The usual rhetorical question is usually: Is the Pope still Catholic?
Now a new rhetorical question has been posed. Is the Labour Party still Socialist?
The answer is less obvious, the question less rhetorical, but after Brighton it seems that Socialism which we thought His Holiness Pope Tony has abolished along with Clause 5, might just be alive and well.
I met Ed Milliband over a private dinner, hosted by Community Service Volunteers for CE's of Voluntary Organisations.
I have to say I liked what I saw, and still like what I see on the TV.
I changed my energy supplier from British Gas to Co-op Energy, the change has saved me a considerable amount of money each month, the service is efficient and I get extra Dividend when I read my own meter.
The theory behind privatisation was that competition, market forces, drive down prices.
In point of fact prices have continued to rise and the market has been opened to companies based in Europe so not only are we importing our energy but the profits are being exported.
I remember in the late 70's, with three young children in the midst of a three day week, sitting in a cold dark Vicarage with a car spotlight hooked up to an old battery providing light during another blackout.
Then it was the miners who were blamed, now the power suppliers, who have their hands on the switch, who will thrust us into darkness on a whim, because they can and so that as the miners brought down the Heath Government they can try to achieve the same result over the new Labour Government in 2015.
Of course we await the blether of the con part of the con-dems, as the Tories hold their Conference in Manchester.
Of course its pretty clear what will be said and in what language, but securing energy and building homes is clearly the political priority for the next Government, it's just that con-dem Tories are choosing to cross the greasy palms of banks, builder and estate agents with money which it seems even the new Governor of the Bank of England has cautioned against, because of the risk of simply fuelling house price inflation and creating an unsustainable bubble or subsidising the energy companies who say they cannot afford to invest in new power stations.
So either we continue to trust capitalism to deliver social goals or we get a grip and invite all sectors of society to work together for, what in the Churches, we call, 'The Common Good'.
Its all in the detail.
It always is.
Recently my Doctor made an appointment for me at the hospital.
For various reasons I decided not to attend the appointment and rang to cancel, I was asked for my booking reference and password.
Haven't got one I said, have an NHS Number, No I was told, that won't do, I was referred to the first three page letter I received before the second three page letter, and there it was, well, OK a booking reference makes sense, but I had been given a password, which I must apparently always use when I contact the NHS.
Why I asked? another rhetorical question when it dawned on me!
Of course! this is all part of the preparation for V Day, as in V for Virgin not victory, when Branson rules, NOT ok! If you haven't got your password you won't get in, or you'll have to pay up front like in America.
It won't be long before your Virgin Health Credit Card will be in your wallet along with your Virgin Travel Card and your Virgin Mates Card and your allocated password will cover all eventualities, as long as you can remember it.
So we have a bold new vision of a socialist future in which Health will be free at the point of delivery, energy will be affordable and houses will available to buy or rent, with as many rooms as you want, without a surcharge.
Or remain condemned to falling living standards, rising prices, whilst held in thrall to the Capitalist overlords of the Universe.
As my dad once observed, the reason you're six foot whilst your grandfather was five feet two is socialism, free milk and orange juice.
It's the spirit of '45 all over again.
Now a new rhetorical question has been posed. Is the Labour Party still Socialist?
The answer is less obvious, the question less rhetorical, but after Brighton it seems that Socialism which we thought His Holiness Pope Tony has abolished along with Clause 5, might just be alive and well.
I met Ed Milliband over a private dinner, hosted by Community Service Volunteers for CE's of Voluntary Organisations.
I have to say I liked what I saw, and still like what I see on the TV.
I changed my energy supplier from British Gas to Co-op Energy, the change has saved me a considerable amount of money each month, the service is efficient and I get extra Dividend when I read my own meter.
The theory behind privatisation was that competition, market forces, drive down prices.
In point of fact prices have continued to rise and the market has been opened to companies based in Europe so not only are we importing our energy but the profits are being exported.
I remember in the late 70's, with three young children in the midst of a three day week, sitting in a cold dark Vicarage with a car spotlight hooked up to an old battery providing light during another blackout.
Then it was the miners who were blamed, now the power suppliers, who have their hands on the switch, who will thrust us into darkness on a whim, because they can and so that as the miners brought down the Heath Government they can try to achieve the same result over the new Labour Government in 2015.
Of course we await the blether of the con part of the con-dems, as the Tories hold their Conference in Manchester.
Of course its pretty clear what will be said and in what language, but securing energy and building homes is clearly the political priority for the next Government, it's just that con-dem Tories are choosing to cross the greasy palms of banks, builder and estate agents with money which it seems even the new Governor of the Bank of England has cautioned against, because of the risk of simply fuelling house price inflation and creating an unsustainable bubble or subsidising the energy companies who say they cannot afford to invest in new power stations.
So either we continue to trust capitalism to deliver social goals or we get a grip and invite all sectors of society to work together for, what in the Churches, we call, 'The Common Good'.
Its all in the detail.
It always is.
Recently my Doctor made an appointment for me at the hospital.
For various reasons I decided not to attend the appointment and rang to cancel, I was asked for my booking reference and password.
Haven't got one I said, have an NHS Number, No I was told, that won't do, I was referred to the first three page letter I received before the second three page letter, and there it was, well, OK a booking reference makes sense, but I had been given a password, which I must apparently always use when I contact the NHS.
Why I asked? another rhetorical question when it dawned on me!
Of course! this is all part of the preparation for V Day, as in V for Virgin not victory, when Branson rules, NOT ok! If you haven't got your password you won't get in, or you'll have to pay up front like in America.
It won't be long before your Virgin Health Credit Card will be in your wallet along with your Virgin Travel Card and your Virgin Mates Card and your allocated password will cover all eventualities, as long as you can remember it.
So we have a bold new vision of a socialist future in which Health will be free at the point of delivery, energy will be affordable and houses will available to buy or rent, with as many rooms as you want, without a surcharge.
Or remain condemned to falling living standards, rising prices, whilst held in thrall to the Capitalist overlords of the Universe.
As my dad once observed, the reason you're six foot whilst your grandfather was five feet two is socialism, free milk and orange juice.
It's the spirit of '45 all over again.
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