tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5078257864560679979.post999727258422437680..comments2024-03-14T07:20:18.013+00:00Comments on The EU Question: The Last StrawPaul Reynoldshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04991999984214758071noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5078257864560679979.post-28721133259688267312016-09-19T14:09:15.694+01:002016-09-19T14:09:15.694+01:00This comment has been removed by the author.Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01175454296802787926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5078257864560679979.post-20918298970195901672016-09-18T22:57:05.003+01:002016-09-18T22:57:05.003+01:00North's blog serves no purpose other than as a...North's blog serves no purpose other than as an echo-chamber, with half a dozen sycophants hanging on his every word. He is intellectually dishonest, putting together whatever words tell him he is automatically right on any question raised. Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01175454296802787926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5078257864560679979.post-2172097143023555762016-09-14T13:40:12.894+01:002016-09-14T13:40:12.894+01:00I would like to know what happened to the money ra...I would like to know what happened to the money raised on the EU Ref blog. Who got it and in return for what? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5078257864560679979.post-86677105511037593802016-09-14T13:36:38.089+01:002016-09-14T13:36:38.089+01:00Far more people read his blog than comment on it. ...Far more people read his blog than comment on it. There could easily be a silent majority who respect the research and knowledge on display, but who disagree with the confrontational and abusive approach North employs. As for being a thorn in the side, on this subject that is more likely to push people away rather than see them embrace North's ideas.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5078257864560679979.post-76336292993764732192016-09-13T09:23:38.649+01:002016-09-13T09:23:38.649+01:00If it's proving successful why is he whining l...If it's proving successful why is he whining like a spoiled child about other people getting traction in the media while he is ignored? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5078257864560679979.post-38871826970020201542016-09-13T03:59:57.103+01:002016-09-13T03:59:57.103+01:00I'm afraid you have not clarified your riddle ...I'm afraid you have not clarified your riddle at all. I have no idea why Andrew Marr's opinion of the ASI is relevant. Or why you quote “northern bastard” (I'm guessing you mean Pete North's “complete bastard” blogpost ?). You seem to be attempting to divert attention away from recent history as described in the post and in Roland's response above. You were in the same Twitter DM group, so you will already know the truth of the matter:<br />- Roland took time out at of employment at personal expense to “smuggle” Flexcit ideas into Westminster. <br />- Dr North “endorsed” this approach and stated Roland “ did exceptionally well in getting the material published”.<br />- The ASI offer of a blog post for Dr North to explain how all Roland's ASI papers fit into the full Flexcit concept was described by Dr North as “fair”.<br /><br />Your suggestion that this amounts to “ASI asking Dr. North to put a lead around his neck “ is a ludicrous mis-characterisation.<br /><br />Your final paragraph is an unsubtle allusion to acclaim & money. Why not just come right-out with your accusations ? Perhaps you don't really believe them.<br /><br />In fact you seem to be the one obsessed with money. You seem particularly bothered by what the commentariat may or may not earn. You now claim that North was “cheated” out of €100,000. You have singularly failed to explain or substantiate your claim that the ASI have cost North even more than €100,000. Answer that point directly, without diversion, before making any more accusations please.<br />Paul Reynoldshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04991999984214758071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5078257864560679979.post-28922112889913507682016-09-12T18:44:33.178+01:002016-09-12T18:44:33.178+01:00What is undeniable is that there are far more comm...What is undeniable is that there are far more comments of support, for his work and his uncompromising approach, on his blog than dissent.<br /><br />If reading the communication between Dr North and John Mills you honestly felt Dr North's replies where 'irritable' then you were reading a different set of e-mails to me.<br /><br />The point about politicians and establishment figures is how best to get through to them and as I say above history proves being a thorn in their side is best something Dr North is pretty good at. Niall Warryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13815435878278635965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5078257864560679979.post-47758095015926661432016-09-12T18:38:18.487+01:002016-09-12T18:38:18.487+01:00The lessons of history are actually very clear whi...The lessons of history are actually very clear which is that radical political change is never achieved by 'sitting down comfortably' with politicians or the Establishment.