questions.
Restoring Hope and Imagination
Five years ago I co-founded a nonprofit organization, The Brown Angel Center, which helps women transition from prison to the community. We run workshops for the women in the Mecklenburg County Jail in Charlotte, N.C. A couple of months ago, I was teaching the women about restorative justice. They sat silent, intrigued.
"We need that here," one said.
"It makes so much sense," said another.
At the jail, the women are waiting to be sentenced or to begin long prison terms. They are separated from their children, and some have already lost custody because their sentences are too long to allow them to continue parenting. One thing hasn't changed since I started speaking in prisons 16 years ago: Most women I meet are incarcerated for nonviolent crimes. Restorative justice would help them; prison time does not.
I stand before these students and the women who are locked up as an example of the distance one person can travel in a lifetime.
Meanwhile, restorative justice practitioners say we have just begun to use our creativity to develop inventive programs to address crime. I speak at colleges around the country, encouraging a new generation of leaders to consider applying their talents to create a new model of justice. I stand before these students and the women who are locked up as an example of the distance one person can travel in a lifetime.
Dressed in my best business suit, I hold up my mug shot to illustrate to them that you can never know what a person might become, what potential they have within. My photo shows me at 21, a baby-faced girl with a large afro and a sign hanging around her neck that says, "Charlotte Mecklenburg NC, 19 Jun 70, 70 – 90."
"This is what a drug addict looks like," I say. "This is what a teacher looks like. This is what an author looks like. This is what a mother looks like."


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Past Life Martyred Saints
Souterrain Transmissions
After relocating from South Dakota to Los Angeles at a young age and with a background in noise bands, namely Amps for Christ and the cult duo Gowns, it comes as no surprise that EMA, formerly known as Erika M Anderson's, debut solo record takes in a wide range of influences. There are noticeable influences from the likes of Chan Marshall and Natasha Khan to Neil Young and My Bloody Valentine, but that doesn't bring listeners any closer to understanding what this record is actually about.
Opening with Grey Ship, an apparent nod to the Viking funeral ships of Norway, this record takes the listener on an unexpected journey from Coda, a cute and playful homage to Kimya Dawson (The Moldy Peaches) to the distortion and feedback of Butterfly Knife. Past Life Martyred Saints switches from lo-fi to hi-fi, and from harmonies to dissonance, which can sometimes be disorientating, but Anderson's skill for visceral songwriting and her DIY recoding ethos means this album's essentially raw quality wins out. www.cameouttanowhere.com
Bethany Rex

subset: commoncrawl


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Federal agencies are proposing new rules for handling gun buyers' background checks, in changes the Obama administration says will "keep guns out of potentially dangerous hands." The changes include a clarification of rules barring firearm possession due to mental health problems.
That part of the plan involves the Department of Justice, which is proposing the term "committed to a mental institution," which appears in its gun ownership regulations, be accepted to include "a person committed to involuntary inpatient or outpatient treatment."
The Justice Department is also seeking other changes, largely dealing with the definition of mental competence. People found to be incompetent to stand trial, for instance, could be barred from owning a gun whether the determination comes from a "state, local, federal or military court," the agency said.
The new proposals will be posted to the Federal Register at 4:15 p.m. today. The Obama administration calls them the latest in its efforts to bolster the National Instant Criminal Background Check System. They also come in the wake of several mass shootings in which mental health problems have been linked to the perpetrators.
Another part of the plan centers on the Department of Health and Human Services, which would remove barriers that might keep states from sharing data with the federal background check system. Those problems had been linked to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy Rule.
"According to a 2012 Government Accountability Office report, 17 states had submitted fewer than 10 records of individuals prohibited for mental health reasons," the HHS said Friday.
The agency added that its new plan seeks a balance between individuals' privacy concerns and the need for public safety.
"Seeking help for mental health problems or getting treatment does not make someone legally prohibited from having a firearm, and nothing in this proposed rule changes that," the HHS said.
The new rule would allow state agencies and others to report "minimum necessary identifying information" about people who have been involuntarily committed to a mental institution or shown to be a danger to themselves or others. The rules would mean such reports are allowed — not required — according to the agency.
"The federal background check system is the most effective way to assure that such individuals are not able to purchase a firearm from a licensed gun dealer," the White House said in announcing the proposals Friday. "To date, background checks have prevented over two million guns from falling into the wrong hands. "
As Bloomberg News reports, the political issue of gun ownership was the subject of a seesaw battle last year:
"Both sides in the gun-control debate saw victories in 2013, with 28 states passing laws lifting firearms restrictions and 21 plus the District of Columbia expanding them. New York, which had tight gun laws, made them stronger while Alabama, with looser regulations, made access easier. Seven states passed laws permitting guns in elementary schools."
Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.


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Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Triple-Chocolate Cheese Cake
From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...This is not the best cheesecake you'll ever taste, but it certainly is delicious and very easy to make. If you entertain a lot, you'll want to keep this recipe in your dessert roster. The entire cake is made in the bowl of a food processor and it's ready for the oven in less than 30 minutes. It takes about 2 hours to bake and needs to be chilled for at least 6 hours before it is topped with a lovely ganache and served. The cake is quite handsome and it looks like a lot of effort went into its creation. Only you will know that not to be true. The name of the recipe is somewhat misleading. The cake does not use three types of chocolate, but its crust, filling and topping all contain chocolate and that's what gives the cheesecake its triple chocolate name. One of the nice features of this cake is that it doesn't crack. That has to do with the way it is baked and released from the pan. It bakes in a hot oven for an hour, sits in a cold oven for an hour and when it's removed for final cooling, a sharp knife is used to release the sides of the cake from the springform pan. The cake forms a well or depression as it bakes and that is perfect for holding the ganache topping. The cake was developed by Martha Stewart and her recipe is foolproof. I think those of you who try this cheesecake will really enjoy it. Here's the recipe.
Triple-Chocolate Cheese Cake...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite inspired by Martha Stewart
1 package (9 ounces) chocolate wafer cookies
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
4 bars (8 ounces each) cream cheese, room temperature
1-1/2 cups sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 large eggs
1 cup sour cream
8 ounces semisweet chocolate, melted
Chocolate Ganache
1/4 cup heavy cream
4 ounces chopped semisweet chocolate
1) To make crust: Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Assemble a 9-inch springform pan with raised side of the bottom facing down. In a food processor, pulse cookies until finely ground. Add butter, and pulse to moisten. Transfer to prepared pan, and press crumbs firmly and evenly into bottom. Place pan on a rimmed baking sheet; bake 10 minutes, and set aside.
2) To make filling: Wipe out bowl and blade of food processor. Add cream cheese, sugar, and salt; blend until smooth. With motor running, add eggs, then sour cream, and finally chocolate; blend filling until smooth, scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Pour filling onto crust, and bake just until set, 1 hour. Turn oven off, and let cheesecake sit 1 hour in oven, without opening (this helps prevent cracking. Run a thin knife around the edge of pan to help prevent cracking; leave in pan, and cool completely on wire rack. Cover loosely and refrigerate, at least 6 hours or up to overnight.
3) To prepare chocolate ganache: In a small saucepan, bring cream to a boil. Remove from heat, and add chocolate. Stir until melted, then set aside until thickened, 2 to 5 minutes. Unmold cheesecake. Spread ganache in center of cheesecake; let set before serving. Yield: 8 to 10 servings.
You might also enjoy these recipes:
Perfect Cheesecake - Simply Recipes
Chocolate Swirl Cheesecake - My Recipe Finds Online
Vanilla Bean Cheesecake - Carries Sweet Life
Strawberry Cheesecake Entremet - Barbara Bakes
Gorgonzola Cheesecake with Vanilla Pear Compote - Closet Cooking
No Bake Chocolate Chocolate Cheesecake Pie - $10 Buck Dinners
72 comments :
- Banana Wonder said...
I love how you preface this post with "this is not the best cheesecake..." if not, then what is" Your original cheesecake?
- February 2, 2011 at 2:05 AM
- Bakericious said...
this looks so chocolaty and delicious, cheesecake is always my favourite.
- February 2, 2011 at 2:27 AM
- Ginny Hartzler said...
Your chocolate posts keep getting better and better!
- February 2, 2011 at 2:40 AM
- Meg Johnston said...
I love it! I will have to make this myself at some point. I love your blog :)
- February 2, 2011 at 2:46 AM
- Alessandra said...
It may not be the best but it certainly looks impressive, and easy!
Have a good day
Alessandra - February 2, 2011 at 3:09 AM
- Priya Suresh said...
Omg, irresistible cheese cake, i wont say not to this gorgeous looking cake..
- February 2, 2011 at 3:44 AM
- Chele said...
What are you doing to me Mary ... I'm supposed to be on a healthy eating plan but now all I want is a slice of this cheesecake!!!
- February 2, 2011 at 3:47 AM
- Cherine said...
An irresistible dessert! I'm drooling!
- February 2, 2011 at 5:22 AM
- Love2cook Malaysia said...
I'm sure the cake tastes heaven! Love the way you presented the cake...ooo yummy!!! :D
- February 2, 2011 at 5:25 AM
- Lynn said...
Very pretty Mary! Chocolate cheese cake is one of my favorite baking smells:@)
- February 2, 2011 at 5:29 AM
- Priyanka said...
Wow......the gooey look of the chocolate is tempting.....yummy...!!!!
- February 2, 2011 at 5:40 AM
- Flavia Galasso said...
