Im at home this morning with the telly on in the background. Ive got my conspiracy theorists head on for fun. What ive picked up on this morning is a discusion on the repeal of the fox hunting laws and shortly after a report on how the RSPCA is too big for its boots and needs to be investigated for their private prosecutions and charity fundraising. RSPCA are campaigning against the repeal btw.
Yes i think so. It seems the call came from a government select comittee. Simon Hart is the chap being put up as the government spokesperson on the matter. Just had a quick google. Tory MP, former head of Countryside Alliance (i didnt know that) and former master of the hunt.. Clearly impartial then! Incidentally still takes a 20k wage from the CA for very little work i read.
Hes on the telly mow. Aparently his association with the CA is a convenient excuse for people to undermine him and its nothing to do with fox-hunting. Sounds ever so plausible. Hes aparently a mmber of the committee looking into this. Clearly an impartial investigation will ensue. Lets hope hasnt done anything naughty with a dead animal. He is a former Rupert though so there will be some impropriety.
Ashcroft has probably struck a deal with osbourne for when he becomes pm. They'll all have stuff on each other to keep them in line. It's how the whips work. Which is good news for corbyn as he went against the whip a lot, ergo they've nothing much on him. In other news, Pig mask sales have increased
Both main political parties in the UK seem to have an obsession with fox hunting, one way or the other. Talk about a non-issue compared to many other things that could be debated (and I'm talking about both the Tories wasting Parliament's time trying to repeal a law that Labour wasted Parliament's time bringing in).
I have the dubious pleasure of reading 'countryside' publications for work. In the run up to the election all editors notes and most page content were pro-Tory. Even though countryside management and game keeping have little to do with the obnoxious pomp and bluster of 'the hunt'.
the ban was only a waste of time because it was so flagrantly ignored by the elite who see it as part of their 'tradition'. It never will be anything to do with countryside management despite their bleating about vermin control... turns out you don't need horses, red tailcoats and hounds to kill a fox. gamekeepers and conservationists use a humane single, clean shot.
So all of that time and effort was invested in a useless ban because it's a class issue against the toffs? Seems like a waste to me, would have been easier to let them carry on riding around the country not catching anything like they did before.
But proper "class" envy requires total removal of the cause. Even if it is largely pointless and ineffective. Its a power thing.
If you grew up in a house that has 200+ years of hunting momentos, all your family and friends did it, you know generations of people that work the hunt and are employed by the jobs that surround it, would you not think people are challenging your age old culture and tradition? We assume that these people know better, it might be many simply have as strong pro views as those against....I've not met many serious upper class people but mostly they don't care any more for your (figurative) views on how to live day to day any more than you do theirs, and why should they? I'm not pro fox hunting, but I don't think they are doing it to stick it to the proles, more it's an elite sport and they see themselves as the elite...
it was Bliar's way of placating MP's over tuition fee rise... he knew it would carry on. That said, it should be banned, it's a blood sport serving no purpose. chemical trail hunts can be done instead but they don't and still run foxes. In their flagrant disregard they also trounce through small holdings, so a little more than 'riding around the country'.
'the hunt' can be carried out without running foxes. they can keep their pomp and tradition without killing and trashing others land by using a chemical trail. Thankfully, both culturally and traditionally things change particularly where cruelty is involved. Bear baiting used to be part of a night out...
I knew that - hence -"letting the cat out of the bag" - I was referring to the Cameroon pig allegation - something to do with poking a a pig methinks!
I'm not condoning it or comparing it to other options....just challeging an assumption being made by many is all.
Where fox hunting is concerened, class is a side issue (for me atleast). It's a simple matter of unjustifiable cruelty. Imagine, if you will, being pursued relentlessly, by a pack of baying hounds, for miles on end, with no respite, and no place to hide, to the point of utter exhaustion...and then being torn apart, limb from limb...I can't even begin to imagine what that poor animal must be going through.... This is not sport. The end is neither quick nor painless for the quarry. It ammounts to a long, protracted and sustained period of terror for a sentient creature. There is no justification whatsoever for despatching any animal in this brutal and inhumane manner, whether the said animal is considered to be a pest or otherwise. So why is it justified, and why does it continue? Because a certain set of people with strong lobbying powers wish it to continue. So is it a waste of time to argue the case in Parliament? Not in my opinion... If you own a dog Owen, would you accept this as a fair and fitting end to its life?
Fair enough, you want me to understand your point of view, yet ignore the pro side. Personally, I think in conflict often to know and understand your enemy and just so often you might find a friend. As someone that is indifferent to this 'struggle', both sides are hardly Angels.
I agree. Had I grown up within the fox hunting culture, I would question why the tradition was so vehemently challenged. I'd like to think that I'd also have the wherewithal and compassion to consider the cruelty involved. Unfortunately, those who participate seem to be more concerned with maintaining their right to uphold the 'tradition' than focus on the odious nature of what it entails....it's a blinkered view, in my opinion. Who can justify badger baiting, dog fighting and similar blood 'sports', if they actually consider the implications for the creatures involved? These too, are 'traditional' activities, yet these are outlawed in the UK...the key difference being that fox hunting is primarily carried out by those of a wealthier, and/or landed genre, while dog fighting is historically associated with the lower and working classes...