<br /><br />Whatever you think of his approach Dr North does it for a reason and it is slowly proving successful. Niall Warryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13815435878278635965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5078257864560679979.post-10907371574979646982016-09-12T18:33:06.614+01:002016-09-12T18:33:06.614+01:00I accept your point on timings. However my genera...I accept your point on timings. However my general comment still stands that those who use his work owe Dr North, at the very least, that they check and check again to ensure what they are using is the most up to date version of his work and most importantly completely understand what he is actually saying and why. Niall Warryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13815435878278635965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5078257864560679979.post-6761753283056606052016-09-12T17:41:39.986+01:002016-09-12T17:41:39.986+01:00Very much the point of many comments here, includi...Very much the point of many comments here, including my own, is that the establishment and the politicians therein *have* to be reasoned with in order to exact the kind of changes we want now; we would all like to see it different but the Flexcit message is doomed if it can't be communicated to power brokers effectively. tomrathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14840757143559617554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5078257864560679979.post-84954617757271381592016-09-12T17:16:49.849+01:002016-09-12T17:16:49.849+01:00Roland: Riddles have their uses: value is a questi...Roland: Riddles have their uses: value is a question of attitude as well. If so, Dr. North's "enfant terrible" attitude may be more understandable.<br /><br />Given the history I've posted to Paul, are the ASI asking Dr. North to put a lead around his neck so that he may trot along behind them like a well behaved, little lap-dog at their beck and call?<br /><br />To end on a positive note seeing as you've been such a stellar figure, you compare eureferendum.com with ASI/IEA and consider: "What can be achieved by so few with so little compared to those with so much." All the gongs and plaudits don't change that nor money.Red Cliffs Of Dawlishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06208567100334784044noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5078257864560679979.post-49865341143408389502016-09-12T16:32:31.135+01:002016-09-12T16:32:31.135+01:00Paul, I did not see an edit button otherwise I wou...Paul, I did not see an edit button otherwise I would have chosen the word "cheated" not "cost" (as in "could have cost" which is not the meaning intended anyway), so apologies for that misunderstanding I had wished to correct.<br /><br />There's no riddle when you understand it of course:-<br /><br />> The President of the ASI, Madsen Pirie, has sought to describe the activity of the organisation as "We propose things which people regard as being on the edge of lunacy. The next thing you know, they're on the edge of policy"<br /><br />>"The arguably most influential think tank in British history... benefited from the close alignment of IEA's neoliberal agenda with corporate interests and the priorities of the Thatcher government.<br /><br />>In 2007, Scottish journalist Andrew Marr called the Institute "undoubtedly the most influential think tank in modern British history". Damien Cahill, a Professor of Political Economy at the University of Sydney, has characterised the IEA as, "Britain's oldest and leading neoliberal think tank".<br /><br />Meanwhile concerning "Northern Bastard":<br /><br />>"North was one of seventeen shortlisted entrants invited to submit a full submission to the Institute of Economic Affairs's 2013 Brexit Prize competition. Entrants were asked to imagine an 'out' vote in a proposed referendum on United Kingdom membership of the European Union and asked to compose a blueprint for the process of withdrawal, taking account of Britain's relationship to global governance and trade systems.[13] His submission, 'FLexCit', proposed that Britain should rejoin the European Free Trade Association via membership of the European Economic Area...<br /><br />... Though not a finalist in the contest, North continues to develop the Flexcit plan in cooperation with readers of the EUReferendum blog, and others."<br /><br />Meanwhile ASI website: "ASI on Brexit" pops up magically...<br /><br />* Watch Sam explain what comes next for the UK, now that we've voted to Leave.<br />* Read how Brexit gives us an opportunity to 'reboot' Britain with radical policy reforms to boost growth and freedom.<br />* Read why the EEA is the best interim solution for the UK as we negotiate a new relationship with the EU.<br />* Read why Britain will have more control over the regulation that affects it outside the bloc.<br />* Read why Britain should join the EEA and adopt an 'evolution, not revolution' approach when it leaves.<br />* Read our 'Liberal case for Leave'.<br /><br /><br />Red Cliffs Of Dawlishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06208567100334784044noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5078257864560679979.post-66875642042852276952016-09-12T14:51:09.315+01:002016-09-12T14:51:09.315+01:00"ensure they are up to date and this was wher..."ensure they are up to date and this was where for example Roland fell down."