A standing ovation to you and to this wonderful cheesecake!!! Hugs and have a special day...ciao Flavia
- February 2, 2011 at 6:15 AM
- muppy said...
Looks lovely. So many yummy things out there I would like to cook!
- February 2, 2011 at 6:22 AM
- Medeja- CranberryJam said...
Mary, it looks stunning! :) Chocolate cheesecake is already good and triple cheesecake is even better :)
- February 2, 2011 at 6:34 AM
- Sabienne said...
Mary, You bake cake per day and each one looks like the one! ;-)
- February 2, 2011 at 6:51 AM
- Tanna said...
I'm with Anna, I want to know what you consider to be the Best Cheesecake. ;) Does the secret of taking the knife around the edge work for any cheesecake to keep it from splitting??
- February 2, 2011 at 7:00 AM
- cocoa and coconut said...
But this looks like the best cheesecake ever Mary! I think it'd be so yummy. I love the lush interior and the dark base.
- February 2, 2011 at 7:11 AM
- Unknown said...
I'm sorry, Mary, I started to read your post and my eyes sort of glazed over and kept drifting back to the pictures.....OMG that looks incredible!! If you aren't going to eat the rest of it, you can ship it to me...I promise to take good care of it! :)
- February 2, 2011 at 8:13 AM
- CaThY said...
wow, awesome cheesecake! :)
- February 2, 2011 at 8:39 AM
- PeggyR said...
This looks delicious.
- February 2, 2011 at 9:17 AM
- June said...
This looks wonderful; however, I think the best cheesecake I've ever tasted (BAR NONE)is your Cranberry version. I made it over the holidays and it is absolutely stellar. I'll be making it again for my valentine!
- February 2, 2011 at 9:23 AM
- Linda Starr said...
I love chocolate and this is packed full of the good stuff and it looks delicious too.
- February 2, 2011 at 9:26 AM
- Karen Harris said...
This cheesecake looks absolutely wonderful. I have to admit I am a cheesecake purist and just love Tyler's Ultimate Cheesecake recipe but if I'm ever looking for chocolate, I know where to come.
- February 2, 2011 at 9:29 AM
- Brandie@thecountrycook said...
I love that you introduce me to things I've never made before. I always do the traditional cheesecake. I definitely need to try a chocolate one!
- February 2, 2011 at 9:36 AM
- Claudia said...
Really? This is not the best cheesecake I'll ever taste? Then it looks like it has to be second-best - which in the world of cheesecakes is still pretty high. All that chocolate soothes my winter being.
- February 2, 2011 at 9:38 AM
- CaSaundraLeigh said...
I love having a variety of cheesecake recipes in my recipe collections--this one would be perfect for when a serious chocolate cravings arises!
- February 2, 2011 at 9:40 AM
- Tamara said...
So delicious! Hi, remeber me? Mix Pop Fruits, right? hahahaha
Can u follow us? Your blog is perfect!
Kisses - February 2, 2011 at 9:42 AM
- Foley said...
Looks like another winner. I've been looking for a recipe to take to work for Valentines Day..this may be IT !!
- February 2, 2011 at 9:43 AM
- Unknown said...
Thanks for stoppingby my blog! I'd love to hear how the muffins tuen out!
This recipe looks amazing by the way! - February 2, 2011 at 9:59 AM
- Unknown said...
Chocolate cheesecake isn't my favourite cheesecake, but I wouldn't say no if offered :)
This looks delicious Mary. - February 2, 2011 at 10:06 AM
- Umm Mymoonah said...
Wow! This looks sooooo lovely, I wish I could have a slice.
- February 2, 2011 at 10:07 AM
- Simply Life said...
oh this looks so decadent and delicious!
- February 2, 2011 at 10:14 AM
- Valérie said...
I'm loving your chocolate extravaganza, but this may be my favourite post yet! Then again, I have a thing for cheesecake, and the more chocolatey, the better! Have a great day!
- February 2, 2011 at 10:21 AM
- Diane said...
Oh WOW that looks so good. Diane
- February 2, 2011 at 10:39 AM
- pam said...
Not the best???? It looks pretty best to me.
- February 2, 2011 at 10:45 AM
- briarrose said...
Be still my chocolate cravings! Lovely!
- February 2, 2011 at 10:55 AM
- marianna franchi said...
dev'essere di un buono!Un abbraccio e buonissima serata
ps.complimenti hai un blog bellissimo - February 2, 2011 at 11:11 AM
- Barbara Bakes said...
What a gorgeous, decadent cheesecake! A perfect Valentine's desserst. Thanks for linking to my dessert!
- February 2, 2011 at 11:19 AM
- Unknown said...
I'm not sure all this chocolate posting is legal Mary?
I love how easy it is to make though a little time consuming when you consider the waiting that's involved w/cheese cakes!
Not sure I could wait for this one to cool! YUM! - February 2, 2011 at 11:35 AM
Oh, my goodness! This looks so delicious! You're just killing me! :)
Mary, I've posted about your lemon pound cake recipe on my blog today if you'd like to see it and I gave you credit and a link back to your blog for the recipe. Thank you so much. This recipe is certainly a 'keeper'!
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;) - February 2, 2011 at 11:49 AM
- Faith said...
Beautiful cheesecake, Mary! It would be the perfect dessert to whip up for Valentine's Day! Hope you're having a wonderful week!
- February 2, 2011 at 12:06 PM
- Unknown said...
Just Delicious!!!! I'm a Chocolate Lover!
Charo - February 2, 2011 at 12:30 PM
- Lyndas recipe box said...
It certainly is a delicious looking cheesecake, especially with the ganche topping. It looks like the "best" To me!I'm enjoying your chocolate posts.
- February 2, 2011 at 12:32 PM
- Patricia @ ButterYum said...
Looks wonderful, Mary. I love a tall cheesecake, and the ganache is the perfect finishing touch.
ButterYum - February 2, 2011 at 12:50 PM
- Victor said...
So much chocolate! So irresistible! Can you send me a slice?
- February 2, 2011 at 12:50 PM
- Rita said...
Hi Mary,
What wonderful recipe for me to add to my Chocolate creation Folder; thank you. - February 2, 2011 at 12:55 PM
- That Girl said...
I've made something very similar before, and you're right, I much prefer regular cheesecake. So good it doesn't even need chocolate!
- February 2, 2011 at 12:55 PM
- JG said...
It looks so light. Three layers of chocolate is enticing! Yummy!
~Judy - February 2, 2011 at 1:03 PM
- Mateja ^_^ said...
Thank you for stopping by my blog and leaving me a nice comment! I'm following now. I love all your chocolaty deserts for chocolate is my waekness!!!!!!!!!!! Looking forward to read more!
Mateja @Indulging Life - February 2, 2011 at 1:17 PM
- Joanne said...
This seems just about perfect when I have a chocolate craving that just won't seem to let up!
- February 2, 2011 at 1:42 PM
- We Are Not Martha said...
Oh yum! This looks like one of the best to me :) I'm not a HUGE cheesecake fan, but love it so much more when it involves chocolate. This looks delicious :)
Sues - February 2, 2011 at 2:31 PM
- ~~louise~~ said...
Heart of my heart, I am so in love with that cheesecake. You are really pushing me overboard with these indulgences, Mary. And, Chocolate Month has just begun!
Thank you so much for sharing... - February 2, 2011 at 2:56 PM
- Chiara said...
Looks delicious Mary!I love it!It's the perfect cake for valentines day!!! Thanks a lot...have a lovely day....a hug
- February 2, 2011 at 3:17 PM
- Lucie said...
This is a wonderfully inspiring recipe, Mary. I can picture a spiced gingersnap crust, chocolate filling with a chocolate-orange ganache. Mmm!
- February 2, 2011 at 3:30 PM
- The Food Hound said...
Certainly looks delish to me!! Triple chocolate ANYTHING wins the prize in my book!
- February 2, 2011 at 4:35 PM
- Dmarie said...
wow, just hopped over here from Cooking.In.College and glad I did. every single recipe here looks divine! beautifully photographed yumminess. well done!
- February 2, 2011 at 4:36 PM
- Receitas para a Felicidade said...
Mary, just one word....perfect.
Kisses - February 2, 2011 at 4:49 PM
Wow. That could also be called "Chocolate Overload!" Yum!
- February 2, 2011 at 5:30 PM
Thank you for visiting my blog, and commenting on my Pizza Bites. I have been a long time fan of yours , and i am telling you right now that this cheesecake is not helping.
- February 2, 2011 at 6:08 PM
- Kankana said...
What is with all the chocolate cake baking back to back!;)
They looks super gorgeous !! - February 2, 2011 at 6:55 PM
- vanillasugarblog said...
oh hush now that cake is perfect.
just perfect. - February 2, 2011 at 7:18 PM
- teresa said...
that's go to be one of the prettiest cheesecakes ever! i love the ganache in the middle, delicious!
- February 2, 2011 at 7:37 PM
- San said...
Amazing cheese cake ,iam drooling here .
- February 2, 2011 at 7:49 PM
- A little bit of everything said...
until now I only made two chocolate cheesecake, but three chocolate cheesecake sounds more heavenly that I thought before.
I see myself making this cheesecake in the near future.
thanks for sharing Mary, hope you'll have a wonderful Thursday - February 2, 2011 at 8:41 PM
This looks wonderful! especially for valentine's day!
- February 2, 2011 at 8:59 PM
- T.W. Barritt at Culinary Types said...
Oh, gosh! I'm really enjoying the calories you're serving up this week!
- February 2, 2011 at 9:00 PM
- Unknown said...
