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More musical bargins
Apr. 22nd, 2006 12:26 pmToday's bargins from Virgin's April sale? The CD Review recommended recording of Frank Martin's Mass for Double Choir and a copy of Kaija Saariaho's Private Gardens.
Apr. 22nd, 2006
Steyn on authoritarianism
Apr. 22nd, 2006 07:12 pmToday's interesting Guardian article? Lord Steyn's essay on democracy, justice and creeping authoritarianism. He lays out the basic idea that both democracy and judicial independence are necessary in order to avoid tyrannical excess, arguing that the independence of the judiciary in England and Wales is even more important given the recent (i.e. over the last 25 years) trend towards large political majorities.
Steyn cites in defence of his claim that judicial independence might be undermined, Charles Clarke's attempts to discuss matters of principle with the Law Lords, something that appears typical of a government that has failed to understand that politicians and judges are not necessarily on the same side. Also referenced is the worrying Asylum and Immigration Act (2004), which explicitly excludes participants from obtaining a judicial review of their case. As Steyn says, if this act is successful in its attempt "to immunise manifest illegality", it could serve a model for other areas of the law and could have damaging implications for democracy.
Conclusions? A cogent, crunchy article, well worth the read.
Steyn cites in defence of his claim that judicial independence might be undermined, Charles Clarke's attempts to discuss matters of principle with the Law Lords, something that appears typical of a government that has failed to understand that politicians and judges are not necessarily on the same side. Also referenced is the worrying Asylum and Immigration Act (2004), which explicitly excludes participants from obtaining a judicial review of their case. As Steyn says, if this act is successful in its attempt "to immunise manifest illegality", it could serve a model for other areas of the law and could have damaging implications for democracy.
Conclusions? A cogent, crunchy article, well worth the read.
Dr Who: Tooth and claw
Apr. 22nd, 2006 08:54 pmTime travel, Queen Victoria, kung-fu monks, a werewolf, terror by the bucketload and the promise of Tony Head in next week's episode, today's Dr Who had it all. So scary was it, in fact, that I suspect I might never sleep again...