<br /><br />For the record, that accusation was made by North on 19/20 June after a Sunday Telegraph article which quoted (and slightly misquoted) some off the record comments I made to the journalista on 7th June over a coffee.<br /><br />I was accused of being "out of date" because North had changed the game in the interim (on 14 June) with the Liechtenstein manoeuvre.<br /><br />North also seemed to assume that I wrote the article or maybe reviewed/approved it, which of course is nonsense. <br /><br />But again, no discussion, no phonecall, nothing but spewing bile on his blog which then gets lodged in the minds of his followers as though it were a hard truth. <br /><br />As you demonstrate. <br /><br />Cheers Roland Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03633189489484221622noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5078257864560679979.post-43600558869112662232016-09-12T14:33:52.246+01:002016-09-12T14:33:52.246+01:00What else do you call a man whose behaviour is sel...What else do you call a man whose behaviour is self defeating and continues behaving that way even after people have explained why he is marginalised?<br /><br />I wasn't aware John Mills and Richard North were on different sides. Didn't they both want to leave the EU? What I read was questions being asked, partly answered, clarifications sought and being met with irritable replies that didn't address what was being asked.<br /><br />I didn't make any points about politicians of establishment figures. I made points about Richard North, none of which have been dispelled by you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5078257864560679979.post-82374733072455393582016-09-12T14:20:43.441+01:002016-09-12T14:20:43.441+01:00Sadly your posts ASSUMES far TOO much and is simpl...Sadly your posts ASSUMES far TOO much and is simply wrong and by calling Dr North an idiot this says far more about you than it does him.<br /><br />Dr North is uncompromisingly critical of people, who given the information, after hours of his research, then refuse to think things through and go onto to get things wrong. Most people on his blog accepted that with John Mills he tried his best to get him to understand the issues and see reason. Only a small minority on his blog sided with John Mills as you obviously do. The first thing in understanding a complex issue is to open ones mind and discard previous views and think things through.<br /><br />If you honestly believe that our current batch of politicians and Establishment figures can be reasoned with then you are very misguided. Niall Warryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13815435878278635965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5078257864560679979.post-2851262471511682552016-09-12T14:02:30.447+01:002016-09-12T14:02:30.447+01:00Richard North is unwilling to contribute to anythi...Richard North is unwilling to contribute to anything because it's his ball and only he is allowed to play with it. He wants attention, he wants praise and he wants a public profile where the world revolves around him and his supposed brilliance. Yet he mocks and abuses the very people he needs on side to make that happen. <br /><br />Each time before I open his blog I ask myself "who is he going to be abusing and insulting today?" and without fail some poor mortal is on the receiving end of a downpour of bile and mockery. All too often North doesn't give a straight answer to a straight question. He is over rated. Several times he claimed something was in Flexcit but he refused to say where, and on searching carefully I would find that the desired detailed explanation of something important was indeed missing. That was recently demonstrated again without a hint of self awareness in his exchanges with John Mills. All North wanted to do was embarrass the poor man. <br /><br />You would think North would seize the chance to win over someone and give him lots of patient guidance. But no, the man who had gone in search of answers ended up with abuse. Over two decades of North's obsession has resulted in him being bypassed because of his behaviour. It's pretty sad really, but he decided settling imagined scores was more important than winning people over and getting them onside, so it's completely self inflicted. The man is an idiot.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5078257864560679979.post-169659054801050152016-09-12T13:59:59.839+01:002016-09-12T13:59:59.839+01:00This small extract from your post shows how you si...This small extract from your post shows how you simply have not yet grasped how and why Dr North works.<br /><br /> "Dr North spent much of the rest of the campaign attacking Vote Leave and the Leave campaign. He assumed defeat was inevitable and seemed to be relishing the prospect of revenge on those he would blame. Nor did the Referendum victory mellow him at all. He continues to attack all and sundry while complaining that “the bubble” ignores him."