Politics Round-up: Back to business

Hello, I am back after being allowed the summer off for good behaviour. This round-up features fewer posts than usual as it seems many of you, like me, were struck down with a lack of time/energy to vent over the summer. For me my lack of political outpourings has been partly lack of time, both to think and to write, while the kids were at home, but also because I personally am finding the big political story, Syria, very difficult to write about. I know I would like to see peace there, I know the pictures on my television make me cry, and my heart goes out to those who are trapped in terror. But I do not know where the answer lies. I always prefer peaceful solutions where possible, and this is one of those occasions where I am glad that I am not in power trying to make decisions on how best to help. In terms of writing a post about it, I simply don’t feel qualified to comment on such a complex situation. Let us hope that the discussions to put chemical weapons off-limits are just the first of many conversations that lead to peace for the people of Syria. Of course one way we can help is by highlighting the charity efforts to help those affected, as done wonderfully here by Mummy Says.

While the rest of us were giving our weary brains the summer off, some of you were continuing to write interesting posts on a variety of subjects. Let me start with homelessness. Mummy Glitzer has written eloquently on the rise of homelessness, and Julie’s Notebook looks how circumstance can lead you to become accidentally homeless.

Onto poverty, and this month saw Jamie Oliver provoking a reaction by seemingly stereotyping those in poverty as eating chips in front of a big telly. Mum v Austerity responds to his assumptions in her post, calling him the Self Appointed Poverty Porn Tsar, wondering whether he can truly understand what it is like to live in poverty. I also loved the response of A Girl Called Jack – ‘I didn’t need a hug, Jamie, I needed a fiver.’

A Girl Called Jack also made a speech to the TUC conference this week. You can read the transcript here. A hot topic of discussion at the conference was zero hours contracts. Ed Miliband talked about it in his speech which is discussed in this article from The Independent. I personally think these are terrible for the working person. How can one possibly budget, or arrange childcare, or make any plans at all when you have no idea when or how much you will be working? When did the needs of business start to so heavily outweigh the needs of a human being? The 1970’s Diet questions this type of contract, alongside much else in her post wondering how uncaring society has become.

Yesterday saw a contingent of bloggers heading to the Houses of Parliament for a discussion on the Saatchi Bill. I hope to bring you a round-up of how they got on next month, but to find out a bit about the background to their visit, pop and visit VeViVos. Lastly Head In Books writes a thought provokingly on petitions, and whether they are good for democracy. Very interesting reading.

That’s all folks, see you next month.

About Sonya Cisco

Sonya Cisco is a 42 year old mum of three from Dorset. She spent 15 years playing in bands at various festivals and insalubrious locations throughout Britain and Europe. These days she is more of a home bod hence the title of her blog 'The Ramblings of a Formerly Rock'n'Roll Mum' , but she can still be persuaded to strap that bass guitar back on for special occasions. Has an opinion on everything, but always open to discussion. Likes biscuits a little bit too much.