Sparkling Books

UK publisher. Reinventing Democracy by David Kauders, new edition now available. Follow link for reviews and book / pdf / ebook data

[Radical thoughts about politics and economics @DavidKauders]

This is the way to fix public services, living standards, and an out-of-control Westminster circus

Here is a bold programme for the next Prime Minister: offer an “Omnibus referendum bill” to:

1. Ask the people of the UK and Gibraltar whether they wish to rejoin the Single Market and Customs Union (Yes / No). At least 3 of 5 nations/territories to vote Yes for this referendum to be binding.

2. Ask the people of the UK and Gibraltar whether they would like to split Westminster UK-wide functions (defence, foreign affairs, common standards) from England-only functions with a federal government and unicameral parliament at Manchester, and a two-way financial support mechanism based only on per-capita GDP reviewed annually, the details to be approved in a further referendum. (Yes/No). At least 3 of 5 to vote Yes for referendum to be binding.

3. Ask the people of England if they would like to abolish the Lords and turn Westminster into a tourist attraction, selling off redundant parts such as Portcullis House to fund repairs, and move the capital of England, government and unicameral parliament, to near the end of HS2 in Birmingham. This referendum voted at the same time but only counted if UK says yes to referendum no. 2, otherwise ballot papers to be destroyed uncounted after a year.

4. Ask the people of the UK if they agree that all nations should have equal powers including raising taxes, and thus be sovereign in all respects except defence, foreign affairs, and common standards. (Yes/No, if the numerical majority vote Yes then referendum passes if at least 2 of 4 nations also vote Yes)

5. Ask the people of Gibraltar if they would like to be a fifth equal nation of the UK, with representation in the federal parliament, subject only to a further referendum of Gibraltar citizens only whether they require citizens of the other four nations wishing to move to Gibraltar to have either close family connections or an employment offer. (Simple Yes/No)

England has referendums 1 to 4 on one ballot paper

Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland have referendums 1, 2, and 4 on the ballot paper

Gibraltar has referendums 1, 2, and 5 on the ballot paper

Note: Brits living abroad who are on the electoral register vote in the country of their parliamentary constituency, as usual

So, which of the Labour hopefuls will have the guts to ask the people?

[Glenn Tunes @glenn_tunes]

AGREED 🖐️🖐️🖐️🖐️

[Sparkling Books @SparklingBooks]

@richardmacfar The author says: The cost of debt servicing causes the Financial System Limit. Debt cannot reach infinity. Debt is growing faster than GDP, the usual measure of economic growth. MMT makes this worse because the money generated leaks into debt. He will explain fully in a new book.

[Sparkling Books @SparklingBooks]

An updated version of The Financial System Limit by David Kauders is now available. E-book 9781907230776 or pdf at https://t.co/DdWsBQuMxx

[Radical thoughts about politics and economics @DavidKauders]

@redrumlisa They are parroting the line to take. No brains. No guts.

For a better answer have a quick look here:
https://t.co/hg7j2EmLGF

[Radical thoughts about politics and economics @DavidKauders]

If Starmer wants to survive, he has one and only one option: announce a referendum on rejoining the SM and CU, to be held before summer.

That will imply a break with the Labour right-wing and throw down a challenge to Reform that will separate the issue from the personalities. And buy him time.

[Sparkling Books @SparklingBooks]

Everyone fed up with UK political scandals should read this

[Radical thoughts about politics and economics @DavidKauders]

Yet another scandal. Yet again absolute power corrupts absolutely. The only answer is to completely reinvent our democracy by abolishing absolute power.

Read the draft constitution for how to do it in REINVENTING DEMOCRACY

Print edition 9781907230202
E-book 8781907230226
pdf also available - the cheapest option, read on screen or print

See https://t.co/TK1BaBXDmq including how to get print edition half-price in the UK

[Sparkling Books @SparklingBooks]

From one of our authors

[Radical thoughts about politics and economics @DavidKauders]

Correct that #Brexit is ruining the UK, but ineffective.

The duopoly establishment still have the last laugh, because so long as there are multiple campaign groups with overlapping objectives, they have effectively achieved "divide and rule".

The only answer is serious democratic reform as set out in my book REINVENTING DEMOCRACY. While everyone bitches about the state of Britain, get on and read it. A few of the new ideas:
* unbundle policies so that people can vote for policies not tribes
* allow the people to put topics on the political agenda
* decentralise power with a federal and regional State
* replace Lords and Privy Council by elected People's Council - I show how to do it
* Chapter 8 is a complete written constitution that re-establishes primacy of the people and our rights
* Constitutional requirement for all communications to be "clear, fair, and not misleading" with rapid enforcement mechanism, bringing an end to political lies

Read it now and rethink your strategy.

See https://t.co/TK1BaBX5wS

[Sparkling Books @SparklingBooks]

@RealOxfordComma Remember "Eats, shoots and leaves"? Or was it "Eats shoots and leaves"? or "Eats shoots, and leaves" etc?

[Sparkling Books @SparklingBooks]

Sparkling Books will exhibit selected titles at the #TheGreenParty conference 3rd to 5th October, Bournemouth

[Sparkling Books @SparklingBooks]

Sparkling Books will be exhibiting many titles at @TheGreenParty conference in Bournemouth 3rd to 5th October

[Radical thoughts about politics and economics @DavidKauders]

Is any one else with cross-border or cross-language search needs finding @Google now somewhat frustrating?