<br /><br />First, Dr North quite rightly attacked Vote Leave and their campaign as it was completely inept and if you really don't think so you prove how you still don't understand the dynamics of the debate. Second, I think you ASSUMED he assumed that defeat was inevitable because while it did seem likely I don't think he ever expressed that it was inevitable we would lose. You also clearly ASSUME he would relish the prospect of revenge because I have NEVER heard him deal in revenge. His stock in trade is VERY ROBUST criticism of ANYBODY who gets any details wrong about the EU which he sees as inexcusable when the information is available for free on his blog and he will talk to anyone who cares to make contact. As to the bubble he accepts that he is ignored but still produces his work for anyone to use. This raises a further point which is that his work, especially over matters EU, is continually under review and being updated and if anyone is going to use his work then it behoves them, out of basic politeness if nothing else, to ensure they are up to date and this was where for example Roland fell down.<br /><br />Finally there are only two ways to get any message into the bubble. The first is to schmooze your way in and risk things being watered down to the point of little value or stand alone and let things slowly filter through. It is the second that Dr North does and it is working. Niall Warryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13815435878278635965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5078257864560679979.post-19716911290396819702016-09-12T13:09:00.893+01:002016-09-12T13:09:00.893+01:00As someone who was unceremoniously ejected from bo...As someone who was unceremoniously ejected from both the eureferendum.com forum and on social media by Pete I can emphasize with both Paul, Roland and Ben. My crime was to believe that perhaps the message of a steady transition away from the EU to a globalised world was far too important a message to let labels and egos keep it down (though I've no doubt Pete will have some other set of words to finesse my thoughts as just being silly; hopefully this time without the ensuing personal stream of saxon vulgarities that accompanied it).<br /><br />I was warned of course; I'd taken to trying to promote Flexcit to researchers on Brexit: The Movie only to be told they had approached Dr. North for a piece on his ideas but found him unwilling to contribute. As a VL campaigner I'd taken to the streets trying my hardest to engage people with the Flexcit message only to have to hand out the awful leaflets VL had churned out; I gave Matthew Elliot a gloss copy of The Market Solution which he politely accepted before explaining Dr. North hadn't wanted to help them either (I don't actually blame the North's for this; what he churned out the week following was just absurd).<br /><br />The general tone at the eureferendum family of blogs has changed from one of measured, pragmatism and assured superiority to one more akin to bile and amusement at the stupidity of others. There is no doubt that their ideas are the most advanced out there by a country mile but by singly rejecting and thwarting every attempt to spread it they are doing the idea a disservice. Claiming fatalism and foul play only works when your ideas are on the fringes but now they are surely not and that is a pity.tomrathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14840757143559617554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5078257864560679979.post-89085367528194021622016-09-12T10:34:47.912+01:002016-09-12T10:34:47.912+01:00I meant the summer/autumn of 2015 (when I was writ...I meant the summer/autumn of 2015 (when I was writing 'How (not) to talk about Europe' and trying to find the extent to which Outers had proposed models of Out.<br /><br />Also this recent exchange with Richard North on the topic of growing interest and attention to this.<br />https://twitter.com/sundersays/status/761150058435837952<br /><br />SunderKatwalahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16210189209341766625noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5078257864560679979.post-91224556232687189242016-09-12T10:24:34.739+01:002016-09-12T10:24:34.739+01:00I had already drafted a response to Bill, before R...I had already drafted a response to Bill, before Roland published his own response, which made many of the same points. I thought I may as well post anyway - see below:<br /><br />“IEA cost North £100,000.” It's a bit presumptious to suggest North had a guaranteed right to the IEA Brexit prize money ( €100,000 ) - regardless of the quality of his research.<br /><br />“ASI may have cost North more than that amount.” How exactly ? Such a statement needs justifying. As explained above, ASI offered North a blogpost – a platform that could have been used to promote Flexcit & his research - an opportunity spurned.