Well this is sort of drop dead gorgeous, I just love the shiny top. Looks great sliced too!
- February 2, 2011 at 9:44 PM
- Ivy said...
Mary thank you for passing from my blog and for your lovely comment.
Cheesecake is one of our favouritd desserts and I know this. The only flaw it has is that you have to wait for six hours. - February 2, 2011 at 9:53 PM
- The Quintessential Magpie said...
Oh, Mary! How deliciuos this looks. This should come with a warning... I now want to go out and find chocolate at 10:00 p.m.! lol! Your blog is dangerous. ;-)
Thanks for sharing this. It is a visual feast, and I can't imagine how wonderful it must taste. If you lived near me, I would just move in. I would wash your dishes in trade. ;-)
Sheila - February 2, 2011 at 10:18 PM
- Pam said...
Another mouth watering treat Mary - it looks fabulous.
- February 2, 2011 at 10:38 PM
- Christine (Cook the Story) said...
This looks so decadent. Not only am I going to try it but I'm going to pass it on to my mom who is ALWAYS in search of good non-cracking cheesecake recipes.
Your pictures are spectacular, by the way. All the chocolate shots, which can sometimes look boring and brown, instead carry depth of color, richness and style. Inspiring! - February 4, 2011 at 4:54 PM
- Bruce said...
Thanks for a great blog
Chocolate Cheese cake - November 24, 2011 at 6:07 AM


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Exercises You Should Be Doing (Half Kneeling Cable Chop)
Contrary to what many people believe, there is no clear evidence that exists to link tightness or weakness of a particular muscle group to injury. However, it has been shown that a significant amount of injuries were noted in those trainees with right-left strength and/or flexibility imbalances (asymmetries).
When evaluating new clients, I always like to use certain movement patterns to find any right-left imbalances that may exist. Rather than putting each client under a looking glass, I'd much rather get them out on the floor and observe how they move and see what "shakes free."
The half kneeling cable chop is a great assessment tool, and is also a exercise that I like to use in many of my clients' training programs to improve overall core strength and endurance.
As I have stated on numerous occasions, the core's main function is to keep the trunk over the pelvis by preventing hoop stress (rotation). Additionally, the core serves as an "intermediary," transferring force in a spiral or diagonal pattern from the lower body to the upper body.
What's great about this particular exercise is that it takes advantage of the body's natural tendency to function in those same opposing spiral/diagonal movement patterns. The chop (or lift…which I'll showcase some other time) can be performed in various lower body positions to specifically address and identify imbalances that may exist in the core.
Key Points to Remember:
1. There really isn't much I can say that the video doesn't show. The key here is to not cheat and make sure you complete quality repetitions. The moment you have to lean forward, or hike your hip, or rotate your shoulders to complete the movement, you know that either you're using too much weight or an imbalance exists. If you do happen to find an imbalance between the left or right side, then you know which side needs more work.


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In an ongoing effort to provide better customer service to citizens of Forsyth County, the Register of Deeds office has launched a new online order and payment system. The system called Permitium, can be used to purchase certified copies of vital records. Certified copies are $10 each.
Customers who use the system will be charged a convenience fee of $3.00, a 35¢ optional fee for vital verify if receiving the copy by mail, a 75¢ postage and handling fee, and a credit card courtesy fee of 30¢, plus 2.9% of the total.
There was no cost to the citizens of Forsyth County to implement this new system.
The web address for online orders is: https://forsythrod.permitium.com and it can be accessed through the Forsyth County ROD Website.
Permitium offers the following features:
Register of Deeds, Norman Holleman stated: "This new system will help Forsyth County residents order Vital Record copies over the internet, and pay by credit card. When our office receives these requests they will be filled right away and mailed back to the requestor."


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Reflecting on Rights
Reflecting on Rights
Using MapMaker Interactive, explore how the population distribution of African Americans in 1960 reflected historical patterns of slavery and was entwined with the civil rights movement.
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text: Ole! The upbeat and dance encouraging sounds of Latin and Salsa Bands will be sure to have your guests up on their feet the whole event long! Bring out the guitars, congas, bongos and maracas for a little latin spice! Search here for Latin & Salsa Bands in your local area.


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Sunday, May 22, 2011
Fresh Broccoli Salad with Tomatoes, Black Olives and Feta Cheese
From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...This salad adds lovely color to a Mediterranean-style meal. I served it this evening with lamb kabobs and Greek-style lemon potatoes. The table was a riot of color and the only hue missing was the blue of the Aegean Sea. This is one of the few salads that I prepare year round. The ingredients, while not always local, are readily available and relatively inexpensive. Making the salad ahead of time eases the strain of dinner service, while still guaranteeing that everyone gets a vegetable with their meal. I know that many cooks like to serve this type of salad raw. I understand their rationale, but I prefer the color and crisp-tender bite of perfectly blanched vegetables in salads such as these. This one appeals to me because it is dressed simply with oil and vinegar. While the recipe calls for amply coating the broccoli, I just nap mine and use only enough dressing to flavor the salad. You can prepare the salad several hours before you plan to serve it, but if it sits too long or you use too much dressing it will get goopy. I actually dress mine just before it is served. I have only one caution regarding the preparation of this lovely salad. Keep your broccoli florets bite-size, so folks don't have to use knives on their salads. Many of you do not stock Greek seasoning in your spice cabinets. I know I don't. I've included instructions for making the spice blend in the note at the end of the recipe. If you don't want to bother with it, simply use a bit of oregano or marjoram and everything will be fine. I do hope you'll try this. Here's the recipe.
Fresh Broccoli Salad with Tomatoes, Black Olives and Feta Cheese...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite
2 cups blanched fresh broccoli florets
1 garlic clove, peeled and minced
1 cup cherry or grape tomatoes
3/4 to 1 cup thinly sliced or coarsely chopped scallions (white and tender green)
1/2 to 1 cup pitted Kalamata olives, drained
1 cup crumbled feta cheese
Red wine vinegar and extra virgin olive, or commercial Greek-style salad dressing
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Greek Seasoning as desired (see note below)
Crisp leaf or Boston lettuce for garnish
Freshly grated Parmesan or Romano cheese as desired for garnish (optional)
1) To blanch broccoli: Drop into boiling salted water and cook for 2 minutes over high heat, or, microwave broccoli in water to cover in a glass heat-proof bowl at HIGH power for 1 to 2 minutes. Immediately rinse broccoli under cold running water to stop cooking action. Drain well and pat dry.
2) Combine blanched broccoli, garlic, tomatoes, green onion, olives, and feta cheese in a deep medium bowl. Add enough vinegar and olive oil or commercial dressing to moisten broccoli mixture well. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Add Greek seasoning if using. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to serve.
3) To serve, line 4 to 6 salad plates with crisp lettuce leaves, or, line a large salad bowl with lettuce leaves. Spoon broccoli mixture onto each salad plate, or into large salad bowl. Garnish each individual salad or large salad bowl with a sprinkle of grated cheeese if desired. Yield: 4 to 6 servings.
Note: To make Greek seasoning, combine the following ingredients and store in an air-tight container for up to 6 months : 1 -1/2 teaspoons dried oregano, 1 teaspoon dried mint, 1 teaspoon dried thyme, 1/2 teaspoon dried basil, 1/2 teaspoon dried marjoram, 1/2 teaspoon dried minced onion, 1/4 teaspoon dried minced garlic
One Year Ago Today: Strawberry Panna Cotta
Two Years Ago Today: Tunisian Semolina Bread -Khubz Mbassis
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Copper Pennies Carrot Salad - Deep South Dish
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Salad Nicoise - Whisk: A Food Blog
Beetroot Salad - Loving It Raw
Raw Spring Salad with Goat Cheese - Ditch the Box
Middle Eastern Vegetable Salad - My Life in Food
Chopped Vegetable Salad with Feta and Olives - Recipe Girl
Marinated Vegetable Salad - Fitness and Nutrition Blog
Spicy Fennel Carrot Salad - Cafe Liz
Pickled Vegetable Salad - Fearless Kitchen
67 comments :
- Unknown said...
oww,, so deliciOus,, need to tastE it..
love it..
visit me,, - May 22, 2011 at 1:03 AM
This looks so bright and fresh - fantastic! Really looking forward to trying your green bean recipe too.
- May 22, 2011 at 1:32 AM
- Faith said...
I just love thoses flavor combinations! I am always happy to hear new salad recipes, because they are quick and filling! BTw, we stopped at both thistledown and also the grateful harvest after lone pine! :)
- May 22, 2011 at 2:11 AM
- Diane said...
I have never put broccoli in a salad, thanks for the tip. This looks delicious. Take care Diane
- May 22, 2011 at 2:27 AM
What a beautiful fresh salad. I love new ideas for using broccoli.
:-) Mandy - May 22, 2011 at 2:38 AM
I love the simplicity of a delicious salad like this. And thanks forv posting the Greek seasoning recipe!
- May 22, 2011 at 2:57 AM
- Nammi said...
wow, love the bright colours!!
- May 22, 2011 at 4:26 AM
- Jeannie said...
Sounds like something I would definitely enjoy!
- May 22, 2011 at 4:41 AM
- Silvia said...
Soy incapaz de decir que no a una ensalada y más cuando viene con colores y con ingredientes tan bonitos y ricos como la que hoy nos traes.
Besos. - May 22, 2011 at 5:37 AM
- What's Baking?? said...
My daughter loves broccoli..i can try this. i'm sure she'll love it.
- May 22, 2011 at 6:10 AM
- Alessandra said...