I can no longer search https://t.co/X651SYiNYL or https://t.co/bJCp3DvyNz or https://t.co/ADOdNU0R49 - instead I have to let google decide what language/country I want, or type more keywords to try and get sense out of it.

The free version of @perplexity_ai now seems more useful

[Radical thoughts about politics and economics @DavidKauders]

If @Keir_Starmer is to survive in @10DowningStreet then he must face the two issues that people will respect: rejoin the EEA (Single Market) pdq as a minimum, and say that "no tax rises for working people" has to be limited to income of below £250,000 and capital of below £10 million.

Pin the change of policy on #Brexit and say that @Nigel_Farage and the @Conservatives are responsible for creating poverty and cutting government revenue.

If Starmer doesn't tackle the two crucial issues, either @HMGCabinet will force him out, or the voters will.

He could always call a referendum on rejoining the Single Market. The legislation could be passed and the result achieved by autumn 2026. That would give him cover. The troops in @UKLabour would support him.

[Sparkling Books @SparklingBooks]

New edition of Reinventing Democracy offers UK an original solution to its political woes https://t.co/v6kvfrwSAv

[Radical thoughts about politics and economics @DavidKauders]

New edition now available. E-book only £4.99. See https://t.co/hg7j2EmLGF

[Radical thoughts about politics and economics @DavidKauders]

Full marks to Mandelson/McSweeney creating an artificial news event about intents to negotiate a trade agreement. Gave Trump an easy win, hides the concessions that will annoy many Brits and will be overlooked when the detail slips out later

[Sparkling Books @SparklingBooks]

@onadara7 @TJBrown89 @DStuartDavies Covers for Lynnwood, A Taste of Blood done by Sparkling Books. Cover for Ellipsis commissioned by author. Montage for Three British Mystery Novels by Karl Hunt

[Sparkling Books @SparklingBooks]

Three British Mystery Novels:

Lynnwood by @TJBrown89
A Taste for Blood by @DStuartDavies
Ellipsis by @nikkidudley20

Three novels in one book!

See https://t.co/MItLL5zzy8 … … …

[Sparkling Books @SparklingBooks]

The Sicilian Woman's Daughter is on special offer USD 0.99 worldwide until the end of February. More info: https://t.co/BQ2AhB4rqz

[Sparkling Books @SparklingBooks]

The Sicilian Woman's Daughter is on special offer at USD 0.99 until the end of February. More info: https://t.co/r7Vh2V7Kw0

[Radical thoughts about politics and economics @DavidKauders]

This morning I made a quick list of what is wrong with British political governance. Here it is, unsorted, with overlaps. Have I missed anything major?

1. Mess caused by failed policies of austerity and Brexit
2. Starmer planning next GE around NHS, avoiding Farage in red wall seats
3. NI – Scotland – Wales
4. Gibraltar and Spain. Overseas territories have no representation in UK politics.
5. Lack of written constitution. But UK had parts of one in EU.
6. Unstable politics, nonsense consultations e.g. imperial measures
7. The younger generations are unhappy – house prices, Brexit, lack of any influence
8. Sheer complexity of 21st century world cannot be handled by centralised government.
9. PM has too much power, job is almost impossible to fill
10. “Strategic” choice for next election – closed vs Europe, but risk of closed vs divided progressives
11. Proportional representation may disappoint, could let Farage hold balance of power
12. Electorate gets to vote on one major issue every five years:
- 1997 New start with younger PM
- 2001, 2005 Let them carry on
- 2010 Austerity, but tax favours for the well-off, public service cuts for the many
- 2015 Aspiration
- 2017 Do we want radical socialism?
- 2019 Get Brexit done
- 2024 Get the Tories out
13. Lies, damned lies, and statistics. Simple solution.
14. House of Lords reform, empty charades without power
15. The Privy Council
16. Impossible to change anything other than trivia
17. Changes that constrain central power are overturned after a decade or two
18. Changes that enhance central power become permanent and unchallengeable.
19. No requirement for constitutional lock to protect smaller nations in referendums, ugly Brexit precedent that English numbers must prevail
20. The entire constitution is thick sludge: read the H of C paper and ask what is democratic about it?
21. The (reduced) commitment to the environment
22. The financial system limit – debt cannot expand to infinity, cost of private sector debt service is now an unrecognised drag on economic growth
23. The coming recession, partly caused by Trump
24. Britain's imperial delusions
25. Ignorance among politicians, too insulated from reality
26. Not enough good people come forward to serve
27. Tight Treasury control, people cannot relate public spending to taxes raised
28. Politicians talk growth but deliver lower living standards... then hide the effect statistically
29. Too many examples of extreme State power, e.g. environmental protesters getting severe sentences
30. Co-existence of centralised State and centralised media, lies travel quickly, questionable standards
31. Political donations
32. Infrastructure, e.g. HS2 and the third Heathrow runway
33. Broad disillusion with our politics, falling turnout for elections.
34. Defence hollowed out
35. Too many signs of deepening poverty