<br /><br />“political analyst/commentariat industry … a lucrative industry”. Some people get paid far more than their talent and quality warrants – hardly headline news is it ? That aspect really doesn't enter my thinking at all, although I doubt that a blogger penning the odd article for the ASI or the IEA is in any way "lucrative". I got involved in the Referendum and this debate because I thought we were interested in promoting the best ideas to win a Referendum and secure a successful exit from the EU. None of us were involved for money, fame or glory – epitomised by Roland's decision to dedicate several months to campaigning and hence foregoing earned income in that period. <br /><br /><br />Paul Reynoldshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04991999984214758071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5078257864560679979.post-55069011998143489582016-09-12T10:24:14.343+01:002016-09-12T10:24:14.343+01:00It seems to me particularly bizarre for Pete North...It seems to me particularly bizarre for Pete North to be offended at the British Future report: here is the relevant passage, which acknowledges Richard North's role as the pioneer of Flexcit, and the ASI advocacy of such as interim model backed by both Leave and Remain voices.<br /><br /><br />"The logic suggests that Brexit will be a process, rather than an event, with more than one stage. That was an idea pioneered by Richard North, a long-standing Eurosceptic, who devised the ‘Flexcit’ model of leaving the European Union via a period in the EEA. The Adam Smith Institute has set out the case for EEA membership as an interim option, as a proposal co-authored by Leave and Remain advocates. The interim phase enables the UK to leave the EU itself, in a de-risked and stable way, which could help to address the concerns of Scotland, Northern Ireland and Gibraltar".<br /><br />Could the sourcing have been put more fairly than that? Who else anywhere on the political spectrum would take offence at their ideas being engaged with and growing in appeal, rather than seeing that as a positive development that the work and advocacy is for?<br />SunderKatwalahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16210189209341766625noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5078257864560679979.post-5041472721211525172016-09-12T10:19:58.535+01:002016-09-12T10:19:58.535+01:00I think Pete North mischaracterises the role and v...I think Pete North mischaracterises the role and value of the ASI paper. It is absolutely obvious to me, as the British Future author of the piece you are squabbling about, that the ASI report both draws on the Flexcit model *and* adds new value to the argument: it involved Remainers (including Professor Steve Pears, George Peretz, Simon Hix) and others in shaping a political case that could appeal to both real world Leave and pragmatic ex-Remain. It addresses some of the emerging post-referendum issues - the position of Scotland, Gibraltar - and I think articulates well, in its opening point, an absolutely crucial political issue: that an interim EEA model has strong potential for a Remain-Leave alliance, but is also then in danger of being positioned as a Remain continuity project, not one with authentic support from Leavers (albeit a minority of Leavers, in political terms). I had not previously seen that issue addressed clearly enough: obviously, the issue of post-referendum alliances across the referendum was of new importance after the result. <br /><br />I found Flexcit useful, when looking into the question of the range of Out models in the summer/autumn of 2016 I was somewhat bemused that it had not picked up greater media and political traction, being well known to those involved in Leave wonkish circles but not well known to quite a number of generalist voices who do engage with EU issues. I saw many pieces arguing this was a deliberate conspiracy given the position of "in": maybe for some; I am absolutely certain lots of people simply hadn't encountered it. (Obviously, what form does "out" take was of narrower general interest pre-2013, pre-the 2015 GE and pre-23/6 than it became at stages after)<br /><br />While there is lots of good analysis on the EU referendum blog, one does have to navigate through a lot of personal attacks on everybody when reading it. It soon became clear that the level of the antagonism to "the bubble" and aggression towards the media was a bit of a barrier, so I was glad to see a range of voices trying to broaden the audience and appeal. It is useful to those of us who would like there to be a better informed debate about the choices that the country now faces, without having been more than intermittently involved in 15 years of political advocacy (and personal relationships, clearly good and bad) on the sceptic side.SunderKatwalahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16210189209341766625noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5078257864560679979.post-61911959446321300392016-09-12T09:04:03.412+01:002016-09-12T09:04:03.412+01:00Bill,
Point 2 is certainly a riddle.