This salad is just my kind of dish, and a perfect lunch!
Wonderful :-).
Alessandra - May 22, 2011 at 6:14 AM
I love your salad! And I totally agree that you should cook the veggies a little bit! Growing up my grandmother always steamed veggies and through them over spinach with red beans and a boiled egg.Its something that Ive been eating for lunch every day this week! Its perfectly filling and sooooo good for you!
- May 22, 2011 at 6:24 AM
- T.W. Barritt at Culinary Types said...
Don't those colors just pop? I can already taste the jolt of black olives and feta!
- May 22, 2011 at 6:26 AM
- Umm Mymoonah said...
That Greek seasoning is just perfect for this fresh greeny salad
- May 22, 2011 at 6:50 AM
- penny aka jeroxie said...
What a lovely and light salad dish. :)
- May 22, 2011 at 7:18 AM
- Clint said...
I actually like broccoli. Raw, steamed, whatever. This looks wonderful.
- May 22, 2011 at 7:39 AM
- Jo said...
This sounds wonderful! I'm hosting a garden party in a few weeks and this would be a perfect addition to my menu.
Jo - May 22, 2011 at 8:09 AM
- The Harried Cook said...
I love the colors in that salad. And I love broccoli. And I LOVE feta. I love... I guess I should just say I love everything about that salad... :) I agree about what you said about raw vs. blanched veggies in this sort of salad. I prefer it this way too! Thank you for sharing :)
- May 22, 2011 at 8:19 AM
- Kim said...
This is the kind of salad that I'm happy to eat all summer long!
- May 22, 2011 at 8:42 AM
- Linda Starr said...
Olives and feta I love, salad time is coming up real soon here as it is heating up quite a bit now.
- May 22, 2011 at 9:00 AM
Oh Mary, what wonderful flavors and SO refreshing and healthy - I think I'm going to cook this for dinner - I'm going to print off the recipe now! thanks so much
Mary x - May 22, 2011 at 9:22 AM
- Tasha said...
Broccoli just doesn't find its way into salads often enough in my house. This one certainly sounds wonderful.
- May 22, 2011 at 9:33 AM
- Carol @ There's Always Thyme to Cook said...
This looks so good, so bright and fresh! I would love it!
- May 22, 2011 at 9:34 AM
- Unknown said...
Thank you for leaving your kind comments on my blog. I love this recipe, and have all the ingredients in my kitchen that I might just make this salad for lunch tomorrow!
- May 22, 2011 at 10:20 AM
- Elaine said...
I prefer my broccoli blanched as well. This looks like a perfect salad!
- May 22, 2011 at 10:40 AM
- Anna said...
oh my goodness! thank you so much for even visiting my little blog. yours is incredible. so glad to know about it! would you mind telling me how your red onion jam differs? i'd love to know :D
- May 22, 2011 at 10:43 AM
what an exceptionally fresh looking,healthy salad. I totally love the myriad of colours in here!
- May 22, 2011 at 10:54 AM
- Pondside said...
That looks delicious. I was invited to lunch on Friday - salmon Wellington and three salads, one of which was broccoli. I love the Greek twist and can see that this would work well all summer, as I would have most ingredients on hand.
- May 22, 2011 at 10:57 AM
- Lenia said...
I love everything about this salad,Mary!So fresh, greek and tasty!Kisses from the Ionian Sea!
- May 22, 2011 at 11:21 AM
- Banana Wonder said...
Love your twist on the Greek salad! I never thought about using broccoli but it totally makes sense as its a hardly vegetable like other components of Greek salads.
- May 22, 2011 at 11:50 AM
- Carla and Michael said...
Great idea for my leftove fresh broccoli florets from a "spinoccoli pizza" the hubby made a couple of days ago. Perfect side for tonights mussels.
Thanks. - May 22, 2011 at 11:52 AM
- Priya Suresh said...
Can have this wonderful,green and fabulous salad..
- May 22, 2011 at 12:15 PM
- dr.antony said...
Thanks for this one.Everything is available here in plenty.Broccoli is grown locally and we have a dozen varieties of Olives available.This is going to be my regular salad!
- May 22, 2011 at 12:26 PM
- Joanne said...
What a perfectly refreshing salad! I love the mediterranean flavors...now if only we could get the aegean sea blue in there somehow...
- May 22, 2011 at 12:44 PM
- lena said...
this is a delighting one and the greek seasoning sounds good! thanks for another great salad recipe!
- May 22, 2011 at 1:05 PM
- Shelley said...
Beautiful shot of that lovely salad. If it tasted half as good as it looks, it was surely delicious!
- May 22, 2011 at 1:14 PM
- From the Kitchen said...
I can tell by looking and reading the recipe that this will soon be a favorite at our house. I have a few broccoli salads/dishes that I can do ahead and know they will be deliciously attractive. Yours has a few added levels of tastiness!
Bonnie - May 22, 2011 at 2:08 PM
- Torviewtoronto said...
delicious looking colourful salad
- May 22, 2011 at 2:23 PM
- A Bitchin' Kitchen said...
This looks so fresh and delicious!
- Maggie - May 22, 2011 at 2:29 PM
- Unknown said...
you know, I was this close to getting broccoli today but passed it up. too bad, this does look really simple and nice.
- May 22, 2011 at 2:47 PM
- Rita said...
Great combination of ingredients and a totla new way of serving broccoli salad.
- May 22, 2011 at 2:54 PM
- mia maria said...
Very colorful combination! A refreshing idea for the summer!
- May 22, 2011 at 3:16 PM
- Cooking Creation said...
So pretty! I'm excited to try the Greek seasoning! Thanks for sharing :)
- May 22, 2011 at 3:18 PM
- Jayanthy Kumaran said...
I love the color of your dish...looks fabulous...
Tasty Appetite
Event: Letz Relishh Ice Creams - May 22, 2011 at 3:34 PM
- Foodiewife said...
Salads are the one dish I don't spend enough time creating. I always have these ingredients on hand. The colors are beautiful. Thanks for the inspiration!
- May 22, 2011 at 3:41 PM
- That Girl said...
I don't usually serve broccoli with Mediterranean meals, but with feta tomato and olives it fits right in!
- May 22, 2011 at 3:42 PM
Love the Mediterranean flavors, broccoli is one of my fav veggies :)
- May 22, 2011 at 4:48 PM
- teresa said...
oooh, i love broccoli salad, but i've never made it like this. if i had feta, i'd make it now!
- May 22, 2011 at 5:01 PM
- sweetlife said...
a wonderful plate for a light lunch of alonsgside a piece of fish!
sweetlife - May 22, 2011 at 5:24 PM
- Ben said...
This is just lovely, Mary. And I especially like it because so many recipes we see neglect the side dishes that accompany main dishes, and yet that are often one of the greatest factors in whether or not the meal as a whole was successful. Thank you!
http://kissthecook-ben.blogspot.com - May 22, 2011 at 5:30 PM
- Simply Life said...
oh what a delicious salad!
- May 22, 2011 at 6:00 PM
- Rosita Vargas said...
una ensalada que yo adoro,refrescante y saludable,luce fantástica,carsiños y abrazos.
- May 22, 2011 at 6:38 PM
- email@example.com said...
I love the sound of this salad. It looks soo refreshing and healthy too!
- May 22, 2011 at 7:21 PM
- Catherine said...
Dear Mary,
This is such a wonderful salad or side dish to compliment any meal. I know that this is something I would dig into, along with a nice piece of bread to dip in the dressing. Blessings, Catherine xoxo - May 22, 2011 at 7:40 PM
- Jenn @ Youknow...that Blog? said...
Yummm!! And the colours are just gorgeous.
- May 22, 2011 at 7:57 PM
- linksdistodaquilo said...
Beautiful salad! Kissy.
- May 22, 2011 at 7:59 PM
- Maris (In Good Taste) said...
3 of my favorite foods-broccoli, olives & feta all together equals bliss!
- May 22, 2011 at 8:18 PM
- Liz That Skinny Chick Can Bake said...
How beautiful and delicious! I just discovered French feta and want to add it to everything I eat! You've given me another wonderful option. Hope you've had a lovely weekend, Mary~
- May 22, 2011 at 9:05 PM
- Elisabeth said...
Your broccoli salad looks so vivid and colorful, bursting with fresh, crunchy flavor, and the delicious dressing.
Thanks for the tip on the Greek spice mix. Great stuff:D - May 22, 2011 at 9:42 PM
- SuzyEats said...
love mediterranean meals :-)
- May 22, 2011 at 10:03 PM
- Ryan said...
This looks so beautiful and vibrant! I can just taste the crunchy vegetables and the feta! I always feel I struggle in the salad department and love that you have so many beautiful salads on your site. Its a treasure trove!
- May 23, 2011 at 12:19 AM
- Chelsea said...
This salad looks DELICIOUS! I've been trying to incorporate more vegetables into my diet and this looks like an awesome way to do so :)
- May 23, 2011 at 1:30 AM
- Jenna Lee said...
Oh I love this salad! I'm a huge fan of black olives, broccoli and tomatoes! Yummm
- May 23, 2011 at 7:25 AM
- Karen said...
Wonderful salad! Great flavors. I love cooking with broccoli, it's so versatile.
- May 23, 2011 at 11:09 AM
- Buttercup said...
What a wonderful combination of flavors. This I could make! I love broccoli and black olives.
- May 23, 2011 at 10:53 PM
- Chaya said...
I am eating salad after salad, these days, and they are a delight. As a result, I am on the lookout for new combinations. This one is a delight to the eye as well as to the tummy, I am sure.
