Are your opinions based solely on the unverified opinions of others? — I saw a survey recently about benefits in the UK; about the help given to people in need. The questions were predictable: Do you think the benefit system is fair? Yes/No/Don’t Know Do you think the benefit system targets the right people? Yes/No/Don’t Know Do you think benefits are enough/too…

If you were able to start your own country f Sir, Lady… — If you were able to start your own country from scratch, would you create a title system? Would your citizens get to be called Sir, Lady, Dame, Lord? Would you even honour or recognise your new citizens in any way at all? In this New Year Honours list, there are…

I created Me In The Middle about nine years ago. It was a place for me to write about politics, or social issues, or social media, or… — I created Me In The Middle about nine years ago. It was a place for me to write about politics, or social issues, or social media, or anything that comes along and tries to trip you up! But I got it wrong. It wasn’t wrong in the intent, but I…

The Deep in the Dark Forest Podcast — The Deep in the Dark Forest Podcast Podcast Transcript Welcome to the very first Deep in the Dark Forest podcast. A podcast bringing you new adaptations of wonderful folk tales and fairy tales, both famous and forgotten. And also, I hope, brand new stories. Some by me and others by new authors…

By Hans Christian Andersen — By Hans Christian Andersen Welcome to Deep in the Dark Forest, your little home for wonderful stories told right into your lugholes. How pleasant. My name is CC Hogan, and I am your host, raconteur, and storyteller for the next thirty minutes. Now, as someone reminded me the other…

Now, before everyone starts shouting, “bloody socialist,” I am neither bloody or a socialist, and that phrase is using racist-style… — There is the potential with 5G to creating even more “us and thems” when it comes to internet access. Now, before everyone starts shouting, “bloody socialist,” I am neither bloody or a socialist, and that phrase is using racist-style language anyway. Rather, this is about access and coverage.

Recent splits in the British Conservative and Labour parties over Brexit are indicative of a wider problem: The party system is broken — The recent splits in the ranks of the British Conservative and Labour parties over Brexit are indicative of a wider problem: The party system is broken. Actually, let’s wind back a bit: Did it ever really work? See Also: How Politics can sound like Racism & How Dogma can kill Democracy

I have had an incident in the last few days that while not terrible highlighted the problems associated with celebrities and people with a… — I have had an incident in the last few days that while not terrible highlighted the problems associated with celebrities and people with a lot of followers and how they might accidentally use those followers as a weapon. What happened was this. Andrew Neil, the broadcaster and media proprietor, wrote…

Seven Members of Parliament in the UK have quit the Labour Party this week. They have not yet said whether they will start a new party… — Seven Members of Parliament in the UK have quit the Labour Party this week. (And now three from the Conservative Party). They have not yet said whether they will start a new party, but rather are standing as an independent group. I applaud them for their bravery, but I wonder…