A Gentleman and a Gamester

Hilaire Belloc had several selves, even several poetic selves. Some have expressed irritation at the clear pleasure with which he kills off the bad children of his cautionary tale, though for my own part I think their fates largely to be just; consider that of Henry King:

The Chief Defect of Henry King
Was chewing little bits of String.
At last he swallowed some which tied
Itself in ugly Knots inside.

Physicians of the Utmost Fame
Were called at once; but when they came
They answered, as they took their Fees,
"There is no Cure for this Disease.

"Henry will very soon be dead.''
His Parents stood about his Bed
Lamenting his Untimely Death,
When Henry, with his Latest Breath,

Cried, "Oh, my Friends, be warned by me,
That Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch, and Tea
Are all the Human Frame requires...''
With that, the Wretched Child expires.

He also had a violent exuberant democratic self:

On Two Ministers of State

Lump says that Caliban's of gutter breed,
And Caliban says Lump's a fool indeed,
And Caliban and Lump and I are all agreed.

The Pacifist

Pale Ebenzer thought it wrong to fight,
But Roaring Bill (who killed him) thought it right.

And a courteous chivalric self:

A Trinity

Of three in One and One in three
My narrow mind would doubting be
Till Beauty, Grace and Kindness met
And all at once were Juliet.

Juliet

How did the party go in Portman Square?
I cannot tell you; Juliet was not there.

And how did Lady Gaster's party go?
Juliet was next me and I do not know.

And many more which I will introduce in the future.

Prelude

Not expecting this blog to be read by any wider circle than my closest friends, I intend to use this space largely to bleed myself of ill-humours, but also to indulge in speculation, good cheer, and praise. I am a friend to ancient and good institutions, largely because ancient institutions are friends to me, and in their defence I shall do my damndest to ridicule, reform, or eliminate the corrupt practices that pack more plague that a festering sewer rat. If there is one noble institution that more than all others protects the dignity of man, his free speech, his companionship, his wantonness, his heroism, and his good taste, it is the public house, of which I heartily approve. All these centuries it has been so common as to have been taken for granted, but it, too, is passing away. Whenever it is fitting, this blog shall be its swansong.

So, to begin.

The House of Commons of the British Parliament voted 311 to 248 not to hold a referendum on a bill being passed through Parliament that ratifies the Treaty of Lisbon. This bill has yet to be approved by the House of Lords. If it passes their muster, and is approved by the queen, it will violate the sovereignty of British law. Read the following to statements from Article 2, section A:

"1. When the Treaties confer on the Union exclusive competence in a specific area, only the
Union may legislate and adopt legally binding acts, the Member States being able to do so
themselves only if so empowered by the Union or for the implementation of Union acts."

These areas include:

• customs union
• the establishing of the competition rules necessary for the functioning of the internal market
• monetary policy for the Member States whose currency is the euro
• the conservation of marine biological resources under the common fisheries policy
• common commercial policy

"2. When the Treaties confer on the Union a competence shared with the Member States in
a specific area, the Union and the Member States may legislate and adopt legally binding acts in
that area. The Member States shall exercise their competence to the extent that the Union has
not exercised its competence. The Member States shall again exercise their competence to the
extent that the Union has decided to cease exercising its competence."

These areas include:

• internal market
• social policy, for the aspects defined in this Treaty
• economic, social and territorial cohesion
• agriculture and fisheries, excluding the conservation of marine biological resources
• environment
• consumer protection
• transport
• trans-European networks
• energy
• area of freedom, security and justice
• common safety concerns in public health matters, for the aspects defined in this Treaty

Now, funnily enough, Britain and Poland demanded an opt-out of the 'area of freedom, security and justice'. This little clause covers our entire system of criminal and civil law. Our reprensentatives to the EU had the sense to withhold our subordination to the EU Court of Justice, but yet the EU Parliament retains the power to legislate upon transport, energy, public health, and 'social policy' as far as our Parliament has not exercised its competence: that is - as long as their law does not conflict with our law, they have the power to make new law. We, in turn, have not the power to contradict whatever law they make. In a great many matters, the people of England will officially have two masters.
Our Labour government has betrayed the sovereignty of our Constituitional Monarchy. What's worse, they seem to know it, else why do they vote against a referendum upon a measure so intrusive as this document?