- May 24, 2011 at 9:29 AM
- Twin Tables said...
Hi Mary! This sound delish as usual. I have never thought to have broccoli with tomatoes and feta. I just had to come to your blog today because I read this article that reminded me of you. It is all about getting that one perfect bite. I thought you might enjoy it! Cheers! http://1000awesomethings.com/2011/05/23/239-that-bite-with-all-the-toppings-in-it/
- May 24, 2011 at 7:20 PM


text:
With 100 days left before the Winter Olympic Games begin in Sochi, Russia, the U.S. Olympic Committee begins its countdown in Times Square today. they're bringing ice and snow into the middle of Manhattan where temperatures will be in the mid-50s so the athletes can show off their skills. But in these final months, there's still a lot of scrambling to figure out which athletes get to compete in the Games.
North Country Public Radio's Brian Mann went to Lake Placid, New York where high stakes contests are sorting out who will make Team USA and who will be left behind.
BRIAN MANN, BYLINE: In a gleaming weight room at the Olympic Training Center here, bobsledder Justin Olsen from San Antonio Texas is loading thick metal discs onto a bar.
JUSTIN OLSEN: You've built up all this strength and now you're going to direct it and you're going to become explosive.
MANN: In a single motion, he jerks the loaded barbell above his head and hurls it to the floor.
MANN: The idea, Olsen says, is to train his body to be a kind of quick-start engine, capable of launching a bobsled weighing more than a thousand pounds down that icy, winding track.
OLSEN: The first two steps, you're going from standing still to trying to crank it up to 20-plus miles an hour.
MANN: Four years ago, Olsen - who tried bobsled racing on a whim - shocked everyone by winning a place on America's top four-man team known as "Nighttrain." With his help, that crew dominated the Europeans at the Winter Games in Vancouver with lightning fast start times.
MANN: "Nighttrain" made history, capturing the first U.S. Olympic gold in the four-man bobsled since 1948.
UNIDENTIFIED MAN: Justin Olsen!
MANN: Olsen says that moment, standing on that podium was beautiful and crazy. But here's the thing. Even with that gold medal hanging on his wall, he's not guaranteed a spot on this year's team.
OLSEN: Everybody's fighting for their spot. Everybody wants to do well. And the only route is to, you know, not pace yourself. Go hard every day.
MANN: Nancie Battaglia is a sports photographer and journalist from Lake Placid who's been covering the Winter Olympics and the build-up to the games since the 1970s.
NANCIE BATTAGLIA: This Olympics will be my 11th Olympics and it will be my 9th winter Olympics.
MANN: Battaglia says people don't realize how much uncertainty there is for these young athletes. Four years of training between Olympic Games and many like Olsen will be chewing their nails right up to the last minute.
BATTAGLIA: Right now I think they're jockeying for position, both on their team and in their mind. I'm sure they all have kind of the willies in their stomach, wondering if they're really going to make it.
MANN: Justin Olsen has struggled since that big win back in Vancouver, trying to heal a nagging muscle injury in his leg. He's also an active-duty member of the U.S. Army, which means he had to take time off from sledding to complete his basic training. Then, this fall, the partial government shutdown meant weeks of uncertainty for the Army's federally-funded soldier-athlete program.
OLSEN: It kind of happened right before we supposed to go to Utah, so it made us a little worried. I want to make the Olympic team, so I'm going to find a way even if things in Washington are having trouble.
MANN: Olsen says he's made up a lot that lost training time. He says he's healthy and focused. Now he has 100 days of time trials and races to prove to his coaches that he's the guy who can help take the U.S.A. to that medal podium in Russia.
OLSEN: Some people might be at their peak right now, but now doesn't matter. It's February - it's the guys that can be at their peak in February.
MANN: Olsen says all the down-to-the-wire uncertainty can make you crazy. But he also says it keeps athletes pushing hard, fighting to shave tiny fractions of seconds off those explosive starts. For NPR News, I'm Brian Mann in Lake Placid, New York.
MONTAGNE: This is NPR News.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC) Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.


text:
Liberal Democrat Blog of the Year 2014
"Well written, funny and wistful" - Paul Linford; "He is indeed the Lib Dem blogfather" - Stephen Tall
"Jonathan Calder holds his end up well in the competitive world of the blogosphere" - New Statesman
"A prominent Liberal Democrat blogger" - BBC Radio 4 Today; "One of my favourite blogs" - Stumbling
and Mumbling; "Charming and younger than I expected" - Wartime Housewife
Friday, May 07, 2010
The Liberal Democrats should accept David Cameron's offer in some form
40 comments:
- Unknown said...
I think we should see what's on offer and judge it on its merits on what it can deliver rather than who it's with.
I remember being horrified at the idea of coalition with Labour in the first Scottish Parliament but at the time I decided to hold my tongue, bide my time and see how it turned out - and although it ran out of steam a bit after 8 years, we achieved a lot in that time - free personal care, abolition of tuition fees etc. - 07 May, 2010 18:02
- dazmando said...
I find myself agreeing with you Jonathan. I think we have to keep our word and work with the government who gets the most votes and soon for the good of our country. It would be a problem for members or voters of ours no matter which side we supported, but eith the seats Labour have we simply cant work with them this time around.
Lets hope people and voters understand - 07 May, 2010 18:43
- Matthew Huntbach said...
Same again. I don't like the Tories, I found their campaign appalling, in fact I found my hands rather wildly applauding when my local MP (Clive Efford, Labour) unexpectedly held his very marginal seat against a slick Ashcroft funded campaign. And I has sent Mr Efford a somewhat rude email just a few days earlier explaining why I wouldn't be voting for him tactically.
However, the fact is that the Tories won the election. We did not. We can go on about them not having 50% of the vote, but they won it in the way that British people suppose elections should be won (biggest wins all), and most of them think that fair and it looks like part of our problem is that they didn't like the idea of there not being a majority government when they had to think about it.
If we'd seen a significant rise in our support, I think we could throw our weight around in negotiations, but we did not.
Why should Labour moan if we let the Tories govern when in their ideal world, we wouldn't exist, elections would be a straight fight between them and the Tories, and the Tories would be governing undisputed anyway?
I think we let them in, give them time enough to show what they can do to meet their promises: make no spending cuts in the NHS, pay for lots of new schools to be open, cut taxes especially those on the rich, introduce more dog-eat-dog capitalism, build a new friendly "big society" in which everyone looks after everyone else, be all green and eco-friendly, let big buisness do what it wanst and renmove al those irksome restrictions like planning laws, build lots more houses, but not anywhere where anyone objects to them, etc.
And when they are in the depths of their unpopularity due to not doing this, in fact fouling it up even worse, say "right chaps, you had your chance to demonstrate what you said, election time". And table a vote of no confidence. - 07 May, 2010 19:12
- Charlieman said...
The Alliance Party of Northern Ireland are members of the Liberal International movement. The party has close links with the LibDems and forebears. All liberals should be delighted by their victory last night.
I think that Jonathan skirts around LibDem responsibility to hold noses and assist the creation of a Conservative government. We have been arguing at this election that coalition or non-majority government should be the norm, that no party has the right to govern. We therefore have to allow the party that is most likely to form a stable government to get on with the job -- we don't have to back them, just not get in their way.
"Stable government" is an expression for which I lack a precise definition. But it doesn't mean conceding to the nastier aspects of the Conservative agenda. - 07 May, 2010 19:39
- Backwatersman said...
For what it's worth, as a Lib Dem voter, but not a party member, I'm very doubtful about this.
The problem is,surely, that it will establish in people's minds the idea that a vote for the LDs is effectively a vote for the Tories.
If the LDs are seen to have been propping up what is likely to become an increasingly unpopular Tory Government, then - come the second election - people (previously LD voters, but not committed) who are satisfied with the Govt's performance will think that they may as well vote Tory and those who are dissatisfied will think that voting Labour is the only way to get rid of it.
Not entirely fair or rational, but I suspect that is the way it will work.
Not becoming involved in any arrangement with other parties, but voting on a case by case basis (and preferably - for my part - rejecting most of the bills) would preserve the independent identity of the LDs and preserve them as a plausible choice for the (vaguely) Leftist voter who is repelled by the illiberalism of the current Government.
I also suspect, by the way, that one explanation for the drop in the anticipated LD vote is the perception that Clegg is as,or more likely, to make an alliance with the Tories as Labour.
On the bright side, incidentally, I'm told that the LDs were triumphant winners in the mock vote at Welland Park College. - 07 May, 2010 20:32
Come on - you can't think of supporting the losers (Brown and his Labour henchmen) - so think it through!
I don't know enough about British politics - but you should keep your own head.
Congratulations anyway, it's not easy to be no three in a two-party-system ... - 07 May, 2010 20:41
- David said...
1. We did NOT promise to work with the party with the most support. Nick Clegg said before and after the election that that party (the Conservatives of course) had the right TO SEEK to form a government.
2. The Conservatives did NOT win the election either by the discredited first-post-the-post system nor by any proportional test.
3. The great prize of this election can be electoral reform. We will never have a better chance of getting it.
4. I have never had any doctrinaire opposition to co-operation with Conservatives or Labour, being pragmatic and basing my view on whatever they offer. It seems to me that Cameron is NOT offering and will not offer anything worth having and that Brown is pretty desperate and ready to offer more.