How exactl...Bill,<br /><br />Point 2 is certainly a riddle. <br /><br />How exactly might the ASI have cost North more than £100k? Especially because after my three main ASI papers (the last one published on 3rd May) the ASI offered North some blog space on their site to "bring it all together" and explain how all my published material related to Flexcit. He was very happy with this deal. This was done on 2nd June after North had suddenly become sniffy towards me and the ASI in private (for the first time, incidentally) just because the ASI's name had appeared alongside his name in an Ambrose article on that date. [Note, the article had come as a complete surprise to me and the ASI].<br /><br />This is why a short blogpost by me on the ASI blog site on 6th June then subtly referred to Richard/Flexcit for the first time: http://www.adamsmith.org/blog/this-is-a-referendum-on-the-eu-not-the-single-market . It was in anticipation of his ASI blogpost - a big "coming out" expected to land shortly with a bit of a splash. <br /><br />Until then we - yes we - had adopted the so-called "Sinn Fein/IRA" strategy. A term defined by North himself and even discussed at a Leave Alliance meeting back in March. In short: onlookers suspect and even know there's a connection but the 'joins' between the nice public face (me) and the angry street fighters behind (called North) are not made explicit.<br /><br />If we are talking about lost consultancy fees (are we?) then Richard had the perfect open door to take the 'market' by storm from June onwards, starting with that offered ASI blogpost. He could have had many people in Westminster and well beyond "bashing down his door" for comment/insights etc. Who knows - perhaps even the Government itself. <br /><br />Instead, it became clear that he preferred to carry on with his own private wars, ranting and raving in his default way. His choice, I guess. He was rude and insulting towards me through June up to the vote and cut off/blocked me on Twitter around 21st June. <br /><br />The ASI offer was then finally withdrawn after his nasty and ultimately incoherent post on 25th July and I understand he was also blocked by the ASI on Twitter at that point. They never received the offered blogpost from him.<br /><br />The ASI paper (that Richard was responding to) in July was a genuine collaboration between Leavers & Remainers. It was actually first drafted by a Remain lawyer and knocked around by a series of people, not all of whom wanted their names put "in lights" when it was finally published. In Richard's poison blogpost on 25th, he said he wanted the ASI document to explicitly credit him and Flexcit (and even demanded it on Twitter)...and yet at the same time, he said he *didn’t*...as it "wasn't Flexcit". As long as the ASI document didn’t mention or attempt to link to Flexcit (which it didn’t), then that’s fine. <br /><br />Work that one out. And recall that this is over a month after North himself had cut me off.<br /><br />For the record I have lost £60k in earnings (not potential earnings; *actual* earnings) since I gave up a lucrative contract in March to subtly promote the ideas contained in Flexcit that I felt deserved a much greater hearing than they were getting. After all that and after my own treatment, it's actually a miracle that I haven't charmlessly told the Norths to "basically f*** off" (which I haven't - another lie repeated below). The whole experience was deeply hurtful and weird, like nothing I've ever experienced before in my life. <br /><br />And no I haven't received a single penny for all of my troubles - from anyone. Nor did I do it for 'fame' - another accusation from the North stable. <br /><br />In the end, I'm afraid that in my humble opinion we are talking about a deeply troubled individual. I had believed that we could somehow look past all of that to the brilliant ideas beneath. But I (and others) have learned the hard way that we can't.<br /><br />So I say all this with no sense of anger - I'm over that. <br /><br />But it is a tragedy - of potentially epic proportions.Roland Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03633189489484221622noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5078257864560679979.post-67894246083689958792016-09-12T09:00:12.635+01:002016-09-12T09:00:12.635+01:00This comment has been removed by the author.Roland Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03633189489484221622noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5078257864560679979.post-53816416672435222832016-09-12T00:31:10.826+01:002016-09-12T00:31:10.826+01:00Paul, thank you for your blog, one of the best in ...Paul, thank you for your blog, one of the best in fact. It's challenging writing what is "at the right wavelength" but I'll try.<br /><br />But consider:-<br /><br />1. IEA cost North 100,000£.<br />2. ASI may have cost North more than that amount.<br /><br />The 2. is a subtle point, call it a riddle, so when you say:-<br /><br />>"I also felt someone should speak up for Roland & Ben, who made very significant contributions", yes I agree they certainly were excellent; but be even-handed and consider how much they've also cost in their subsequent contributions?<br /><br />As for my role in this "palaver", I started much like yourself: I only started a blog at the invitation to encourage a cascade of higher quality information into the public domain, a task not asking too much of it's applicants. If I was asked to "shut up you complete and utter moron!" then I'd close it down just as simply as I began (!). Really the volume of work done by both Norths is not only higher but more significant in quality than perhaps 9/10ths of the entire political analyst/commentariat industry - it seems to me? And what a lucrative industry it can be (or so I'm reliably informed!).<br /><br />Is that such a strange idea for most people?Red Cliffs Of Dawlishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06208567100334784044noreply@blogger.com