5. I believe an arrangement with Labour can be presented as a crisis measure for constitutional reform (PR, elected Lords and fixed-term parliaments) and economic stability in exceptional circumstances. There is a popular mandate for both and the Tories offer neither. - 08 May, 2010 07:59
- Matthew Huntbach said...
Perhaps you did not read through what I said. You wrote "come the second election", but think now, it can come at a time of our choosing. Which should be the time when it is worst for the government, probably mid-way through what would be their term if they had a majority.
What happens now in May 2010 should be put by us, as it really is, an acceptance of the inevitable rather than any sort of deal. Jonathan is quite right that at this time of great economic danger we have to take account of the state of the nation and the need for some stability in government. That is why we have to guarantee to the Conservatves that we would not vote down their government on a whim and would give them a chance to show what they can do.
However, I think they did sell us a false prospectus. They went on and on an on (where I was in their literature) about how they would make no cuts in the NHS and would make tax cuts and pay off the deficit. They said nothing substantial about what they would really do to make this work. Though I think "cutting everything we didn't mention" is probably it, and apart from my local MP being one of the better ones and a good constituency man, I think another reason he held on was because this is a constituency with a lot of public service workers and after being told the same Tory lines five or six times they managed to read through them. - 08 May, 2010 11:19
- David said...
Jonathan, you wrote "It might be possible to win a referendum under such circumstances, but it would
not be easy." It has never been easy but that's no reason not to try. The alternative is to pass up the biggest chance in a generation to change the electoral system. It's a risk we must take. - 08 May, 2010 13:15
Lib Dems should embrace this opportunity and Pushing for Proportional Representation now could be bad for Lib Dems a blog: http://wp.me/pRHY4-C
- 08 May, 2010 22:15
Speaking as a Tory, I think you underestimate the hand the LibDems have to play.
I wrote a little Note of my own on my Facebook Page about how David Cameron has to a do a deal with the LibDems, even if it includes PR, or consign the Tories to the wilderness.
I think the Tories are about to split, one way or the other. Cameroons are going to need a home. They either find it within Government, or in a permanent splinter Party.
Like you, I agree you play with the hand dealt to you. And, whatever Tories may think personally of PR (I'm not wild about it), it's in the hand that's been dealt to us. - 08 May, 2010 22:22
Agree with the general thrust of the post. I think perhaps a referedum on PR with either side allowed to campaign as they see fit.
Anyway, join the new Facebook Group! http://tinyurl.com/3xmte75 - 08 May, 2010 22:22
- Euan said...
Backwatersman said "The problem is,surely, that it will establish in people's minds the idea that a vote for the LDs is effectively a vote for the Tories"
Well, that would only reasonably be the case if the Lib Dems only ever formed alliances with the Tories.
With past examples like Birmingham council and the Scottish Parliament - the Lib Dems are clearly able to form a coalition with Labour, the Conservatives, or neither, judging each case on its own merits.
Looking to form a solid government in the national interest, between two major parties whose voteshares actually went up and who do have the potential to agree on a lot of policies which will do the country good - I really can't see how that'd hurt. - 08 May, 2010 23:36
Speaking as another Tory, I think the the way many Liberal bloggers are approaching the hung parliament scenario reinforces all the things wrong with the horse trading scenarios that result from PR (hung parliments). First I must clarify, I absolutely agree that the current system if grossly unfair to Lib Dems, it is also unfair to a lesser extent to Torys, the electoral maths are stacked hugely in Labours favour. But a system of fairer vote distribution that could also result in majority government is much more favourable than unwilling coalitions (delegated vote DV is fair and much better), where parties with less of the public vote play power broker by insisiting on demands from there wish list. How is this democratic?in 2010 The conservatives got more of the popular vote this time than Labour in 2005. Forgetting Lib Dem seat numbers as they are not a true reflection, but based on popular vote, the Liberals still finished third after a bad night, you say you will "act in the national interest" but just about every LibDem voice I read is saying we cannot do a deal without PR, we must have it, this is the policy of the party who finished third in the popular vote, it is not the "national interest". I am a liberal conservative, many on my party are to the right of me as many on your party are to the left of Nick. PR is as unpopular in the wider conservative party as it is popular in yours. It is simply not instantly deliverable to change a 150 year old system to one you demand in a weekend. Any decision should be one based on fairness, however if you want to put the party first then consider this, conservatives will believe that the second PR is signed, every future government coalition will be Lib/Lab, so why would they want to do that and sign their death warrent. Something fairer should prevail, I really am all for something that is fairer for all like DV that is proportional and can result in majority government as well. But if it results in the party that finished third in the popular vote, deciding who forms a government and only if they get a wish list of demands met, i am not sure if it any less fair or morally palatablle, than the unfair system that denies you rightful MP's. We now have the tail wagging the dog. Lib Dem vote numbers remained static, Labours went down massively as conservatives took seats of both, and yet you choose?
For all those LibDems who say you should have nothing to do with the Torys, I would like to add 2 things. 1, Many are modern liberal conservatives we are not the 2 headed monster Thatcherites of the 80's that you may etched on your brain. 2, If you really want to prove PR can work, then this is the big big chance to grasp the nettle with part ideological opposites and show it can work. More than anything dear liberal friends, be compromising and consider both sides of the coin and the need for national interest to truly prevail. I hope we can have a system that is fairer to you, I hope our leaders can work together in the national interest, but don't paralyse the country or hold it to ransom in order to try an demand something that is not instantly deleiverable. Rather than trying to guess how people might feel about you in the future or plotting how to benefit yourselves the most. The big issues we face, are economy inc. deficit, borrowing, banks. The War our troops are fighting in, record youth unemployment....PR is not so big. Best Wishes Adam x - 09 May, 2010 03:16
- Backwatersman said...
I did say that it's not entirely rational but ...
The trouble is I don't think most of the English electorate know anything about the Scottish Parliament, or indeed Birmingham Council. A lot of them (us?) knew very little about the Lib Dems until they saw Nick Clegg on the TV in the leadership debate.
I think the point remains that if a Con-Lib government (in any form) is successful it will benefit the Tories. If it's deeply unpopular it will benefit Labour.
If it's popular with some, but deeply unpopular with others (the North, the public sector, the poor, Guardian readers) -(which I think is what would happen, if it was at all radical) then it would polarise opinion and make people (and perhaps even some Liberal Democrats?)feel that they had to be on one side or the other of that argument. - 09 May, 2010 10:11
Background first - I voted conservative. Having said that, not a lot of point in voting LD in Chorley!
Anyhow, just wanted to say that "I agree with Vince".
Vince Cable pointed out this morning that the electorate had delivered a "perfect snooker". That's correct. So, let's examine it.
1/ Try to play the red ball? No chance. You'll hit the yellow and be docked points. That's inevitable. Despite the thousands of column inches and millions of TV words, this is all but impossible and at least Nick Clegg seems to know that well.
2/ Don't play the ball at all? In 9 out of 10 cases, this might be possible. However, "what's best for the country" means that today (if you take that course), you'll be mullered in England in the next election for sure. It also entirely negates the cause of coalition Government - a sensational double own-goal. The ball has to be played. There is no choice.
3/ So, you have to play the blue ball. In the perfect snooker, the question then is, what sort of shot can be played? The truth is that if you play anything less than a fully committed strike, you'll miss. Above everything else, you need to hold out for a LONG agreement because a short term agreement will kill you. You need time to make it work and you need to avoid a no-win short-term re-election. Be clear, PR CANNOT be delivered. It doesn't matter who promises it, it can't actually happen. Cameron won't promise it because he knows his back-benches won't deliver. Brown promises it anyhow EVEN THOUGH he knows his back-benches won't deliver. Aditionally, no moral imperative can be claimed because the truth is the PR Party was CREAMED in the actual election (there's no getting away from this). I reckon the top LD brass know this right well. If this is a deal-breaker, you're truly snookered.
Don't forget, there's a huge penalty to pay for not playing the ball.
Simples. - 09 May, 2010 12:09
Any Lib Dem supporter who argues against an agreement (coalition or otherwise) with the Tories as being detrimental to the party, as some are doing, is forgetting that proportional representation would make this sort of situation much more common. To argue that its better to stay in your party trench rather than sit down with another party and govern in the country's interest, is actually to argue against PR, or at least the inevitable consequence of PR!
- 10 May, 2010 11:07
Sometimes I think some Lib Dem members (and activists) view the party the same way the old Communist Party viewed themselves: as a kind of half-party, a ginger group there to keep the Labour Party honest.
These kinds of folk have fallen for the Labour self-image (the big Labour lie) that they are well-meaning angels - perhaps angels with dirty faces sometimes, but angels all the same. And that just isn't true.
Surely the point is that we must replace the Labour Party - and propping it up in some kind of lame government is no way to achieve that end.... - 10 May, 2010 11:13
- jamescbartlett said...
The biggest problem is that the Lib Dems could be in a lose-lose-lose situation. Support either the Tories or Labour in a coalition and they may well lose out at the next election whether the performance of the coalition was good or not - people won't bother voting Lib Dem if it was successful, as they'll vote for the lead party and they won't if it was a disaster. And equally they won't vote for them again if they eventually decide to stand on the sidelines leading to a minority government and likely second election. It'll be the Lib Dem core voters only. It's a nightmare scenario which can only be offset by some sort of movement on electoral reform - whether PR or or boundary changes, etc. Fingers are crossed!
- 10 May, 2010 11:15
- Another Phil said...
I don't see that there can be an automatic bar on working with the Conservatives.
Fair enough, but I don't think you appreciate just what a red line this is for Labour voters - and Labour-sympathising Lib Dems voters. Speaking as a socialist, I've had friends who were Liberals and Lib Dems, and frequently been embarrassed to admit how many of my own goals were in their party's manifesto. I've never been a Lib Dem hater; I've always maintained that the party was basically among the good guys. If you add it all up I've probably spent several days of my life arguing against the "Yellow Tories" smear.
The moment your lot goes into coalition with the Tories, I'm afraid all of that goes out the window. The "Yellow Tories" crowd will get to say they were right all along, and an awful lot of sympathy (and a huge reserve of potential votes) will disappears for a generation. I know I'll detest your party for life, and I've never even voted for them - I don't like to think how Labour-sympathising tactical voters will feel.
If that's what you want, go for it.
And it's just not true that the 'traffic light' coalition would need
to keep the flakiest Nationalist happy in order to stay in power
There are 644 MPs who turn up and vote in divisions, and 320 of those votes are whipped or as good as (Labour + LD + SDLP + APNI + Lady Sylvia Hermon). To win a vote against that lineup Cameron would need all 306 Tories (not including the Speaker) plus 15 of the remaining 18 - 8 DUP MPs (who were elected on a platform of not being allied with the Tories), 3 Plaid Cymru, 6 SNP and a Green. That doesn't look promising to me. (I'm doing the sums on the basis of Thirsk going Tory - if it goes your way, which is possible, the basic Labour/Lib Dem alliance goes up to 321 votes.) - 10 May, 2010 12:03
"""Liberal Democrat councillors are happy to work with their Conservative counterparts up and down the country. We used to run Leicester with them; we still run Birmingham"""
ERRRRR... YES and the CON / LIB DEM coalition in Birmingham Council is a total DISASTER. Birmingham was a city moving forward until this coalition was put in place, and since then the city has fallen into a downward spiral of economic and social demise. Next year Birmingham will be the first City in England to go BUST. 3 Billion short fall on pay for employees, voting irregularities, infrastructure projects mothballed, nevermind "baby P", Birmingham has had baby A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O and P. 15 child deaths linked to their disastrous social services dept. - 10 May, 2010 12:07
- Michael Kay said...
If we're going to have PR, then we're going to have to get rid of tribal attitudes to politics, which won't be easy - the kind of people who hate the Tories because they don't like what Thatcher did 30 years ago are a real obstacle to the kind of pragmatic coalition-building that's needed when no-one has a dominant share of the vote.
Meanwhile, a lot of people don't seem to have noticed that the Conservative manifesto promised that if 100,000 people petitioned Parliament with a proposal, Parliament would be obliged to consider it. If that proposal were a request for a referendum on electoral change, it would be very hard for Parliament to refuse it: ultimately, it has to be the electorate that decides how to elect its representatives. So a good strategy now for the Lib Dems, rather than insisting on PR as a precondition for the coalition, would be to work with the Tories to establish the constitutional principle of holding a referendum when the electorate petitions for one. - 10 May, 2010 12:16
- Andy said...
I would just like to say that I actually agree with the original blog almost in its entirety. We must accept the cards we have been dealt in this election.
- 10 May, 2010 12:17
- Euan said...
'Another Phil' - why should it concern the Lib Dems what the 'red lines' of Labour voters are?
Just as much as they aren't simply "Yellow Tories" - they aren't "Yellow Labour" either!
It seems pretty sad to consider "detesting a party for life" just because they're prepared to work with a party that isn't your own... - 10 May, 2010 12:24
- Dane Clouston said...
No arrangement should be acceptable to Liberal Democrats unless it makes it certain that the next election, however soon it is held, will be held under STVS ("AV") in existing Single member constituencies. MPs ought to be able to support this because it keeps their constituencies intact. Whereas STVM ("STV")merges them with others, something which, having been so very nearly elected as a Liberal MP in 1974, the last time there was such a close hung Parliament, I know that as MP for Newbury, a constitutency to which I was very attached, I would never have supported.
However, many party ACTIVISTS, rather than MPs or voters, may want precise Proportional Representation with STVM ("STV") in Multi-member constituencies or in other ways.
But we, the VOTERS, first of all want Preferential Voting, (Voting 1,2,3.. instead of the often useless X in safe seats), not necessarily with precise Proportional Representation.
If Liberal Democrat MPs and activists are offered a certainty of STVS ("AV") by Labour before any next General Election, however soon it may be held (an offer I understand may already have been made by Gordon Brown), and turn it down in favour of the Conservatives if the latter do not offer such a certainty, they will never be forgiven. - 10 May, 2010 12:41
- anweald said...
If the Tories and Lib Dems can form a strong government then anyone can. It's the best advert for PR anyone could wish for.
- 10 May, 2010 13:06
How about looking at the national interest rather than your prejudices and party self-interest? You really think Brown has been a good PM? You really think PR is more important than the economy? Would you rather have PR or good schools, ID cards abolished, an end to red tape and the awful authoritarianism of Labour? This is the problem with the LibDems, you spend your entire lives looking inwards and analysing yourselves, and obsessing about how elections are won instead of actually winning them. The LibDems should be the second party in the UK, you should have replaced Labour years ago, yet you let Blair steal your clothes when you were (guess what) busy hating the Tories and campaigning for electoral reform. Now you finally have a chance to act like a real party and in the process split off the Blairite wing of Labour, yet instead you turn inwards and go all shy, like little girls at their first disco. For goodness sake, grow up, grow a pair and start acting like people who actually care about governing the country, not how the governing party is elected!
- 10 May, 2010 13:15
"But we, the VOTERS, first of all want Preferential Voting, (Voting 1,2,3.. instead of the often useless X in safe seats)",
No we don't Diane, you speak for yourself.
After putting my tick in the box, I am not left with other options.
I don't see Labour or the Lib Dems as second best, I don't want them at all. I am not going to vote for some irrelvant fringe party or for facists.
Quite simply I want to pick 1 party/mp and thats it.
It is clear that such a system will only benefit Lib Dems, Lib Dems will vote LD first, rthe majority Lbaour second and a few Cons second. Labour voters will all vote LD second, whereas Cons would not want to vote either?
This may be fair to you but it isn't to me. To have a system, that allocates seats fairer I am all for, but you pick 1 party only.
Delegated Vote system (DV) is proportional, it can also result in majority governmnet, what we are seeing here I think is unpalatable.
The third party is calling all the shots, and picking the goverment the tail is wagging the dog - 10 May, 2010 13:18
- Unknown said...
I reluctantly voted Tory in this election. I'm very turned off by their eurosceptic, socially conservative wing but I thought we needed strong govt in a difficult economic situation, and I doubted whether this was possible with a hung parliament. I thought Gordon Brown definitely needed to go so didn't consider voting labour.
If the Lib Dems are able to form a stable and orderly coalition, proving that a hung parliament isn't so bad, and that they are a competent party of government, I'll be much more likely to vote for them next time. They have a lot of talented front benchers and good policies and I'm optimistic they can be a very good moderating influence on the Tories. - 10 May, 2010 13:45
- Unknown said...
A little thought to sober us all up. The crisis in Greece is far more serious than the proportion of UK headline space it got would suggest; even though we are not in the Euro, our biggest export market is teetering on the brink of a depression that would make Dante's descent into hell look like a merry-go-round. On top of that, the UK owes more money than at any point in history, but we still haven't finished paying for unwinding all the damage done to public services in the 80s.
Make no mistake, if we end up going to the polls again - either 6 months into a minority Tory government or 6 months into a rag-bag "progressive coalition," it won't matter who wins because the only thing they'll be able to do is fire everyone. If we're to salvage a country worth governing, we need a government with enough of a majority to move past arguments about what ought to happen in a fictionalised ideal world and actually get difficult and unpleasant things done. The only offer on the table is Lib Dem/ Conservative: Lib-Lab ceased to be viable when they didn't have a majority of >30 or so between them.
If any party - Lib Dem, Labour or Conservative - is seen to effectively bankrupt the country in order to maintain party advantage or placate obstreperous activists, they deserve to be out of power for a generation or more. - 10 May, 2010 13:48
"Nor am I convinced that Gordon Brown, or any other Labour leader, would be able to persuade the bulk of his party to campaign for PR in any referendum. It might be possible to win a referendum under such circumstances, but it would not be easy."
But isn't that what referenda are for? When it's not easy and when pushing a lasting decision through parliament isn't straightforward? Some in Labour will always oppose PR for understandable reasons, and I can't see the "right" circumstances in which a leader might deliver a solid Labour "Yes" ever coming about. The likelihood of losing still more seats under FPTP after a Lab-Lib government to a Tory party already on 307 will concentrate Labour minds wonderfully and may be the best circumstances you'll ever get. Otherwise you're looking at huge Labour gains from a Con-Lib "government of cuts" and winding up with PR off the agenda for another decade or more.
"If the hand we have been dealt this time makes Lib/Con cooperation inevitable, so be it." I'd still say that it doesn't. Keeping the Nationalists on board would be a challenge, but that's what politics is about. They'll have to make a commitment that they won't look to escape the cuts that will have to come, but that's surely implicit in Salmond's offer to join in a UK-wide progressive cause - if not, then there's no viable deal, but the parties of the centre & left should be exploring that option.
That said, it's a difficult situation for all and I wish us all good luck, whatever happens. I hope that LibDems don't let any Cameron government inflict the costs of the crisis on those least able to pay for it and who did least to bring it about: if not, Labour will be the big winners next time round and LibDems could themselves pay a heavy cost. If you must give ground on electoral reform, at least ensure that the Tories likewise concede on social justice: taming the voracious "feed the rich" beast could yield handsome dividends.
- Dave P - 10 May, 2010 14:47
- Phil said...
Euan - the Liberals haven't really been equidistant between the two main parties since David Steel's leadership (i.e. 30+ years). For most of that time there's been a lot of diffuse goodwill among Labour supporters towards the Liberals/Lib Dems, from which the Lib Dems have profited greatly (often at Labour's expense, it has to be said). Labour activists generally hate the party - very often more than they hate the Tories - but most Labour voters aren't activists and don't see the world the same way.
If the party forms a governing alliance with the Conservatives, 30 years of benign tolerance (and benign tactical voting) will go up in smoke; you won't just be hearing "Yellow Tories" from Labour campaigners, you'll hear it on the doorstep.
It seems pretty sad to consider "detesting a party for life" just because they're prepared to work with a party that isn't your own...
On the contrary, I'd be delighted to see the Lib Dems working with anything up to five parties that aren't my own. Working with the Tories is a very different matter. If that last sentence doesn't make immediate, visceral sense to you, just take it from me that there are lots of people for whom it does - lots of Guardian-readers, even. - 10 May, 2010 15:18
Phil wrote (10 May, 15:18):
"Labour activists generally hate the party - very often more than they hate the Tories"
I'd disagree there, Phil: I've campaigned for Labour a few times over the years, but never encountered that. It's certainly true that a lot hated the SDP in the 1980s for siphoning off 3 million previously Labour votes and (as we saw it) helping the Tories to stay in power. But that was a generation ago, and even then there I saw little ill-will toward the older wing of the then Alliance, who were after all only doing what Labour would have happily done had the positions been reversed. I honestly think you can add most mainstream Labour activists to that pool of goodwill that threatens to go up in smoke. Labour activists may be a good deal more forgiving than left-leaning LibDem voters: some may even consider a spell out of government in the present economic climate a bullet well dodged.
- Dave P - 10 May, 2010 16:22
- Dane Clouston said...
In answer to your post, it's not a tick in a box, it's an illiterate X ! - which is almost entirely useless in a safe Conservative constituency like the one in which I live. We voters want our votes to count. No reason to stop our votes from counting just because people with the cast of mind you describe cannot be bothered to rank alternatives in order of preference.
I hope that the blinkered view you describe is either an exaggeration or a joke.
How about a government by a majority for a change? Why should the third party not call the shots - the other two have been calling the shots on a minority vote for too long. The Liberal Democrats got a lot of votes - not mine, I have to say, because of its EU- and Euro-fanaticism, even though I am still a liberal. I am pleased to say that I voted Labour for the first time in my life, to give one more vote to the Single Transferable vote in existing Single Member constituencies - STVS aka "AV" - Preferential Voting without precise Proportional Representation, keeping the constituency link. I want to vote 1,2,3.. instead of X in a General Election before I die (not imminent, I trust!).
Once we have STVS ("AV"), an EU-sceptic Liberal Party will start to grow. In the meantime, roll on a Labour / Lib Dem coalition - just as long as the Lib Dems do not take us into the Euro, as they disastrously would have done if they could have done! - 10 May, 2010 19:24
- Dane Clouston said...
Now it's all change again! For the Conservatives have offered a referendum on STVS ("AV") - without any Proportional Representation or multi-member constituencies add on.
If there is a way of making sure that this referendum is held before the next General Election, then surely the Conservatives now deserve to form a stable government in coalition with the Liberal Democrats, with a decent majority representing a decent majority of votes, however difficult many Liberal Democrats may find the prospect.
I am pleased to think that the Liberal Democrat EU- and Euro-enthusiasm will be restrained, and also that the Conservatives' passion for inequality of opportunity with vast and increasing exemptions from Inheritance Tax will also be restrained.
We may even see moves in due course towards British Universal Inheritance - alredy the party policy of the EU-sceptic Liberal Party - to give genuinely greater equality of opportunity. See www.universal-inheritance.org - 10 May, 2010 21:31
Looks like you're going to have to change the name of your blog. After this debacle, there isn't going to be a liberal England. There isn't going to be PR either. Oh, and BTW, you've almost certainly already lost any referendum on anything at all........
- 11 May, 2010 09:09
- Dane Clouston said...
It looks as if you are missing the point. We voters do not need precise Proportional Representation. We do need to be able to vote 1,2,3.. and so have a say between the two eventual front runners in our existing constituencies, whatever our first preference may have been. The offer by the Conservative Party of a referendum on the Single Transferable Vote in existing Single member constituencies (STVS / "AV")changes everything, providing it and any legislation to put the decision into effect is agreed to be put through before any next General Election, however soon it may be held. That is a great move by the Conservatives. And brilliant negotiating by the Liberal Democrats. Preferential Voting without precise Proportional Representation. We must now hope for a Conservative / Liberal Democrat coalition to give us the stable government we so badly need at this time.
That does not mean that I do not know how difficult that will be for many Liberal Democrats, having very nearly been elected 15th or 16th Liberal MP (for Newbury) in 1974, fighting a Conservative. This time I voted Labour in a safe Conservative seat in order to give one more vote for STVS ("AV"). It looks as if we are getting there.
There is no alternative to optimism! - 11 May, 2010 09:48
- Matthew Huntbach said...
Dane Clouston
The offer by the Conservative Party of a referendum on the Single Transferable Vote in existing Single member constituencies (STVS / "AV")changes everything
It changes almost nothing. It is a trivial reform, hardly worth bothering with. It is typical of the innumeracy of Tories and their supporters that some of them think this is "PR". Some of them are so incapable of handling numbers and logic that they really do think the distortion caused by the current system is because the constituencies do not have exactly equal numbers of electors.
A system which leaves the whole of Kent, Surrey and Sussex without a single Labour MP, when there were hundreds of thousands of people in those counties who voted Labour, is wrong. Labour voters in those counties deserve someone who can speak for them, the fact that Labour gets a similar distortion in their favour in the north and Scotland is no comfort. Ever heard a Scots or Yorkshire Labour MP plead the particular problems of growing up poor in Sussex?
Growing up poor in Sussex myself, every MP for 50 miles a Tory, is what pushed me to support electoral reform, and then to support the Liberal Party because Labour seemed quite happy with this arrangement whereby I was left with either local Tory or northern Labour MPs to speak for me (which they never did).
AV does not solve this problem at all, it still means "biggest wins all, regional minorities win nothing". - 11 May, 2010 13:09
- anweald said...
The BBC's page Would AV have changed history (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8506306.stm) shows, mostly, that AV would have enlarged the winners' majority with Lib Dem gaining many seats at the expense of the 2nd place party. Far from going the extra mile it serves Tory interests.
- 11 May, 2010 14:14
- Dane Clouston said...
Matthew Huntbach,
STVS/"AV" may be a trivial reform to you, but it changes everything for voters, because it means that no vote is wasted, in that you can vote for your first preference and still be able to choose between the eventual front runners. Of course it is not PR, it is Preference Voting with the Single Transferable Vote in existing Single member constituencies.
Under STVS/"AV" many more Liberals and Liberal Democrats would have been elected over the years. The wasted vote argument would no longer have applied. There would have been many fewer safe seats over the years, and the Liberal Party and the Liberal Democrats would have grown stronger more quickly, at least until they became EU- and Euro-fanatic, as the BBC's study referred to by "anweald" shows.
There were no Liberal MPs in the Berks, Bucks and Oxon area in the 1970s, but there would have been in 1974 in Newbury with STVS/"AV" (Con 24,000, Lib 23,000, Lab 10,000), after a rapid growth in the number of Liberal councillors in that constituency. The same might well have been true with STVS/"AV" in the areas you mention. It might well have solved the problem you mention, and it certainly would have solved the wasted vote problem - and would have made many previously safe seats unsafe. - 11 May, 2010 21:21


text:
Mushrooms are one of my favorite foods and I have been wanting to try doing a stuffed mushroom dish for a while. I came across this recipe for creamy stuffed portabella mushrooms at a perfect time as I had some leftover chicken in my freezer that I wanted to use. This dish sounded really good with lots of butter, cream cheese and white wine though I did cut down on the butter a bit. The stuffed mushrooms were super easy to make and tasted great! I really enjoyed the mushroom flavour and the stuffing was nice and creamy and tasty. The golden brown bread crumb topping added a nice crispy contrast in texture. My cream sauce was nice and thick and clean and easy to eat but I think that I would have liked it to be a bit messier and spill out a bit more. I felt that the dish needed a bit of green and added some green onions as I had them on hand. I look forward to further experimentation with stuffed mushrooms.
Creamy Stuffed Portabella Mushrooms
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 4 ounces cream cheese
- 1/3 cup white wine
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red peppers
- 2 large portabella mushrooms
- 1/2 tablespoon butter
- 1 small onion (chopped)
- 2 cloves garlic (chopped)
- 1 cup chicken (cooked and shredded)
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1/4 cup breadcrumbs
- Melt the butter in a pan.
- Mix in the cream cheese, white wine and red pepper flakes and cook until it thickens.
- Set aside.
- Remove the stems from the mushrooms and chop them.
- Melt the butter in a pan.
- Add the onion and saute until until tender, about 5 minutes.
- Add the garlic and saute until until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Add the chopped mushroom stems and chicken and cook for 5 minutes.
- Add the cream sauce to the chicken and mushroom mixture and season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Pour the filling into the mushroom tops and sprinkle the bread crumbs on.
- Broil until golden brown, about 8-14 minutes.